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Students urge Monrovia Unified to fix pool, find coaches as seasons approach
Summary
Multiple Monrovia High School athletes told the school board they lack an on‑campus pool and a coach, asking the district to use bond or developer funds or partner with the city to restore practices and keep teams competitive.
A string of Monrovia High School student athletes told the Monrovia Unified School District board on June 25 that the district must act to restore its aquatics program: they said the campus still lacks a functioning pool, coaches are not in place, and students are losing conditioning time compared with other Rio Hondo League teams.
"Please bring back Mr. Lee," senior Zeke Westra told the board, urging the district to retain or hire a water‑polo coach so the program can continue to grow. Joshua Bolton, a team captain, said the lack of an on‑campus pool and the absence of a coach are leaving teams "in the dust" and asked the district to help students find a coach and repair the pool so teams can train locally and prepare for competition.
Other student speakers made the case that aquatics supports more than athletics: Sydney Veltman, a captain of girls varsity water polo and swim, told the board that the teams drove 15–30 minutes each way to practice and that an investment in a competitive pool and stable coach wages is necessary for the teams to remain competitive. Billy Maddox, a varsity goalie, said the season’s schedule and practice demands strained students’ ability to keep up with schoolwork and urged the board to "add some urgency to the repair and or reconstruction to our pool deck." Lucas Suarez, a junior, said students feel ignored after two years of vague updates and asked whether bond funds are being set aside to rebuild or restore the pool.
Board members and staff acknowledged the concern. District staff said the pool project is still under design with a partnering architect and that options and timelines would be shared with the board once available. Staff also noted funding sources discussed earlier in the meeting (developer fees, local bond proceeds, and potential state modernization funds) might be part of the long‑term solution, but emphasized that eligibility rules and matching requirements constrain how certain funds may be used.
What the students asked for: immediate clarity on whether bond or developer fees are being set aside for a pool rebuild, a timeline for repairs, and help identifying and securing a coach for the coming season.
What’s next: Staff said they are still working with an architect on pool concepts and will report back when materials are ready; board members asked staff to prioritize the pool updates and to present options for funding and timelines at a future meeting.
