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Antigo board creates committee and approves Fund 80 position amid months-long debate over aquatic-center finances
Summary
After public commenters and foundation leaders raised discrepancies and large increases in pool operating projections, the board voted to create a committee to oversee continued operations of the Clara R. McKenna Aquatic Center and approved creating a Fund 80 position to manage community-service operations.
Community members and foundation leaders told the Unified School District of Antigo Board of Education on July 27 that they want an ongoing, structured process to address the future operations of the Clara R. McKenna Aquatic Center.
Sarah Repp, who identified herself as a parent, former aquatic-center board member and City of Antigo parks official, urged the board to allow "open discussions" among the district, the foundation and the YMCA and highlighted apparent budget discrepancies. "I mentioned the total cost of $1,200 annually because the financial budget document provided by the district listed software costs at 5,800," Repp said, urging the board to review specific line items.
Tom Koss, president of the foundation, walked the board through audited and committee figures and said he found recent projections had risen substantially. "The total expenses for operating the pool were 536,000 [FY2024]...then the task force budget showed...$634,750...we're now expected to be $781,000...the finance committee...said it looks like it's gonna cost 1,000,000 dollars a year to operate the aquatic center," Koss told the board.
Board members used those public comments as background during an extended discussion item about continued operations. The board debated whether to recreate a broad, citizen-inclusive task force or appoint a smaller subcommittee within buildings and grounds that would operate like other district committees; members also discussed conflict-of-interest concerns if donors sit on a committee and whether a dedicated staff position would be a better long-term solution.
After multiple amendments and debate about membership and scope, the board voted 8-0 to create a committee "for the purpose of continued operations for the Clara R. McKenna Aquatic Center." Later in the meeting the board also approved the creation of a Fund 80 position to manage community-service activities (broadly defined). The board left salary and final job description to administration and committee processes; trustees discussed the possibility of a split-funded position (part Fund 80, part Fund 10) and the need to identify available funding before filling the role.
Board members stressed the committee and the Fund 80 position are intended to improve communication, facilitate operational purchases or requests from the YMCA, and relieve routine operational burdens on district administration until a permanent staff solution is in place.
What happens next: The board president will appoint committee members per board policy, the committee will meet publicly per open-meetings law, and administration will work on job description, funding and timing for filling the Fund 80 position. The board asked that committee meetings include YMCA representatives when operational items are discussed and that finance staff provide audited fund reports to improve transparency.
Provenance: Public comments, task-force background and the motions to form the committee and create a Fund 80 position were discussed across the public-comment period and the board-action items regarding continued operations and fund-position creation.
