Quincy to hire recreation assistants

QUINCY - Quincy is hiring recreation assistants to help the school district's after school programs.

The city council approved a $10-an-hour wage for the part-time positions and approved a job description at a recent city council meeting.

The city pledged support to the school district's Quincy Unites to Implement Comprehensive Curriculum for Kids project. The program is designed to expand and enhance the district's fitness and health program, according to the school district. The project is funded with a $462,812 federal grant for the 2010-2011 school year.

The city plans to provide recreation staff for after school programs at Monument Elementary Schools, Mayor Jim Hemberry said, adding he made the job description generic.

"If you recall when we went through the budget process, we included money in there to hire the staff for the after-school program and that's what this position is here," he said. "When we advertise for the particular two we're looking for right now, the ad will actually detail what their job is."

Grant Coordinator Matthew Tait recently purchased the equipment for the after-school program, he said. The assistants will help deliver the health and fitness program to the participants.

"It's pretty exciting and hopefully this program can grow into more of our schools to give our kids better opportunities after school," he said.

Councilmember Scott Lybbert questioned whether the city should require the assistant to be able to speak Spanish.

"I noticed earlier, I think it was last night, in the job description that (it) recommended Spanish, is that not something that we could require?" he asked.

Hemberry said they could, but he doesn't know how many would apply. He added the requirement could be added to later advertisements if the city needed someone who spoke Spanish.

"It could very well be that most of them would be bilingual," he said. "I thought about it when we were putting it together."

Councilmember Travis Wittman disagreed with Lybbert, saying most children in school should know English.