Citizen’s group wants pool closing reconsidered

A citizen’s committee is hoping the school board will reconsider its decision in May to close the Benson indoor swimming pool.
Committee members met informally, Thursday, with Dennis Laumeyer, Superintendent of Benson Schools, and several school board members to express their interest in keeping the indoor swimming pool open, according to Dan Enderson, a member of the committee.  Enderson also said the group offered to take on the two challenges which are the main focus of the indoor pool issue; coming up with additional funding sources for the pool, and find ways to promote additional utilization of the pool.
The District 777 Board of Education voted to close the pool at its May 16 meet.  The board pointed to concerns about the costs of maintaining the pool, which was originally opened in 1976, and the limited use of the pool.
The citizen’s group sees the pool as an important asset to the school and community, and the group is hoping to work on solutions to the pool issue in hopes of persuading the members of the school board to reconsider their decision.
The school board is looking at the pool areas as a potential lower-cost option to provide additional space for the school in the form of classrooms or other uses.  The next few school board meetings are set for Monday, June 20 at St. Malachy’s Church in Clontarf; and at 6 p.m, Monday, July 18 in the senior high library.
School board members hope to have a plan in place by the end of the year, meaning the pool committee members will need to come up with solutions within the next couple of months.
 
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