Parents and students urge Monrovia Unified to set aside $5 million from Measure MM for new aquatic center

Parents, students and coaches pressed the Monrovia Unified School District board on a common request: set aside Measure MM funds to rebuild and reopen a high‑school‑level aquatic facility.

At the public‑comment portion of the board meeting, parent Karen Dlue told trustees she was representing “a lot of MUSD families” and asked the board for three commitments, the first of which was an immediate $5 million appropriation from the upcoming Measure MM draw to start an updated aquatic center. “First we ask that you set aside $5 million from the upcoming MM draw to start the process of funding a new an updated aquatic center,” she said, adding that such a commitment would strengthen grant applications and attract partners.

Students described the local effects of the pool’s closure. Isabelle Dlue, a fifth grader at Monroe Elementary, said younger swimmers first practiced at the MHS pool and that long drives to other facilities reduced participation. “If it were still there today we could be getting better together instead of in separate pools,” she said.

Other parents and students gave concrete examples and context. Jana Pitikovesley cited recent projects in neighboring districts, saying the Edgewood High School pool was rebuilt for about $2.6 million and another $4.3 million upgrade occurred in San Diego County; she argued those examples show a modestly scaled project could be attainable. Parent Dana Dullah, a former competitive swimmer, emphasized inclusivity and argued that local everyday access—an early‑morning open lane—would serve a wide range of students and residents.

Several speakers asked the board for not only capital funding but program stability: guaranteed pool space, preseason training time, reliable transportation and committed coaching for 2025–26 so teams and community programs can continue. Janine Similian, a longtime PTA volunteer, said the program’s limits were driven by pool availability and logistics and asked for a district commitment to support aquatics beyond one‑off events.

The board did not vote on any pool appropriation at the meeting. Staff and trustees acknowledged the requests during the consent and facilities discussion later in the agenda, including references to the district’s newly contracted project manager and the role that firm may play in evaluating Measure MM allocations and grant opportunities.

The next step identified on the record was further work by district staff and the Measure MM project manager to evaluate scope and feasibility; no dollar allocation was made during the meeting.