Putting time in the pool: Burlingame Aquatic Center offers variety of programs

The aquatic center belongs to the San Mateo Union High School District and operated by the Burlingame Parks and Recreation Department. It provides Burlingame High School students a place to swim and serves as the community pool offering year-round lessons, programs, lap times and access for recreational use.

It is also home to the district’s competitive swim program, Burlingame Aquatic Club.

“I made lot of friendships and it’s a good experience,” said Claire Girard, A Burlingame High School senior who has been part of the BAC swim team since sixth grade.

Swimming, Girard said, taught her to have a good attitude and perspective about life and gives her an edge when applying for college.

“Bad things happen like when you don’t improve your [lap] times, but it’s taught me that if you don’t do well on a test, there is still next time and there’s stuff you can improve on,” she said.

In 2000, the facility underwent major renovations. It received roughly $1.2 million from an anonymous donor, $1.6 million from the city and $300,000 from the district to fund the project. The collaboration paved the way for a new warmup and 50-meter pool, said Tim Barry, supervisor for the Burlingame Parks and Recreation Department.

In 2011, the Burlingame Parks and Recreation Department partnered with BAC to manage the center to offer cost-effective year-round programming. Operations cost is shared with the San Mateo Union High School District, approximately $550,000 per year with the district.

“The city is pleased with the programming provided by the BAC,” said Barry. “They have been able to add additional programming for the benefit of the citizens of Burlingame.”

These programs include, year-round swim lessons to children, adults and seniors, fitness classes, junior lifeguard training and summer camps for kids.

Desha Nardecchia, director of adult fitness, enthusiastically promotes her aqua zumba class while Tom Lo, swim coach and director of swim lessons, sees the merger between the aquatic club and aquatic center as an opportunity.

“One of my goals along with providing services to the community is to feed kids into our competitive swim team,” Lo said.

However, some parents including Schmutzler who have enrolled their children in swim lessons feel there could be some program improvements like additional experienced swim instructors and clearer metrics to measure a child’s progress.

A group of teachers left after summer ended and there are now 12 staff members dedicated to swim lessons. The center are also looking at offering more private swim lessons, Lo said.

In terms of measuring a child’s progress in the swim program, BAC does not have a concise or tangible system. Other swim schools, such as La Petite Baleen in San Bruno, use a colored ribbon system that graduate students after they demonstrate their ability to perform the techniques.

However, Lo points out that these metrics may not properly demonstrate a child’s ability.

“I know kids from other swim school that have graduated from the highest level possible, then come here and they can’t demonstrate what they learned,” Lo said.

It has been two years since BAC began operating the program at the Burlingame Aquatic Center and recent changes include Lo’s appointment to replace the previous director of swim lessons.

Barry is pleased with the center’s management and Lo said they are always looking for ways to improve.