09/25/2026
September 25, 2026
Dear Centre Members, Families, and Community,
We want to provide some additional information regarding the New Richmond School District’s recent decision to discontinue elementary swimming lessons at the Centre.
For nearly the last two decades, the Centre and the School District have partnered to provide swimming lessons and important water safety education to thousands of local elementary students. We are disappointed to see this longstanding partnership come to an end and recognize the impact this decision will have on students and families in our community.
We also want to reassure our members and community that the safety, privacy, dignity, and well-being of everyone who uses our facility remain extremely important to us. The Centre has policies and procedures in place to provide a safe and welcoming environment for children, families, adults, and staff.
Because the District’s communication referenced safety, privacy, and facility-use expectations, we feel it is important to provide some additional context. The Centre has not been made aware of a specific safety incident involving our facility that led to this decision.
Last spring, the District requested that adult members not use the locker rooms while elementary students participating in swimming lessons were present, and the Centre agreed to that request. That arrangement has remained in place.
Recently, members asked whether the locker rooms could be available during times when students were not actively using them. The Centre brought that question to the District simply to determine whether there was any flexibility within the existing arrangement. We were prepared to continue following the existing agreement if no changes could be made.
Following that conversation, the School District made the decision to discontinue elementary swimming lessons at the Centre.
We want our members, families, and community to understand that the Centre remained willing to continue the swimming program under the previously established expectations. The decision to discontinue the program was made by the School District.
We are saddened that approximately 1,500 elementary students will no longer have this opportunity during the school year. For nearly two decades, we have been proud to play a role in helping local children develop swimming skills, confidence in the water, and important water safety knowledge. We remain hopeful that the School District will reconsider its decision and that we can continue working together to provide this valuable opportunity for students in our community.
The Centre remains committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for everyone we serve. We are grateful for the trust our members, families, and community continue to place in us, and we look forward to continuing to provide high-quality aquatic programs and opportunities for our community to learn, grow, and thrive.
Sincerely,
The Centre
