New operator sought at San Mateo Athletic Club

The decision marks a shift in direction for officials whose relationship with current gym operator Exos started to sour due to concerns that the company favored its paid base of clients over the needs of the school community.

Recognizing the obligation of a public school district to always prioritize students, teachers, faculty and other educational endeavors, trustees expressed their frustration that those values seemed at odds with the interests of Exos.

“The profit-generating opportunity gets primacy all too often over the needs of our students,” said board Vice President Richard Holober.

The direction for Chancellor Mike Claire and his staff to begin discussions with Power Wellness does not mark the end of the district’s relationship with Exos. Officials also agreed to exercise a 90-day contact extension with the gym’s current operator, granting additional time for the district to examine which company it prefers. The gym is open and operating outside in adherence to COVID regulations.

The district’s contract with Exos is slated to expire at the end of the month, barring the three-month extension. Officials spent the better part of the year discussing terms of the gym contract, which included a request for proposals that led to Power Wellness and Exos being identified as the two preferred finalists.

Whichever company the board picks after the three-month extension could only be with the district for a short term as trustees shared some interest in the school system ultimately absorbing all of the gym’s operations.

To that end, trustees instructed Claire and his administrative team to discuss terms of contract with Power Wellness spanning only 15 months, giving officials a chance to determine whether it is in the district’s best interest to take on responsibility of running the gym.

Officials noted allowing Power Wellness to craft a potential contract also strengthens the district’s bargaining position, since previously only negotiations with Exos had reached that advanced stage. As contract discussions build, trustees urged administrators focus on identifying ways Power Wellness would prioritize education programs.

Support for the board’s direction was not universal as Nuris disagreed that the school community’s interests were not served by Exos.

“I really do not believe the college and administration have put students in the backseat here,” he said.

Additionally, Nuris noted that the revenue generated by the membership at the club under Exos helped the district finance education initiatives it may have otherwise struggled to afford. Claiming the gym has made as much as $8 million for the district, Nuris identified the bookstores, Promise Scholars program and other education initiatives as those that have benefited from the existing contract.

“Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water,” said Nuris.

His support for the existing operator matched with a handful of Exos employees who during public comment shared their pleasant experience working at the gym. Those arguments were countered by some gym users, who raised concerns with the way the facility was run.

Ultimately, differences of opinion over daily operations were secondary to reservations regarding whether the school community was the top priority at the gym.

“This is the time to really embrace what the public mission is of the community colleges. We need to start there and move out after we have met those needs, and it doesn’t feel like we are there yet,” said Trustee Lisa Petrides.

austin@smdailyjournal.com