Parents ask Kershaw board to back YMCA competition pool to expand swim access
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Summary
A parent and certified swim official urged the board to support YMCA construction of an eight-lane competition pool, citing rapid growth in high school swimming, drowning incidents in 2025, and the facility’s potential for water-safety instruction and hosting meets.
Becky O’Hara, a parent of Kershaw County students and a certified South Carolina high school and USA swimming official, asked the Kershaw County School Board of Trustees to consider and financially support construction of an eight-lane (or larger) competition-size pool by the YMCA and to place the project on the district agenda for a future vote.
“ We respectfully ask the board to consider and financially support the YMCA development of an 8 lane or larger competition size swimming facility in our district and to place this project on the agenda for a future vote and a reply to the community,” O’Hara said during the public forum.
Why it matters: O’Hara said high school swimming is one of the district’s fastest-growing sports, rising from about 24 athletes in 2019 to roughly 70 this year. She provided a school-level breakdown: 38 from Lugoff-Elgin, 26 from Camden, and 6 from North Central. O’Hara said the district needs more pool space or it will have to turn away athletes.
O’Hara highlighted safety and community uses: the district has experienced at least three drownings in 2025, she said, and a year-round indoor pool would allow water-safety instruction for elementary grades, expanded swim lessons, rehabilitation programs, and year-round club swimming so families need not travel daily to Columbia. She also said an eight-lane pool is required to host large regional meets, while a four-lane pool cannot host such competitions.
She said the YMCA’s proposal would give the school district priority access and that the district would retain 100% of gate and concession revenue under proposed contract terms. O’Hara requested a district reply to the community and invited trustees to attend home meets; she gave a date and time for home meets at the Kershaw County Aquatic Center in September at 6 p.m.
Board response and action: O’Hara’s request was delivered during public forum; the transcript does not show a substantive board decision on the request during the same meeting. Separately, the board later approved a procedural motion to move the July 14 meeting to July 7, which could affect scheduling for a future agenda item if staff places the pool request on an upcoming agenda.