Community pressures board for plan on Anderson High School pool; district outlines structural barriers and funding options

Two public commentators used the board's public-comment period on Feb. 18 to press the Forest Hills Board of Education for a clear plan on the Anderson High School pool, which they said has been in disrepair for years.

Tara Lotenberger, an Anderson High alumna and community member, told the board she is "urging the mostly new board to push the Anderson High School pool to the forefront of your financial planning and decision making" and asked for a tour of the facility on March 2 at 6 p.m.

Mike Rutledge, another Anderson alumnus, called for transparency and a written explanation of what happened to the pool, saying its condition is "a black eye on the community." He asked the district to explain why the pool has remained unused and who knew about structural problems.</n Board members asked the superintendent and staff for an overview of barriers to moving forward. Superintendent Larry Hook and staff described repeated leaks, water loss of thousands of gallons per day at one time, a complicated basement/roof/gym-floor structural interface and possible unknown subsurface issues; those conditions make repairs more costly than a simple liner replacement.

Technical and code constraints were noted: the existing pool is six lanes while contemporary competition standards generally call for eight lanes; the diving well is too shallow to meet current diving standards. District consultants and staff said that bringing the existing in-basement pool fully up to modern competition and safety codes could require excavation, structural stabilization and large-scale reconstruction, with order-of-magnitude costs discussed in the meeting and earlier facility committee work (board members referenced prior estimates on the order of $10–$12 million for full repair and upgrade).

Hook outlined options under study: (1) rehabilitate the current basement pool (likely costly and technically complex), (2) build a freestanding competitive facility on or adjacent to Anderson campus, or (3) partner with Anderson Township and parks (the "Beach Acres" site was cited as a possibility) to develop a community pool that could serve both Anderson and Turpin programs. Hook said fundraising, a bond/levy or one or more large donors are typical funding pathways; he cited an example in another district where a single large donor contributed an eight-figure amount for a pool.

Board members recommended that any pool decision be folded into a comprehensive, districtwide facilities plan rather than considered in isolation. Several members emphasized that a freestanding facility may be more cost-effective and avoid repeating the challenges of siting a pool under a gym.

No final decision was made at the meeting. Hook said district staff are collaborating with Anderson Township and the parks on the Beach Acres study and that the board would receive updates as options and estimates are refined.

Context and clarifying details: At the meeting board members and staff referenced earlier third-party assessments, short-term mitigation (plugging leaks), and that competitive standards limit the current pool's use for state tournaments. A board member stated a prior estimate in facilities committee work for restoration was "in the $10 to $12 million" range; the district described that figure as an example of the scale of costs rather than a finalized bid.

Next step: Staff will continue feasibility analysis, coordinate with township leaders on the Beach Acres option and present findings to the board as part of a long-term facilities planning process.