Lower Moreland board authorizes pool dehumidifier bid as parents press for faster repairs

The Lower Moreland Board of School Directors on Jan. 21 authorized a bid package that includes replacement of the Lower Moreland Middle School pool dehumidification unit as parents and student-athletes pressed the board to accelerate repairs to a heater and pool leaks that have left the pool unusable for weeks.

District administration told the board the pool was intentionally drained so crews could locate a structural leak and that a new heater has been ordered. "The pool not having water was because we intentionally drained it. It is not because there's a leak in the pool, but draining the water out of the pool makes it easier to identify where a leak is," Administrator Dr. Best said during the meeting, describing the repair sequence and the district's expectation that the heater — ordered Jan. 14 with a seven- to eight-business-day lead time — would arrive and be installed within days.

Parents, students and team volunteers told the board the shutdown has disrupted the high school and community swim season. "This issue with our pool has caused us to miss swim practice every day for weeks during what is supposed to be the peak of our training," freshman swimmer Molly Webber said during public comment, urging the board to approve the dehumidifier and expedite other repairs. Parent and team volunteer Colleen Collins asked the board to vote for a dehumidifier so the pool’s walls and ceilings would not continue to accumulate moisture that can damage the facility and threaten health and safety.

Board action: The board approved motion "authorize ICS Consulting to proceed with bid package number 1 for the roof rooftop unit replacement at Pine Road Elementary School and the pool dehumidification unit replacement at Lower Moreland Middle School" with a projected budget of $597,162 to come from the Capital Projects fund; the motion carried. That bid package bundled the pool dehumidification work with roof/rooftop unit replacement at Pine Road.

District update and near-term timeline: Dr. Best said facilities staff located the leak and scheduled repair work for the week following the meeting, and the district procured a replacement heater that administrators expected to arrive within the quoted delivery window. Staff said the pool was intentionally drained to locate the leak and that leak repairs plus heater installation would allow crews to refill and test the pool; the district planned to provide updates to the community when installation and testing were complete.

Parents and students urged contingency plans while repairs proceed. Several parents asked the district to provide more daytime practice opportunities or transportation so swimmers could get consistent training during midterm season and championship preparation. Student speakers described health and recruiting impacts for high school swimmers who depend on steady winter training.

Why it matters: The pool supports Lower Moreland High School athletics, community and club swim programs, and younger swimmers learning to swim; continued interruptions affect competitive training, lesson revenue for outside organizations that rent the pool, and community use. The dehumidifier is intended to address persistent moisture that staff and parents said has contributed to repeated ventilation and chemical problems in recent seasons.

What’s next: The board approved the bid package authorization for the dehumidifier and related roof work; staff said bids and procurement steps will follow and that actual installation timing depends on vendor availability and procurement results. Administrators pledged to share status updates with the community as repairs progress.