Pandemic staffing shortage disrupts a rite of childhood at Portland community center

By Chris Gonzalez (OPB)
Jan. 30, 2022 2 p.m.
Mt. Scott Community Center’s Aquatic Program Supervisor Andy Amato looks out into an empty pool where families and children are typically participating in swimming lessons, Jan. 19, 2022. Lessons at Mt. Scott's pool as well as at other Portland Parks & Recreation indoor pools are temporarily paused due to staffing shortages, but could begin again in early February.

Mt. Scott Community Center’s Aquatic Program Supervisor Andy Amato looks out into an empty pool where families and children are typically participating in swimming lessons, Jan. 19, 2022. Lessons at Mt. Scott's pool as well as at other Portland Parks & Recreation indoor pools are temporarily paused due to staffing shortages, but could begin again in early February.

Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB

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Andy Amato started as the aquatics director at Southeast Portland’s Mt. Scott Community Center & Indoor Pool in January 2020 – when COVID-19 was still just a murmur on another continent.

Now, two years into the pandemic, COVID-19 continues to disrupt so many milestones. For Amato, that meant temporarily pausing a crucial part of childhood: swim lessons.

He just didn’t have enough hands on deck.

When Amato stepped into this new role, he was entering a deep-rooted community. Half of his staff have worked at Mt. Scott for over 20 years. They’ve taught kids swim lessons, then helped those same kids earn their lifeguarding certifications. Now many of those kids are working at the pool.

“To see that full circle is just really exciting. Also just to know that you had that impact, that you were able to build that relationship and get them so excited about learning how to swim and being excited in the water, that now they in turn want to give that back,” Amato said.

The Mt. Scott pool normally employs 87 lifeguards and pool staff. But with people calling in sick, being laid off, or leaving for full-time jobs elsewhere, it’s down to just 25.

Amato and his staff have stepped in to help where they can. Two weeks ago, Amato was a lifeguard for three days to keep the pool open because he had no staff. But that dedication comes at a cost. According to Amato, many of his staff have suffered both physical and emotional exhaustion.

In early January, Amato had to make a difficult decision: cancel swim lessons.

The classes demand more pool staff than other aquatic programs such as water fitness classes, lap swims or play swims. Amato re-allocated his remaining workforce to keep those programs going.

Mt. Scott Community Center’s swimming lessons are currently paused due to staffing shortages, as shown on Jan. 18, 2022. Other Portland Parks & Recreation indoor pools are also paused, and anticipated to begin again in early February.

Mt. Scott Community Center’s swimming lessons are currently paused due to staffing shortages, as shown on Jan. 18, 2022. Other Portland Parks & Recreation indoor pools are also paused, and anticipated to begin again in early February.

Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB

Money isn’t the problem. Two years ago, Portland voters approved a local option levy to help support community centers such as Mt. Scott. So the center has financial resources to provide swim classes and other basic services;

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They just don’t have the people to do the work.

Josh Lehner, a state economist, said that’s a challenge a lot of recreational and service-oriented businesses in Oregon are struggling with right now.

“We hear it from some of the ski hills. All the slopes aren’t open all the time, in part due to labor. I know some community centers are having restrictive pool hours for labor availability,” he said. “You see restaurants they’re closed a couple days a week, whereas before they used to be open seven days a week. That is certainly one of the ways businesses are managing the labor challenges.”

Amato is frustrated. But he’s also hopeful. He’s trying to guide his team through a period of universal uncertainty.

“You keep figuring, how are we going to get through this? You just keep staying positive on it. It’ll get better, we will get more staff in here, " he said, “Not being able to offer this program is real tough for us right now. We’re hoping that it’s just going to be a couple weeks of a pause and we’ll be able to slowly start getting them back up and going again.”

Oregon is a state filled with rivers and lakes, and the Pacific Ocean at its doorstep. Practically speaking, water safety is a critical skill. But beyond the practical, COVID-19 is also erasing existential milestones. For many, swimming lessons are a special part of childhood. It’s when a kid’s parents and community root them on, as whether the kid knows it or not, they learn how to live in the world.

Adults swim at Mt. Scott Community Center on Jan. 18, 2022. Swimming lessons at the pool are paused due to staffing shortages, though the water fitness for adults is still open.

Adults swim at Mt. Scott Community Center on Jan. 18, 2022. Swimming lessons at the pool are paused due to staffing shortages, though the water fitness for adults is still open.

Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB









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