Location woes helped sink Academy

Recreation centers officials leveled the Lifelong Learning Academy in Sun City last week when they decided not to renew its contract with ASU, but the program's collapse may have begun two years ago.

"We were hurt pretty badly when the Sundial Recreation Center roof problem happened," said Diane Gruber, ASU Lifelong Learning program director. "After that, our program was scattered all over the place, and without a central location, I think to some extent we got lost in the shuffle."

In spring 2006, prior to the Sundial roof caving in, 230 Sun Citians were involved in the academy, which is taught by ASU faculty and community instructors.

After the roof's collapse, classes were relocated to various locations throughout Sun City, including the Fairway Recreation Center, Sheriff's Posse office, Wells Fargo Bank and the Menke Sun City Room. The program was forced to move its offices and classroom again this fall with the pending closing of the Fairway Recreation Center.

At the end, about 100 people were involved in the program.

Those low numbers forced the Recreation Centers of Sun City board of directors not to renew the contract with the academy, ending a four-year relationshiop.

Gruber said Monday she wanted to clarify the issues surrounding the parting of ways.

"I don't want someone to think big bad ASU came in and started demanding all kinds of money," Gruber said. "We want this to succeed as much as they do, and we were helping to support the program financially for a long time. I just want to be sure Sun City residents understand what happened."

 When the program started in 2004, the RCSC board provided $37,500 for initial program development. Since then, ASU has contributed $65,000 toward the expansion and maintenance of the program, Gruber said.

"I don't think the timing could have been more unfortunate," she said of the problem at Sundial and subsequent planned closing of Fairway. "Right when the program was poised to begin supporting itself, we twice scattered to multiple sites on short notice, which made it difficult for people to find their way to us."

Neither side is the blaming the other for the program's difficulties, however. The board said several times last week the decision was a difficult one, made not because of problems with the program but because the recreation centers budget was stretched too thin to support it.

While the program will close its doors after this spring's classes end, the move may only be temporary.

RCSC Board President Denny Nichols said at the meeting Thursday, the board would be willing to bring the program back, and Gruber said she, too, is dedicated to providing the service.

"We hope we will be able to offer this important community service again in Sun City in the near future," Gruber said.

Sun City residents who wish to continue Lifelong Learning courses may do so at the Osher Lifelong Learning programs in Sun City Grand and on ASU's West campus.

For more information, visit www.asu.edu/lifelonglearning.