SPRD turnaround is a Sisters success story

The Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) has a lot to be proud of as they wrap up their first year under the watchful eye of Business Manager Anne Heath.

"Last November we had cut back to operating three days per week with three staff members," said Heath. "We were in real financial difficulties."

There's been a dramatic turnaround since then.

One of the major factors in SPRD's success was the board of directors developing a new business plan that created stainability while continuing to offer quality community programs. At the end of October, SPRD ended their funding cycle without having to borrow against their credit line for the first time in years. In 12 months' time they reduced their debt by 70 percent.

After the restructuring of the organization last year, the executive director position was eliminated and Heath assumed the leadership role in a newly created position of business manager.

One of the first things the board of directors and SPRD staff did was calculate the costs for the programs SPRD offered.

"During the months SPRD was running a minimal set of program offerings, we spent time seeing the true costs of programs," Heath explained. "With that knowledge, we now develop programs differently."

Sisters receives 22 cents per $1,000 in tax funding to support SPRD. That is the smallest amount received by a parks and recreation district in Central Oregon. The board and Heath found that that 22 cents paid for building maintenance and administration costs - and that was it.

"Anything above that has to be paid for by registration fees, scholarship dollars, grants and donations," said Heath. "We run on a very skinny budget now. We are aware of the cost of doing business. Revenues and expenses are tracked out 12 months, so today I can tell you what we should have in the bank in 12 months' time."

Combined with SPRD's fiscal responsibility was a need to get creative as to how the organization could still serve community members who badly needed services but couldn't afford them. Nearly half of all students enrolled in SPRD programs require some kind of scholarship to participate. To shoulder the burden, Heath welcomed collaborations with other local organizations.

A Commission on Children and Families grant was awarded to the Sisters community, which created a partnership between SPRD and the Sisters School District to operate programs for students K-8. The Community Schools Initiative stresses high quality early childhood development and learning opportunities, before and after school academic support and enrichment opportunities.

Major funding for the program came from the Oregon Community Foundation and the Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund. Both organizations champion the needs of underprivileged students and families in an effort to build community and better mankind.

"Last year we were all cutting back," said Heath. "Now we've combined our resources and we're stronger than ever. The kids are the real winners."

Heath works closely with Sisters Community School's Coordinator, Shawn Diez.

"It's not one group that caused the change," said Diez. "It was the right people getting together at the right time that made this great partnership. Everybody had to share one vision."

Each day of the week, SPRD offers after-school classes that cover a variety of student needs. There's help with homework, tutoring, healthy snacks and enrichment programs from 4 to 5:15 p.m. There are martial arts classes, a Healthy Kids Club to teach about nutrition and exercise, Spanish, Lego Robotics, and art. The Sisters Library also partners to bring services to the kids at SPRD. On Friday kids get to fix their own dinner and watch a movie together. All the classes are designed to support students in academics, give them opportunities for learning and promote stronger families.

Diez works at SPRD in the afternoons and gives Heath the credit for creating such a positive environment.

"They had a lot thrown at them, but they didn't give up. Instead they came up with a procedure that works. They're really doing things right," he said.

Heath is proud of what SPRD has become, and more than anything, she wants to share it with the community.

"This facility is the Sisters community center," she said. "This is a new, beautiful building; it's here for them to use. It's a real asset for our community."

For more information or to register for classes, contact Anne Heath at SPRD, 541-549-2091 or [email protected]