ANGOLA - The Metropolitan School District of Steuben County's School Board voted 7-0 to offer swim lessons for their second grade students.

MSD of Steuben County's Assistant Superintendent Schauna Relue presented the swimming classes in collaboration with the YMCA of Steuben County.

"Interestingly, drowning is the second leading cause of deal for youth under the age of 14," said Relue.

"Seventy-nine percent of children from low-income families have no ability to swim. And with us being a community surrounded by water, priding ourselves on our 101 lakes, we thought it was important that we partner to make sure that our children are indeed trained to be able to swim

The YMCA has a nation-wide program called Safety Around Water, that is the program that would be implemented for the students.

MSD of Steuben County would have the cost of transporting the students.

The YMCA of Steuben County would provide the lifeguard and the instructors for the lessons.

The cost is estimated to be $20 to $30 per student.

They are willing to work with the school systems to write grants.

The classes would be approximately 45 minutes one day a week for five days.

It would be an addition to their Physical Education classes and not a replacement.

The lessons will be conducted one class at a time.

The details for the classes have not been finalized. The request was presented to the board in order to be able to move forward and make final plans to present to the parents and teachers at MSD of Steuben County.

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