SEQUIM — The Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center is embarking on a fund-raising drive so that second-graders in Sequim schools can once again receive free swim lessons during the school year.

If enough money comes in, it would mark the return of a program scrapped in the late 1990s because of tight education budgets.

“[The school district] used to do this, but funding went away and they had to look at what they could cut,” said Susan Sorensen, who heads the SARC board.

The board is seeking support from civic groups and local businesses.

There are about 200 second-graders in the district. Paying instructors to teach them to swim will cost about $5,000 a year — a reduction to $25 per child, down from $35 per child, from the center’s usual rate for swim lessons.

If all goes well, the lessons would start in January of next year.

“With Sequim’s close proximity to water, we feel it is vital that all children know proper water safety,” states a letter from the board.

Regular swim instruction could also combat childhood obesity, which is seen as a growing problem.

Five-year vision

The SARC board’s goal is to get the program going and sustain it for the next five years. Then the Sequim School District would take over coordination of the program.

“At that point, the schools can either say, ‘This is important’ and include it in the budget, or they can continue to tap into the resources we’ve developed,” Sorensen said.

For more information, or to schedule a presentation on this fund-raising campaign for a community group, contact SARC director Sue Jacobs at 360-681-3344.