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SHAPE Director Submits This was clearly a protest resignation for Vicki Goodrich, who has managed SHAPE and its community programs—and taught many classes—since it opened 16 years ago. She said this week that she decided to leave, in large part, because of VTC administrators’ recent decision to eliminate five part-time building supervisors, effective June 30, without consulting her and despite her objections. The action came out of the blue, she maintained. "Who fires five people in any department and doesn’t ask for any input?" Her resignation is sparking more reactions. The Herald learned this week that some regular pool users from area towns are circulating petitions in support of Goodrich and the five part-timers, and requesting meetings with VTC Pres. Ty Handy. Goodrich said she was advised May 5 by Dean of the College Mike VanDyke that he intended to terminate the five supervisors. Goodrich expressed disapproval to VanDyke and took her objections to new VTC Pres. Ty Handy, but the decision stood, she said. Handy said this week that he supports, and has led, efforts to improve the efficiency of SHAPE operations. Those efficiencies, he said, would bring not only financial advantages but also improvements in safety and service. Goodrich said this week she was dismayed by the loss of the five people she had trained to ensure patron and building safety. The supervisors’ duties ranged from processing memberships, to monitoring the pool, and supervising lifeguard and work-study students. Three of the five, Yvonne Campbell, Thor Christiansen and Hope Krenick, had worked at SHAPE for between 10 -16 years. Shortly after those contract terminations were announced, Goodrich said, she left on a planned, three-week vacation. Before she left, she said, she was assured by college officials that there would be a summer staffing "solution" for the evening and weekend slots that had covered by the five whose jobs ended. Goodrich said she returned last week to find that nothing had been done, and she set about trying to find help. This week, with only one part-time—and not yet fully trained—person on the job, she decided to step down. She charged that the situation has jeopardized both safety and "customer service" at SHAPE. SHAPE’s customers include the several hundred community members who pay—in the form of memberships or class fees—to use the on-campus facility. SHAPE’s gymnasium, pool, and racquetball courts, primarily there for student and staff use, have been made available to the public since the facility opened in 1990 This week, new VTC Pres. Ty Handy responded that he is committed to keeping SHAPE open and staffed this summer, while he and Dean VanDyke continue to develop a new staffing structure for the fall. VTC is about to embark on a $3-million expansion of SHAPE. Handy affirmed the college’s commitment to continue, and even expand, services to the community, despite recent staffing turnovers. "The first challenge is interim continuity," he said, "and if that means I sit at the front desk over there, that’s what will happen—I’ve already talked to the Chancellor (Robert Clarke)." Handy said that if any summer classes (which started last week) have to be cancelled, fees would be refunded in full. Rumblings However, this week, a number of regular SHAPE users expressed their dismay over recent changes at the facility. Goodrich teaches many of the classes at the pool, and a number of her "customers"—clearly very loyal to her and to the five supervisors—are mounting their own protests this week. The most ardent supporters—many of them in their 80s and 90s—are members of twice-weekly water aerobics classes at the pool. Peggy Poffenberger of Brookfield said this week that members of the "hydrobics" classes are seeking a meeting with Pres. Handy. The class includes three notable nonagenarians from the area, Margaret Edgerton, Harriet Lavender, and Estelle Jackson. Poffenberger, in her 80s, has "faithfully" attended the classes for years. She has been impressed with the "trained, mature" supervisors who are leaving, and how they assisted the handicapped users of the pool. Becky Brandt of South Royalton, another long-time pool user, called The Herald last week, to say that she had easily gathered more than 100 signatures for a petition, asking for reappointment of the five terminated building supervisors. "We were very upset several years ago when the VTC Athletic Director Skip Distel was fired, but we didn’t do anything about it," Brandt said. "This time we wanted to make our voices heard." On Campus Support for Goodrich and the supervisors is also evident among VTC staff members, according to VTC Prof. Carl Brandon, who said many were talking about the resignation this week. For his part, Brandon said, "I am very sad to see Vicki Goodrich go and I’m very sad to see the part-time facility supervisors, such as Yvonne, go. I think it is very bad for relationships with the community—that’s not what VTC should be doing." The loss of the popular staffers could be bad, as least short term, for SHAPE finances, as well. Goodrich said she has offered a variety of well-subscribed classes year-round since she arrived, a few months after SHAPE opened in February, 1990. She said this week that revenues from SHAPE classes, and especially memberships, have covered the costs of her salary, pay for instructors and the five supervisors, plus equipment costs. He Said She Said Comments gathered from players in the SHAPE issue this week seem to indicate some communications problems, with some of those problems dating back a few years. For example, Goodrich adamantly maintains that she had never been consulted about the plan to change staffing, nor urged to reduce staffing. "I was not asked," she charged. "There was no discussion at any time about reducing staff, student or otherwise," she said. Handy, who came to VTC in January, countered that "It was not entirely true" that Goodrich’s input had not been sought. "This area had been asked to look at how operations were run several times in the past, and there had been total resistance to change," he said. The VTC president also challenged Goodrich’s assertion that inadequate steps were taken to set up summer staffing. There is also some past history of conflict involving Goodrich, Dean VanDyke and building supervisor Hope Krenick. Two years ago Goodrich filed a grievance with the union, after VanDyke advised her he had decided not to renew Krenick’s "appointment." Goodrich said she grieved the matter because VanDyke produced a letter stating the three had met to discuss the termination, but never had. As a result of the grievance, there was a hearing with Goodrich, former VTC Pres. Allan Rodgers, and a union representative, Goodrich said. Krenick’s job was restored. The Herald could not reach Dean VanDyke for comment yesterday. Goodrich is also a little irked about administrators’ talk about the need for more efficiency, since, she said, she and the building supervisors had to pick up extra duties after the full-time athletic director was fired. Until then, she had loved her years at SHAPE, Goodrich said. "It has been miserable to be here the last two years," she said. "The only bright spot is teaching classes." Handy this week that there have been other job reductions at the college since he came on board this year, but none have produced "this sort of scenario." "I believe this group of employees has taken it extremely personally and I regret that because it’s not intended as a personal slap at them or their performance," he said. "I regret that," he repeated, "and I’d be lying to say I don’t think about that; I do." Handy emphasized he can’t allow personal reactions to keep him from making the decisions he believes are the best for the college. He also offered words of praise for Goodrich, who he said, created a "valuable program" for the community. "Her loss will be felt; we will have to scramble to make sure, at least in the short term, that no effects are felt by community members." ____________ |
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