Water Safety
Mary Thissen-Milder, Physical Education Specialist, Bette Benson, Grants Specialist Coordinator
Angie Kolonich, Science Specialist, Alina Campana, Arts Specialist, Sarah Carter, STEM Specialist, Mee Stevens, Office Administrative Specialist, Nichole Laven, Standards Implementation Manager, Mike Huberty, Math Assessment Specialist, Dawn Cameron, Education Supervisor, Angela Hochstetter, Academic Standards Supervisor, Kate Beattie, Education Supervisor
Bette Benson
$250,000 the first year is appropriated to the commissioner of education for a water safety grant program. The commissioner of education must allocate grants to eligible applicants. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations and city and county parks and recreation programs providing swimming lessons to youth. Eligible applicants are not required to partner with other entities. Grant funds must primarily be used to provide scholarships to low-income and at-risk children for swimming lessons. Up to 15 percent of the grant funds may also be used to hire water safety instructors or lifeguards or train water safety instructors or lifeguards in nationally recognized water safety practices and instruction.
Provide scholarships to low-income and at-risk children for swimming lessons. Up to 15 percent of the grant funds may also be used to hire water safety instructors or lifeguards or train water safety instructors or lifeguards in nationally recognized water safety practices and instruction.
Identify and enroll 80-90 students in 2024 and 40-45 students in 2025 from English learners (EL) new to country and Homeless and Highly Mobile (HHM) targeted groups. We identified 45 students to attend swimming and water safety lessons in June 2025 who were enfolled in Summer Quest and receive both HHM and newcomer designations. Families of identified students were called in home language to explain the program and gain interest. If families were interested, a registration form was provided. 45 students were identified in the last quarter alone. 35 students showed interest and received a registration. 33 registrations were returned. Three swim instructors were hired to provide swimming lessons. One lifeguard was at swimming lessons, but was not billed to the program due to other salary sources. Swimming lessons instructors taught level 1 and level 2 skills to participants based on participant swimming proficiency. Participants received 9 - 35-minute swimming lessons.