Here are some key points from the April 14th pool meeting -
The LWSD is making it pretty clear that they don't want to spend one more dollar on pools and swim and dive programs. The district is telling any groups interested in taking over management that they will likely have to take over capital expenses as well. This is not what we were told by Dr. Chip Kimball in mid-March.
Management possibilities
Three groups have expressed interest in taking over management if the number work out. They are WAVE Aquatics, Pac West(?) and Safe & Sound Swimming. A rep for WAVE said they are waiting from information from the district and hope to have a decision by the end of April.
Fundraising
We have some great fundraising ideas, such as a swimathon with Seahawks players and kids from all area swim teams. Someone has an in with the Seahawks and thinks we could get big local and even national coverage. We are also looking for help to write grants requests. We found out that the local synchro swimming team just got $300,000 from Google to support their team.
Reduced spending
Mike, the pool manager, told us that he could cut the budget for the pool by up to $60,000 per year but he has never been asked to before.
District not interested in renting pool for classes
We also found out the even if a group takes over the pool, the LWSD is unlikely to want to rent the pool for lifeguard and PE classes.
Booster Club
The Juanita Booster Club indicated that they can handle donations for our group and would grant them to the LWSD to be used for the pool only. This group is a 501c3 so donations are tax-deductible.
Previous spending
We were informed that on top of the $20,000 each the district spent to rent the Redmond pool for both Redmond and Eastlake, they spent another $80,000 to bus the Eastlake swimmers to the Redmond pool for a number of years.
Start writing/email campaign
We have decided that we need to be the squeaky wheel. The district is dragging its heels to provide information and respond to our requests to work with them and any potential outside group to come up with money. We are going to make as much noise as possible for them to hear us and respond.
Meetings
As many people as possible are going to attend the School Board meeting on Monday to show support for our speakers. People are also invited to attend the community budget meeting with Superintendent Chip Kimball on Wednesday night, April 22nd, at 7:00pm in the Juanita High School cafeteria.
Proposal to district
We are going to work with Dave Noll to write a proposal to the school district about working with us. Our thinking is to have an outside management group handle operations, use the swim-a-thon to cover capital expenses and alternative sources to offset any deficit.
Future Funding
In 2010, a new bond and levy will be put to voters. I believe that the levy could include operational expenses and the bond include capital expenses. Our goal is to get full funding for both but the district seems to be unwilling to commit to including pool expenses in the mix.
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This information is forwarded from Michelle McRae, Lake Washington Swim and Dive Team:
Hello Everyone!
I just attended a meeting with other swim coaches, athletic directors, principals, and with district personnel. There is not a lot of new information to share about Juanita Pool's situation from the district's perspective. Starting with the new budget year 2009/2010 beginning next fall, they still do not want to use any money from the general fund to pay for pool operation expenses. Three outside organizations (WAVE, Northwest Center, and Safe and Sound Swimming), who are talking with the district about taking over the operation expenses, have until the end of April to submit their proposals. We hope to hear the results of this process in the coming weeks. The district seems willing to allow any fund raising monies to be used on either the upcoming capital expenses or to help in any other form to run the pool, while still stressing that no money will come from the district for operations. Dawn Maurer, the Juanita Girls' Head Coach, is working on various fund raising possibilities and getting an account set up with the JHS Booster Club to collect donations. After the step of arranging for the operational expenses for the coming years is figured out, the district will consider whether to incorporate the capital improvements into a 2010 bond for voter approval.
Mike Fahrenbach, the pool manager, is holding a public meeting on Monday, April 13 at 7:00 about the pool. It will be in the Juanita Gym. He wants to discuss speaking at the district board meeting the following Monday so that there is a significant presence of concerned citizens for the board to see. Anyone is welcome to come.
Here are additional opportunities to provide input to the district about its budget (from LWSD site):
Public meetings at each of the four comprehensive high schools will allow parents, staff members and community members to provide feedback on more specific proposed cuts. Attendees will participate in an exercise to prioritize which areas to protect and which areas to cut. They will be able to discuss options with others as well as submit their own selection. Each of the four meetings is open to parents, staff and community members from anywhere in the district: they have been scheduled in the four high schools to provide one nearby meeting for everyone.
April 14 - 7 p.m. Lake Washington High School, 12033 NE 80th St., Kirkland
April 15 – 7 p.m. Redmond High School, NE 104th St., Redmond
April 16 – 7 p.m. Eastlake High School, 400 228th Ave. NE, Sammamish
April 22 – 7 p.m. Juanita High School, 10601 NE 132nd St., Kirkland
Please let me know if you have questions about what is happening.
Thank you,
Michelle McRae
Lake Washington Swim and Dive Team
Please share this information with anyone interested in attending. Get the word out!
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The Lake Washington School District has told its swim coaches that the Juanita High School pool will close this summer unless an outside group will take over management of the pool. The LWSD no longer has an interest in managing the pool and feels that the pool should close due to a reduction in funds from Washington State.
This closure means the end of the swim and dive program for both Juanita and Lake Washington high schools, lifeguard training, PE swim classes, elementary swim lessons, water exercise, lap/family swims, public swim lessons and relocation for WAVE Aquatics. To keep equity, the LWSD also announced that the swim and dive programs at Eastlake and Redmond High Schools would end as well.
A community group, Save the Juanita Pool, is actively working to find outside funding and wants to LWSD to look at all possible alternatives before shutting down the pool.
Please show your support of the Juanita pool by sharing your stories about what the pool means to you and any ideas you have to convince the LWSD to keep our pool open.
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Send us your email address if you would like to be included on our distribution list. (Contact link on left) Please make sure you add savejuanitapool@yahoo.com to your contact list so the information does not go to spam.
Also join our "Save the Juanita Pool" Facebook group. (Link on left)
Share your stories about the Juanita pool. We will print and present them to the School Board and LWSD at the April 20th School Board meeting.
| • | Blog on Save JHS Pool |
| • | "Save the Juanita Pool" |
| • | Update letter |
| • | Background letter |
| • | Who can I contact? letter |
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