SPRD unveils reorganization plan

Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) is being reorganized as part of an effort to stabilize and revitalize the financially strapped district.

The SPRD board of directors adopted a reorganization plan at their meeting on February 3. According to the board, the plan balances staffing levels and costs with the current level of district activities, allows the district to operate within its current budget and provides for planning for a smooth transition in district leadership.

Under the new plan, the executive director position will be eliminated and a new position, district business manager, will be created.

SPRD executive director Carrie Ward will be leaving the district at the end of March. A new part-time position will be created to handle program registration, receptionist and bookkeeping.

The new staffing plan allows the district to stretch personnel dollars by not having to pay for a traditional executive director position and allows the district to hire a part-time position to cover office management needs.

To allow for a smooth transition, the district's office manager, Anne Heath, has been appointed interim business manager and will assume leadership in that role as of February 22.

Heath has been with the district for two years, and brings many years of experience in business management and recreation program management.

SPRD board member Jeff Campbell, who led the project to create the reorganization plan, stated: "The plan was designed to position SPRD as a cost-effective, nimble and streamlined team that will be primed and ready to capitalize on opportunities for healthy growth of programs and partnerships to serve the Sisters community. We have been holding ground for several months, and through the development and adoption of this plan the board of directors and SPRD staff have led the district to take a step forward. I am confident that this small step is but one of many that will lead us to a brighter future."

According to board member Andrew Gorayeb, that future will be dictated by the wants and needs of the Sisters community.

"Sustainability is everything," Gorayeb said. "It is imperative that we engage the community; otherwise you get feedback ... from special interest groups, people who just have an interest in this program or that program."

A community survey is available at http://www.sistersrecreation.com. Gorayeb is encouraging as many people as possible to participate in the survey so that the district can "develop a real direction by engaging the community."

Gorayeb noted that the district's winter basketball tournaments, after a slow start, have been successful, with a fully subscribed event next weekend.

"We're darn near... 38 teams for the next tournament, which is awesome because our goal was 32," Gorayeb said.

Lacrosse is returning to SPRD for program administration.

"If you were to ask me about my hopes and optimism," Gorayeb said, "higher than it's ever been."

The district will begin the recruitment process for a permanent business manager and a new part-time office coordinator. Information about the positions can be found on the district Web site: http://www.sistersrecreation.com.