Swim club asks South Orangetown board to reinstate pool permits after change in scheduling

Alice Wagner, co‑owner of Phoenix Aquatic Swim Club, urged the South Orangetown Central School District board during public commentary to reinstate pool hours the club has rented since June 2023.

Wagner said the club schedules practices and member signups months in advance and that this year the club learned a different team had been given the same time slots. She said parents and 35 swimmers were turned away on a night when a permit listed as "approved" was not honored.

"Please honor our original agreement with the Phoenix to be the sole renter for the hours between 5 and 6:15 p.m.," Wagner said, adding the requested times total about seven hours per week. She asked the board and superintendent to reinstate the hours immediately and to defer any new permit policy until after the season so the club can keep swimmers on track for seasonal goals such as qualifying times.

Board members asked clarifying questions and said officials would follow up. A board representative said permits are approved through an athletic‑department approval process and that the facilities scheduler (identified in the meeting as William Pella) or a facilities committee handles approvals; Wagner said she had been communicating with multiple staff members and would provide an email she received.

Board members said the superintendent's office would follow up the next day and recommended Wagner provide the email noting the approved permit for district staff to review.

Wagner asked the board to either reinstate the club's previously held schedule for the remainder of the season (through August 2026) or to make a decision that night so families would not lose training time.