LETTER: A Class Clarification from Franklin Senior Center

{In response to inquiries from readers we asked the Franklin Senior Center to clarify changed policies regarding a popular exercise class.]

To the Editor:

Thank you for reaching out and giving us the opportunity to clarify the changes to our Cardio, Strength & Balance class.

Beginning September 1, we will be limiting the class to 35 participants. This decision is being made because of safety concerns regarding the size of the class. We make these types of decisions in partnership with our skilled and experienced instructors, who understand the needs of the participants and the importance of maintaining a safe environment.

We believe limiting the class size is in the best interest of our participants and will allow the instructor to provide a safer and more effective class experience.

For now, we are trying a simple sign-up process. Participants may begin signing up at 10:45 a.m. for the 11:15 a.m. class, and the first 35 people who sign up will be admitted. Once a participant has checked in and secured a spot in the class, they do not need to remain in a line or wait outside the room. They are considered part of that day’s class and are free to do whatever they would like before the class begins.

We understand that this new process may not be perfect, and we want to emphasize that this is a first step. One of the challenges we currently face is that people are not consistently signing in, so we need to better understand the actual demand for the class before determining what the next step should be.

We also want to assure our community that we will not turn away Franklin residents from participating in our programs. Franklin first will be an important consideration as we evaluate how to manage class participation moving forward. Once we have a better understanding of how many people are being turned away and the level of demand, we will look at additional options, including the possibility of adding another class.

We appreciate the concerns and feedback that have been shared by our participants. We value that feedback and recognize that any new process may need to evolve as we learn what works best. Our goal is to find a solution that balances safety, accessibility, and the needs of our Franklin community.

Thank you again for giving us the opportunity to clarify this for your readers.

Chasity Cheng

Deputy Director -- Franklin Senior Center