Blocked we are.
We again requested Saturdays at 8:00am and pre-payment:
“When I try to make a new request, I previously received a message saying that I could not make a request due to an outstanding balance. Now, when I try to make a request, I get a response saying: "Sorry, that Group is currently blocked… ."
Please note my request to reserve the pool Saturday mornings from 8am to 9am. This would begin Saturday November 1st and continue through Saturday April 25th. I would only rent this time on the condition that the financial terms are clear prior to starting. Indeed, according to your own terms and conditions, you require payment up front. I would insist on paying up front for budget clarity. “
Background.
We ran practices at NBHS for 8 weeks summer 2025, but we went into abeyance when NBPS capriciously penalized us $4K based on something completely arbitrary, viz. IRS processing speed. If the IRS took less than two months to process our 501(c)(3) application, we would be charged $2K. If it took more, it would be $6K. We paid the $2K and sent them the IRS letter when it came in.
NBPS is committed to ghosting
(ghosting meaning silent treatment, passive aggressive, stonewalling, shunning, etc.
As a coordinated effort, NBPS staff do not reply to emails or phone calls. Four staff members are involved in scheduling the pool:
David Flynn
Michael Gryss
Laura K. Neves
Cheryl Costa
As a group, those four people do not return phone calls or emails.
We also contacted NBPS people who are tasked with public outreach:
Jennifer Ferland
Ruby Irish
Arthur Motta
These three are also incommunicado.
For example, we submitted the following partnership proposal on 8/22.
(As of 9/20, we have not received a response).
Organization Name: New Bedford masters swim
Title of Project: Masters swim at NBHS pool
Summary of Project: Hold masters swim practices at the NBHS pool during the academic year. We are a nonprofit dedicated to increasing swimming through learn to swim and masters swim. August Baker serves as coach and instructor and volunteers his time. We aim to bring positive community attention to the beautiful high school pool, the swim team, and adult aquatic exercise. Several of our swimmers swam on the NBHS swim team–in different cohorts over the past twenty years. This project brings positive attention to NBPS, and it also strengthens the community by providing exercise to adults, and, for youth, it shows that exercise and swimming in particular can be lifelong sources of health, fun, and community-spiritedness. Please see our Instagram page: @newbedfordmasters to see how we have been creating community spirit.
Note that some of our swimmers work at the high school. In addition, please note that our program includes people of all races, disability statuses, ages, veteran statuses, and swimming abilities. We have had some adults who are learning to swim for the first time. We have also had champion swimmers such as Kyleigh Barao, a former standout NBHS swimmer.
Note also that we have already made some contributions to the NBHS swim team, including a new digital timer and a bluetooth stereo speaker. We envision providing additional gifts in the future, including the possibility of new backstroke flags.
What is required of the school or district in order to make this successful? We would like to be able to say to people that we are in partnership with the school district, that NBPS is aware of our program and is supportive of it.
What data will be collected? We will collect data on the number of swimmers, their gender, race, handicap status, and affiliation with NBHS or NBPS (including whether they are alumni).
How will we know if the program is successful? We would see participation and public recognition, e.g., local newspaper articles highlighting the program and the beautiful pool at NBHS.
If there is a cost to the district, what is it? There is no cost to the district. …[We will not be asking for any special treatment. All we want is to be treated as a partner, which is exactly what we are. We are trying to benefit the community at significant personal expense. We are not an enemy that needs to be price gauged capriciously]