Chairman Milt Johns believes a pool facility at the 12th high school would be an asset for Prince William County Schools, but not all school board members are convinced it is worth the cost.
The Prince William County School Board listened to a presentation on the pool planned for the new mid-county high school by Associate Superintendent of Financial Services Dave Cline at their June 5 meeting.
The aquatic facility at the 12th high school, if approved, would include two indoor pools. The 116’ x 75’ competitive pool would have cooler waters, a moveable barrier and possibly diving boards, while the 47’ x 75’ instructional pool would be shallower and 5 degrees warmer.
Additionally, Cline said the facility would include bleachers, male and female changing rooms, offices, one classroom/party room, a family- changing room area and an upper level mezzanine. It would be accessible for disabled individuals, and the administration, in cooperation with the school board, has the option of adding slides and other revenue-generating amenities.
Associate Superintendent of Financial Services Dave Cline explained that while the pool would be located at the 12th high school, it is intended to serve high school teams from around the county. Although not all teams could use the aquatic center due to distance and scheduling, those that did would free up swim times at other aquatic facilities in the county.
In addition, the aquatic facility could host elementary school field trips, service underwater robotics teams, provide water therapy to special needs students, host community members during open swims, and hold aerobics classes, lessons and parties for a price.
At $10.5 million to be paid via debt services for the pool facility, Cline explained that averages to $700,000 per year over the life of the bond, starting higher and decreasing over the years. In addition, operating costs for the pool would run approximately $800,000 per year.
Cline said operating costs would not be as bad as they sound as 70-100 percent of operating services would likely be covered by inviting in community members or other groups to use the pool. The school system could even decide to charge swim teams a similar or lesser rate to what they pay to swim and compete at other facilities.
However, some board members were still concerned about the cost of the pool, coupled with the idea that it is general beyond the purview of the school board, which might be better left to the Parks and Recreation Department.
Gainesville School Board member, Alyson Satterwhite, said she was concerned the school board was moving too far away from its core mission of educating students, and questioned if the money could be better applied to reducing class sizes and hiring new staff.
“My concerns are that – yes, it does take $15 million to reduce class sizes by one student across the division, but we can make an impact in classrooms one student at a time,” Satterwhite said.
While she agreed the facility “looks amazing,” she was not convinced it was the appropriate enterprise for a school system to undertake, saying, “Is it our business as a school system to build this beautiful aquatics facility, or is that more in line with private enterprise?”
However, Chairman Milt Johns cautioned about being consistent in their purpose. He said that once they make reducing class sizes their mission, specialty programs would fall into question since they also take money away from the hiring of new teachers and reducing class sizes.
Brentsville District Representative Gil Trenum wondered how far the school board would be willing to go to fund the equivalent of sports fields for various sports. Would the school system consider opening its own golf course, he asked, somewhat in jest.
Lisa Bell, representative of the Neabsco district, wondered if community members using the pool would need to enter through the Rapture System.
Steven Keen of the Woodbridge District said the aquatics center should be put on the ballot for referendum, but Johns said that would only set precedence for offering more construction decisions for referendum.
While no decisions were made that evening, and do not have to be made officially until fall, Chairman Milt Johns voiced his approval of the pool. He said it would be something desirable for the county, and even though it was not the kind of thing the school board usually concerns itself with, great looking schools and county facilities could attract economic interest to the county.
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