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Board split over closing two school pools; district estimates $1.1 million to keep two open
Summary
Board members clashed April 16 over plans to close two school pools and keep two open. Staff presented estimated costs for keeping Jenkins and Haven operational and suggested outsourcing lifeguards; some board members urged city and county partners to take responsibility.
The board workshop on April 16 included a heated discussion about the future of district pool facilities after staff presented cost estimates tied to an option that would keep two pools open (Jenkins and Haven) and close two others.
Staff said outsourcing lifeguards for the two sites would cost about $70,000 for two lifeguards per site for the May‑to‑August season; ongoing maintenance for the two pools would be about $310,000 annually; a one‑time estimate to bring Haven up to required standards was $180,000; and estimated closure costs for two pools were about $150,000. Staff summarized the total option presented as roughly $1.1 million. The presentation noted Jenkins repair funding had already been received.
Board reaction was sharply divided. "I'm big mad," Dr. Howard Hall said during the discussion, describing neighborhood frustration about planned closures in East and West Savannah. Several board members urged the district to convene city and county officials to seek a community solution or to transfer facilities. "I would be fine deeding those properties to the city and or county in exchange for them giving us something we need adjacent to one of our properties," said Board member Kaczmark. Other board members expressed concern about liability, staffing and ongoing operating costs; one cautioned the district should not expand into "the pool business" given past liability and staffing challenges.
Context and next steps: staff emphasized the estimated $1.1 million option reflected keeping two pools open and closing two others; keeping all district pools open would require greater investment. Staff recommended discussions with municipal partners and said additional site inspections are needed to firm up one‑time repair estimates.
Ending: Board members asked staff to continue refining cost estimates and to convene potential partners to explore options, including property transfers, shared management, or community partnerships.
