Everybody else in the pool before Batavia

Don't go looking to cool off at Hall Quarry Beach this weekend.

Or the weekend after that.

Or the weekend after that.

The beach won't open until June 14. It will be open nine weeks.

It's a function of Batavia's public school calendar and the time it takes to train and recertify lifeguards, park district officials say.

Amber Schmidt, facilities manager for the district, said scheduling that training has been difficult this year. Batavia public schools dismiss for the summer June 10. Her staff consists of high school and college students, and some of the college students still have classes through early June also, she said.

Because Hall Quarry Beach has a sandy bottom, making the water unclear when stirred up by swimmers, lifeguards have to learn additional techniques that those who monitor concrete pools don't, she said. For example, the guards have to be able to search the bottom of the deep area, 17 feet, while wearing a mask and fins. Batavia does such a "drag search" of the whole area every hour when it is open to the public, with lifeguards lined up the span of the water.

It typically takes a day for experienced guards to complete the recertification study and written test, and then they have to spend 12 hours in the water practicing their skills before they can resume their duties, per the training system the district uses.

She has 26 guards lined up for the season; 16 of them are returning workers. Usually 12 guards are on duty at any given time, unless attendance is light; some are then sent home.

Meanwhile, the Geneva Park District opens Sunset Pool Saturday, St. Charles Park District opens Swanson Pool at Pottawatomie Park June 4, and the Fox Valley Park District opens its water parks June 5. Geneva gets out of school June 3, St. Charles dismisses school June 4, West Aurora District 129 dismisses May 27 and East Aurora District 131 dismisses May 28.