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Parent warns of pool-scheduling crunch as Plymouth Community Center pool closes
Summary
A Colonial School District parent urged the board for fairness and transparency in assigning school pool time after Plymouth Community Center's pool is scheduled for six months of renovation; district staff asked user groups to submit requests by Aug. 1 and to follow Policy 707.
Phil Moravec, a Plymouth Township resident and parent, told the Colonial School District Board on June 30 that the scheduled six-month closure of the Plymouth Community Center pool will create a “scheduling crisis” for competitive swim teams and other user groups.
Moravec said his three children swim competitively and that families face added travel and expense when pool time is scarce. “I'm asking for some fairness and and some transparency regarding how we allocate pool time,” Moravec said, adding that Plymouth White Marsh Aquatic Club has operated for about 50 years and should be treated equitably. He also noted the presence of other groups that use the pool, including Special Olympics, and warned the closure would create a “huge crunch” on a singular local resource.
The issue matters to families who train frequently: Moravec said many swimmers practice three to five days a week and described the logistical and financial burden when practices are held outside the district.
Responding to the public comment, Dr. Christian, the district superintendent, said district facilities staff had already begun outreach. “After we exchanged emails this weekend I did talk to Mr. Lally this morning from facilities,” Dr. Christian said. He said staff asked all user groups that used the pool last year to submit their requests for pool time no later than Aug. 1 so the district can allocate time “as equitably as possible.” Dr. Christian also said staff would send Policy 707 to each user group so organizations understand relevant rules when submitting requests.
The remarks occurred during the public-comment portion of the June 30 business meeting; board members took no formal vote on the issue at that time. The superintendent's office has set an Aug. 1 deadline for user groups to request pool time and will distribute Policy 707 to applicant organizations.
No additional scheduling details, a specific allocation plan, or a published schedule were provided at the meeting. Moravec said the Plymouth Community Center pool will be closed for approximately six months for renovation; the district did not provide a formal timeline or construction schedule during the public comment exchange.
Next steps: user groups that used the pool last year were asked to submit requests by Aug. 1 and to follow Policy 707; facilities staff (Mr. Lally) was identified as the point of contact for outreach and scheduling.
