Jan. 24 — Community center pool could benefit district

It’s this simple: Any penny spent on the Sumner School District’s swimming pool can’t be spent in the classroom. That makes the estimated $4 million price tag for renovating the pool out of the question. Years ago, the Long-Range Facilities Planning Committee recommended closing the pool and the school board adopted that plan. But they’ve purposely dragged their feet because of the importance of the pool to a small section of the community. But, it’s losing $100,000 a year. In fact, if anything significant breaks, like the boiler, the district has no intention of repairing it. To do so would rob money from the education of our students.

The pool’s space also counts against the district. The state considers the Sumner pool instructional space even though there are no desks or chalkboards. That means as long as the school district has a pool, classrooms will be a little more crowded.

District officials have been searching, without luck, for a solution to keep a pool in the community.

The Sumner Community Center Task Force’s idea of adding a pool to their dream community center could be a silver lining for the district. If the task force decides to include a pool in the plans, they could partner with the district, take over the pool and pay for repairs, which should be less money than building a new pool. This option could move operating costs out of the classroom.

They could also build a new pool and work out an arrangement with the district for students to participate there in after-school activities. The district could then close its pool, cease spending $100,000 a year and save that valuable instructional space.

If no partnership can be arranged, the district may close the pool to the public and limit it to athletes’ water sports. It would save the money it takes to staff the pool on a daily basis.

The Sumner School Board will face all of these options, and perhaps others that may emerge. We wish them luck in finding a win-win for the district and the community.