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Community urges Antigo school board not to close or sell Clara R. McKenna Aquatic Center
Summary
Dozens of residents, donors and swim-team members urged the Unified School District of Antigo board to preserve the Clara R. McKenna Aquatic Center, offering short-term operating commitments, maintenance support from the YMCA and fundraising pledges to avoid sale or closure.
At a packed April 20 board meeting, community members urged the Unified School District of Antigo not to close or sell the Clara R. McKenna Aquatic Center, offering concrete short‑term funding and maintenance options to keep the pool open.
The volume of public comment underscored the facility’s local role: Andrew Tainter told the board he submitted a written plan showing how Fund 10 can cover baseline ownership costs and Fund 80 can track community programming revenue and expenses so the district would not need to sell the pool. “If you choose to sell this, it will close the pool,” he said, urging the board not to make that decision tonight.
Why it matters: speakers described the pool as essential infrastructure for lessons, therapy, school swim education and local swim teams. Several donors and foundation representatives said they could supply operating funds and capital repairs if the district affords time to the task force created to explore options.
Task-force and donor proposals: A task‑force member reported a short‑term plan that includes donor-funded repairs (locker-room grates, partitions, front door) and a foundation pledge to cover an identified operating shortfall in the current year (approximately $90,949) and the following year. The speaker said the YMCA has agreed to continue maintenance for a limited period and the task force has commitments totaling an initial $500,000 with additional matching pledges that could grow to about $1.5 million over the next year.
Community perspective: Parents, swim-club volunteers and local business owners described the pool as a community asset that supports recruitment, retention and youth development. “The pool is more than a building. It is a lifeline for many kids in the community,” said Paula Royce, a parent and longtime volunteer. A junior varsity swimmer said losing the pool would remove swim teams and lessons that many students rely on.
Board response and timeline: Board members acknowledged the task force and donors have offered options but reiterated that certain bargaining details (price ranges for property sale) are discussed with counsel in closed session. Several public speakers urged the board to delay any final action until the task force completes its work and the new board members are seated.
What’s next: The board took no public vote tonight to sell the property; a motion to enter closed session later in the meeting included possible discussion of a potential sale of 111 Western Avenue and carried, but board members emphasized no sale vote occurred in open session. The task force will meet and present additional details to the board and community in upcoming meetings.
