Board approves most summer aquatics contracts, tables Foothill pool amid cost and access concerns

At its March meeting the Twin Rivers Unified School District Board approved contracts to operate summer aquatics programs at Grant and Rio Linda while deferring a vote on the Foothill pool after trustees raised concerns about pricing, access and the procurement process.

A trustee pulled Item 10 for discussion, saying community members had contacted the board with "misinformation regarding the RFPs" and outstanding questions that staff had not answered before the meeting. Board members pressed staff for clarity about why one proposal for a single pool was approximately $270,000 while another bid for two pools was around $109,000, and whether the higher-cost bid included fee-based services that could limit community access.

District staff explained that the contracts were issued under a best-value RFP process because the estimated value exceeded the formal bid limit; under that process evaluators consider factors beyond price, including experience, proposed staffing and program design. Staff also warned that delaying a decision could jeopardize the pool—s planned opening date and staffing timeline, noting June 9 had been designated for opening in the solicitation.

Trustees and community members pressed two equity-related questions: whether Twin Rivers students and their families would be charged for open public swim, and whether larger fees would effectively exclude low-income families. One trustee asked whether joint-use arrangements or subsidies from local parks and recreation partners could be negotiated to reduce costs or provide lifeguard-training opportunities that broadened local hiring.

After discussion the board voted to approve the Grant and Rio Linda awards (Riolinda Park & Rec District) and to bring the Foothill/Sunrise award back as a separate agenda item at a future meeting so staff could provide additional information and potential mitigation options. The motion carried by roll call with several trustees recorded as voting in favor; Trustee Sandoval and one other trustee recorded a dissent on the initial split vote to remove Foothill from the consent list.

The board was explicit that staff could continue negotiations with proposers before the next meeting, including exploring subsidies or revisions to scope that preserve student access while addressing staffing and operational feasibility.

What happens next: The Foothill/Sunrise contract will be returned to a future board agenda after staff provides more details on comparative costs, proposed subsidies or joint-use options, and the likely staffing timeline if approved.