“Here’s my most important news: I am still hiring,” said aquatics center director Kinsey Wallace said.

The aquatics center has a problem: a significant lack of personnel. According to Wallace, spots that are normally filled by this year are still empty, leaving some key lifeguarding and swim instructor shifts uncovered for a whole month.

“I need lifeguards badly. I also need swim instructors badly,” Wallace said.

According to Wallace, those who wish to apply should contact her through email at [email protected] or through her office phone, available on the CHS aquatics center website: http://www.carmelswimclub.org/ Newsletter.jsp?_tabid_=18556& team=incsc.

“There is no deadline (to apply). The deadline is to contact me and we’ll set up an interview and hopefully get you started on the schedule as soon as we can,” Wallace said.

In order to be a swim instructor, one has to be over 15 years old. Swim experience is not needed, but it is preferred, Wallace clarified. Beginning instructors will job shadow another instructor and watch them teach until they’re comfortable enough with taking over.

In order to become a lifeguard, one has to be over 16 and get lifeguard certified. Wallace said that one can accomplish this in CHS, although it takes a semester to get the certificate. One can also take lifeguarding courses at the Monon Center during the weekends or call the Red Cross to learn of any other local areas offering such courses.

“Overall there’s certain skills tests throughout the course and two big written tests at the end,” lifeguard and junior Juliane Tyte said.

Lifeguards and swim instructors both make $8 an hour.