Reading School District sees growth in swim instruction program

The Reading School District has seen significant growth in its aquatics program over the past year, the district recently announced.

With nearly 700 participants in swim lessons since last summer and increased demand for adult instruction, the program is continuing to expand to meet the needs of the community, the district said in a release.

District officials largely credit the leadership Matt Lubas, who was named as the district’s assistant athletic director for aquatics in February 2024.

Under his direction, group swim lessons for youth and adults launched at the Reading High School pool in summer 2024 and were offered during fall. They continued this spring with the first session recently ending and the second beginning soon, the district said.

“We weren’t sure of the demand for swim lessons in our community, but classes filled immediately,” Lubas said. “We’re working to find and hire more staff, as nearly every session has reached capacity except for some advanced levels. We’re always looking for volunteers and instructors to help us meet the community’s needs.”

Lubas has stepped in to teach lessons due to the program’s popularity, the district said.

For family convenience, the district noted, the latest evening time slot for youth lessons aligns with adult lessons so parents and children can take classes simultaneously.

In addition to group lessons, the program offers private lessons by appointment, with more availability during the summer when district teams and groups use the pool less.

For safety and flexibility, the deep end of the high school pool is separated from the shallower end. For further safety, a platform is placed in the pool for use by smaller children during youth lessons for children ages 5 and up.

Staffing varies by season. Seven instructors, a lifeguard and supervisor are employed. Most staff members are high school students from Reading High School’s swimming and water polo teams.

To meet growing demand, the district is recruiting additional instructors, lifeguards and volunteers.

“We want to continue building our pool of instructors so we can serve more families,” Lubas said.

Additionally, the program’s Lifeguard Prep Course, now in its second cycle, helps equip local students with the skills to pursue lifeguard certification. Offered at Reading Knights Accelerated Academy City Line High School, the course is free for district students and available to other students for $25.

It provides hands-on experience and allows participants to determine if they are physically prepared for lifeguarding before pursuing full certification.

“We have had a good turnout in our lifeguard courses, and we are always looking for more lifeguards to add to our staff,” Lubas said. “It’s a great opportunity for high school students to gain experience while serving their community.”

For more information or to get involved, visit readingsd.org/o/rsd/page/aquatics or contact Matt Lubas at lubasm@readingsd.org.

Source: Berkshire mont