York Suburban board sets aside $300,000 for pool repairs after students press for action

The York Suburban School Board voted to set aside $300,000 from the district’s general fund into an assigned pool account after numerous students and families urged immediate action to restore a usable pool. The motion to create the fund was offered from the floor and passed by roll call, 7–1.

The vote followed nearly two hours of public comment dominated by swim-team members, TAC families and alumni who described disrupted practices, long drives to alternate pools and lost senior-season traditions. “Our current facilities are outdated and insufficient to meet the growing needs of our student athletes,” said Matteo Caputo, a York Suburban sophomore who listed recent team championships and state qualifiers as the program’s achievements. Student speakers said late practices, long drives and cancelled home meets had harmed academics, sleep and team traditions.

Superintendent Doctor Krausser told the board the district had pursued repairs since early December and had received four bids to address the immediate filtration problem. Mrs. Kendig said contractors had been reluctant to bid because of unknowns in the pool’s concrete filter tank; she reported that a contractor was scheduled to begin work the next day with the aim of getting the pool back in service “by sometime next week.” Mrs. Thompson, facilities staff, provided technical detail: “It does take 2 to 3 days to fill a pool. It's 131,000 gallons,” and added that filling, filter charging and warming to swim temperature could take about four days in total.

Administration described the immediate repair as a band‑aid to return the pool to service. Mrs. Thompson and other staff gave cost estimates and options during the discussion: a contractor’s verbal figure to replace or upgrade the filter system was cited at about $160,000 (verbal, contractor estimate), while district records from 2009 showed a larger plumbing/repair projection of roughly $451,000 and a partial set of repairs completed then of about $321,000. Board members also reported a vendor quote of roughly $15,000–$16,000 to address the immediate leak and filtration failure being discussed as the near-term fix.

Board discussion centered on two priorities: (1) restore a safe, usable pool for the current team season and (2) determine whether to pursue a renovated pool or a new facility as part of longer-term high-school project planning. Administrators said they would present the board with a planning update on the high-school pool at the board’s business update later in the month (scheduled for Jan. 27) to seek direction on whether to proceed with renovation options or new-design work.

Board member Mr. Sanders moved to establish an assigned pool fund in the amount of $300,000 drawn from the general fund; the motion was seconded and carried by roll call, 7–1. The board clarified that the assigned fund could be reallocated back to the general fund by board action if circumstances required. The motion was presented and amended on the floor to make the allocation an assigned fund (general fund → assigned pool fund) rather than a capital-reserve transfer to provide flexible access for repairs and interim needs.

In parallel, administrators said they continued outreach to nearby facilities for temporary practice space. Doctor Ellis said the district had used pools at neighboring schools (notably Spring Grove, Dallastown and the Graham Aquatic Center) for practices and was in renewed discussions with York College about potential short‑term access; that conversation was ongoing.

The board’s action is intended to ensure money is available quickly if additional urgent repairs are needed or to bridge the team to a longer-term solution. Several public speakers — parents, former athletes and swim coaches — urged the board both to authorize short-term fixes and to pursue a fundraising and planning strategy for a new pool that could serve school and community programs.

The board recorded the outcome as: motion passed, 7 approved, 1 opposed. The vote tally was announced by roll call; individual board members’ votes were recorded on the roll-call transcript but the public minutes list the result as 7–1. Administration and facilities staff will report repair progress and cost details to the board in follow-up agendas and aim to have the immediate contractor work completed and the pool filled and circulating within days of the contractor’s entry.

"These kids need the pool," parent Michael Dera said during public comment, summarizing concerns many speakers voiced about lost practice time and academic strain. The board’s fund allocation signals a short‑term budgeted commitment while leaving open a separate decision later this month about long‑term plans for a renovation or replacement.