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The Viroqua School Board gave permission to administrators to work out a contract with the La Crosse YMCA to run the Bigley Pool for three months.

District Administrator Robert Knadle said he has been negotiating with the YMCA and he has an estimated cost of $30,000 for three months, but that does not include administrative costs. Knadle said he was still waiting on that cost, but the $30,000 was the estimate to hire lifeguards and operate the pool.

District business manager Sandy Jacobson said the district will be able to offset a portion of that cost with any revenue that is collected. As an example, Jacobson said the summer swimming lessons should bring in around $7,500 if prices and numbers are the same as last year.

Knadle said the YMCA has said it intends to hire lifeguards and staff from a list of local employees that have past experience. The district said it hopes the details of the contract can be worked out so the summer swimming lessons can work in conjunction with other recreation programs just as they have in past years.

Knadle said other program opportunities are being looked at like nighttime lessons or private lessons.

"We will be relying on the expertise of the Y, that has a lot more experience at running these types of programs than we do," said Knadle.

Knadle said the three-month period will be a chance for the two organizations to develop a relationship and hopefully a long-term contract can be worked out by the end of the three months.