Central Unified parents and students urge board to commit to building a pool at Central High
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Summary
Multiple students and parents told the Central Unified board on Jan. 13 that Central High is the only Fresno high school without an on-campus pool and urged the district to publicly commit to building one now, citing lost instructional and family time and equity concerns.
Central Unified parents and students pressed the Board of Trustees on Jan. 13 to publicly commit to building an on-campus swimming pool at Central High School, arguing the lack of facilities is an equity problem that costs students instructional and family time.
"Why is Central High School the only high school in the city of Fresno without a swimming pool?" asked Crystal Cabrera during telephonic public comment, adding that students are bused off campus for practice and "that lost time adds up — lost instructional time, lost family time, and lost opportunities for growth." Her remarks were followed by testimony from students who described family impacts: "I miss my brother," said Phoenix Suarez, explaining his sibling returns home very late after daily bus trips for practice.
Student-player Malachi Suarez — a member of Central High's undefeated water polo team — told trustees the team’s success does not remove the need for facilities: "Support isn't just words, support is action. Support is giving us the pool we need for us and for the generations to come." He and other speakers noted the city proclaimed Dec. 4 as Central High men's water polo team day even though the school lacks a pool.
Speakers framed the pool as more than an athletic amenity: commenters said an on-site pool would allow swim instruction, physical education, life-saving skills, and pipeline programs from elementary and middle schools. Gabriel Suarez asked the board to "commit publicly and clearly to building a pool at Central High with an expedited timeline and plan right now," calling the absence of a pool a constraint on students predominantly from working-class families.
Board members did not take action on the request during public comment. The president reminded speakers that items raised in public comment are not agendized and the Brown Act generally prohibits board action on non-agendized items during the same meeting. Several related facilities and capital projects were discussed and approved elsewhere on the agenda (see the board approvals roundup), and the district said some modernization projects are moving forward; however, no formal commitment or timeline for a Central High pool was announced at the meeting.
The board is scheduled to consider additional facilities and capital items at upcoming meetings; community members seeking a formal district response on the pool request may raise the item in writing for a future agendized discussion.
