South Middleton School Board approves first step in high school pool renovation project
Design work could soon be underway on renovating and repairing the 50-year-old indoor pool at Boiling Springs High School.
During a meeting Tuesday night, South Middleton School Board hired EI Associates of Harrisburg as the district architect, setting in motion the design phase of a project estimated at $4 million to $4.6 million.
"This is step one," said Jim Decker, chairman of the facilities and security committee. "Approving the project would come in early spring."
That is when the board may vote to approve contractors who could start work on the project in early June with the goal of completion by mid-November for the start of the 2025 interscholastic swimming and diving season.
The decision Tuesday came after the board received numerous emails and public comments from residents in support of the high school pool as an educational and community asset. There was concern among many about the plans by South Middleton Township to buy the pool at Keystone Aquatics Center and how, if at all, it would affect the school board's decision to move forward with its own pool plans.
"I thank the board for its decision tonight," said Tyler Blanchard, a high school junior and one of two student representatives to the board. "I learned how to swim in our pool. I've received lifeguard training in our facility. I've saved several lives because of it.
"I come to you as a member of our swim team who has spent countless hours building skills, strength and resilience in this pool," he said. "I know our diving team is exceptionally appreciative of this decision to move forward with the pool reconstruction. Other facilities may not be able to accommodate this crucial part of the swim program and that will limit the success of our team. This project involves many factors and logistics – some of which still need to be worked out, but I encourage your future decisions to be centered around the students and community members."
The decision brings closure to a process that started over a year ago and included months of vetting options and adjusting the scope of work, Superintendent Kevin J. O'Donnell said. This process included reviews by pool consultants, the installation of a water meter, die testing the pool for leaks and a geophysical study to verify that there are no gaps or other anomalies in the ground under the pool shell, he said.
Initial cost estimates on the pool work went as high as $7 million, O'Donnell said. "It wasn't a decision that has been entered into hastily. There has been a lot of work and effort that has gone into getting it prepared."
Fieldhouse campaign
Hiring EI as the district architect is the first major decision to come out of the preliminary stages of piecing together a three-year plan to finance $19 million to $26 million in major capital projects at the high school, Yellow Breeches Middle School and the W.G. Rice Elementary School. There is no list for Iron Forge Elementary School, which underwent a major expansion and renovation project in 2015-17.
EI was first hired as a consultant in November 2023 to study enrollment trends, program requirements and building capacities as the district grapples with multiple issues tied to changing demographics, aging buildings and a potential enrollment surge.
One outgrowth of this effort has been the idea of a capital campaign in support of proposed fieldhouse improvements at the high school stadium. Board President Brad Group said Tuesday that he has started the process of forming an ad hoc committee to oversee the campaign.
"The initial list includes developing a list of potential committee members," Group said. "These will include school board members, Bubbler Foundation board members, school district administrators and representatives, representatives from some of our athletic teams, alumni association representatives and community members."
Three board members have volunteered to serve on the ad hoc committee. They are Robin Scherer, Devin Flickinger and Rodney Wagner.
"The goal is to have the committee fully established by January, so they can begin meeting and planning for a capital campaign," Group said. "The planning process will include a timeline, a fundraising goal, the creation of marketing materials and establishing a formal kick-off date for the campaign."
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