Contracting with outside organizations:
Unfair . . . and unnecessary?

by Michael Wollman

Across the country, Park and Recreation administrators must decide whether it's necessary and appropriate to contract with outside organizations for services to teach various types of classes. It appears that some administrators are led to believe, by these outside organizations, that a contractual arrangement is the best or only available option. This article will outline the reasons why the author believes contractual relationships are (1) unfair to the recreation agency, its staff, and its constituents; and (2) unnecessary.

First, it seems unfair that contracting organizations often require a disproportionate share of the revenue. For example, one nationally known company requires an 80% share of all student tuition. Not only does the co-sponsoring recreation agency receive only 20% of their students' tuition, but it must also provide free space, free advertising, and free registration personnel to the commercial firm. At $16.00 per student, with a class size of 75 students, the outside organization drains $960.00 from the recreation center. In these budget cutting times, this type of arrangement is very difficult to justify.

Second, it is unfair to participants when outside organizations insist on enrollment levels resulting in extremely large classes. These classes typically contain between 50 to 100 students. It is questionable whether these students are receiving an acceptable level of instruction.

Third, it seems inappropriate that some outside organizations promote the misconception that only their staff members can provide bonafide instruction for a particular activity. They lead others to believe that no variation of their trademarked name or activity exists. My experience has shown that either (1) most so-called trademarks are in fact not legally enforceable or that (2) the few that are enforceable can be easily varied to capture the essence of the name or activity, thereby allowing centers to utilize their hourly-paid instructors.

Fourth, outside organizations often place restrictions on the number of times per week a class may be offered. Usually they require students to enroll in a minimum of two classes per week, effectively eliminating many students from attending because of scheduling conflicts. In addition, many insist on utilizing gymnasium or lunchroom space during the most popular time of the day. This serves only to maximize profits and further removes the control of the facilities from the recreation agency.

Fifth, outside organizations often require a one-year contract which may not be in the interest of the agency. This prevents the recreation center from seeking or hiring qualified hourly-paid teachers.

Sixth and last, these outside organizations often use class time to sell accessories to students, including T-shirts, records, and other items. Income generated from these sales is not shared with the sponsoring recreation agency. A little known fact is that the teachers from many of the contracting organizations collect names and addresses of students as information to be used to advertise future classes in the event that the recreation agency does not continue in the contractual arrangement.

Why then, given all of the above, do administrators contract with outside organizations? The author believes that most administrators think that this is the only way certain kinds of classes can be offered, especially in the expanding area of dance-fitness.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 10 November/December 1981

In my position as Executive Director of the National Dance Instructors Association, I have seen the surprised look on the faces of recreation administrators when our teacher training workshops are described. These directors and adult programming coordinators are excited to learn of a non-profit organization that trains, certifies, and continually upgrades the teaching skills of their own staff, allowing them to lead classes in Jazz-X-rcise, Aerobic Dance, and other dance exercise styles. Recreation centers throughout the country have either hosted one of our teacher training workshops for their state at no expense to the host agency, or have enrolled a current instructor in one of our one or two day workshops, paying only a nominal fee to cover expenses.

Organizations enrolling a staff member are, of course, under no further monetary obligation to our association. They thus keep all programming revenue in their community, have complete decision-making control over the size, length, and frequency of classes, and can also offer a high quality dance exercise program.

A concern is sometimes expressed that enrollment levels will decrease if the recreation center switches "mid-stream" from using a contracting teaching service to using one of their own teachers who has been trained by N.D.I.A. Our research indicates that class enrollment actually increases because tuition can be lowered, while the class content remains similar to the contracting company's.

Other methods exist for recreation agencies seeking to recruit their own hourly-paid teachers in non-dance areas also. These include advertising teaching job openings for appropriate Teaching Assistants in neighboring colleges, professionals working for nonprofit organizations (lawyers, psychologists, vocational counselors, etc.), and professional association or clubs. The author has been impressed with the results obtained by advertising in the help wanted columns of city and college newspapers and women's associations.

Please feel free to contact me regarding questions, comments, and more in-depth discussion of the current options open to Park and Recreation administrators in meeting the needs of their constituents. My mailing address is: N.D.I.A., 427 Cedar Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55454.

Michael Wollman is the Executive Director of the National Dance Instructors Association, a position he has held since 1977. He has been involved in all phases of the training, certification, and continuing education of instructional staff for Park and Recreation dance/fitness programs. Prior to this position Mr. Wollman was on the faculty of the General College, University of Minnesota. He holds an M.A. degree from the College of Education of the University of Minnesota.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 11 November/December 1981