The Tecumseh Public Schools Board of Education was told Wednesday that the Tecumseh Memorial Pool will remain closed while the district completes additional structural testing after engineers found significant corrosion in steel members supporting the pool building.
Superintendent Hilton told trustees the district discovered "degrading of the steel columns in the walls of the buildings" while working on HVAC and mechanical replacements and that engineers advised the district that "reopening the pool is not recommended until further comprehensive structural testing can be completed." The district tentatively expects test results around Oct. 1 and will use those findings to decide the facility's future.
The concern dates to inspections beginning in 2022. District documents cited in the meeting trace the process: a July 2022 roof inspection by WTI Tremco that recommended roof replacement; an August 2022 structural inspection by IMEG that recommended further testing; and a 2023 review by SME that recommended closing the pool after roof-joint testing. Trustees were told an initial repair budget for roof members alone was estimated at about $259,000 in October 2023 and that a broader project estimate including roof, HVAC and dehumidification work was about $2.5 million.
Josh Madison, a district staff member who led the detailed review, described recent inspections: engineers and the district removed tiles and block at recommended locations and observed "heavy surface rust with section loss" on roof girders and wall columns, with section losses visually estimated at about 10% to 25% on those members. Madison said the firms recommended ultrasonic and other non‑destructive and destructive tests that require draining the pool, removing drop ceilings and ductwork, and installing scaffolding so engineers can access girders and columns.
Madison said the additional testing is intended to yield an itemized count of components that need replacement—"we want to know exactly how many columns, how many corners"—to avoid open‑ended repair estimates.
Trustees and staff discussed next steps and community impact. Trustee Martinez said the decision will need a broader public conversation: "this is a community discussion and not just a school district discussion," she said, noting the potential size of the bill and the pool's role as a community amenity. Trustee Davis stressed concern about possible effects on the adjacent middle school and asked that testing include an assessment of any impact to middle school structures and classroom space.
Business manager Kelly Glenn answered questions about funding and millage. She said the pool operating millage for the current year has already been assessed and will be collected for the current fiscal year; she noted the district has two additional operational years before the operating millage would require renewal. Glenn also told trustees the district is still incurring modest monthly costs while the pool remains filled and under minimal maintenance (pumps and chemicals) but that heating is suspended.
District staff also paused planned HVAC and dehumidification procurement after the engineers' findings. Madison said temporary HVAC options that were under consideration were put on hold once the newer structural reports came in.
Next steps the board heard: staff will commission the recommended destructive and ultrasonic testing, prepare budget estimates for that work and report updated cost and timeline numbers to the board. Madison said he expects to have preliminary budget numbers to share by Aug. 1 and intends to return to the board on Aug. 11 with updated information. Trustees and the superintendent repeatedly emphasized safety as the immediate priority.
The board did not take a formal vote to authorize full repairs at the meeting; rather, staff were directed to obtain the additional testing and cost estimates so trustees and the community can evaluate options.
Ending — timeline and community process: The district plans to complete the intrusive testing and have detailed findings this fall. The board was told the test results will inform whether the district pursues targeted repairs, a larger rehabilitation, or other long‑term options—and whether additional community funding or a vote on new financing will be required.