The OJR Temporary Pool is officially Dead in the Water

Many many thanks to the many dedicated OJR Pool Advocates and OJR Pool Committee for all their efforts to get OJR to go from good to GREAT! Unfortunately, it seems the obstacles that the OJR SB and Administration threw at the Pool Committee proved to be too much. Hopefully all of OJR can come together in a Positive Proactive way, and work towards making sure

1) The Pool Opens in September of 2009
2) An Aquatics Director is hired by January 2010
3) Fundraising is allowed to begin for a Deep Well, so that the existing pool can be used even more, for the benefit of the entire community

Let's all work together to take OJR from good to GREAT!

For more information on what happened to the OJR Pool click here.

Does the OJR SB have the Political Courage of the SB of 1967 to do the Right Thing?

A long time ago, back in the 1960's and finally in 1967, the Courageous Elected Leaders of the Owen J. Roberts School Board had the Political Courage to Build a Pool at the new Middle School because they understood the Value of....


"One Child Learning to Swim"

The community of Northern Chester County today, is far different from that of 40 years ago, however, the current School Board does not seem to appreciate the value of the only Pool in Northern Chester County, that has not only taught children to swim, but also provided an opportunity for Seniors, Special Ed Kids, and Special Olympics a place to swim, as well as a PAC 10 Championship Swim Team. Does the Community of OJR realize that Patrick Shirk of OJR may be going to the Olympics in China?

The question for the community, and for the OJR SB to consider on Monday, March 17, 2008, is, is it OK,,,to let the Community and OJR Swim Program fade away for 2 years,,,or to learn from the example of the Upper Dublin School District, (where Property Values are going UP), and help OJR go from good to GREAT.

Also, how is it possible for a PAC 10 Championship Swim Team of 50 Swimmers to practice and swim in 3 lanes. Has anyone seen 50 swimmers swim in 3 lanes? Is it possible?

Please be sure to attend the OJR SB meeting on Monday, March 17th ( St Patricks Day), and see first hand, what vision the current OJR School Board has.

Best of ALL, unlike historically what has been done at OJR, there is now a group that has Pledged to raise all the money to pay for a Temporary Pool, etc. unlike the many other things the OJR SB has spent money on in the past.

What a wonderful opportunity for OJR to involve the community in the Public Aspect of Public Education. Just think about the Good Will that will take place, with the raising of funds, which will take OJR from good to GREAT!

OJR SB B and G Committee considers Temporary Pool

On Monday, March 3, 2008 the OJR Pool Committee (with 8 of 9 School Board Members attending) presented the concept of a Temporary Pool(to a standing room only audience) at OJR to the OJR SB B and G Committee. The presentation was made by the Chairman of the OJR Pool Committee, Dr. Frank Scalise, as well as Mark Zeleznick, Dannelle Gearhart, Mary Hopkinson Wood and Dr. Richard Marchini and Dr. Robert Salladino.

The OJR Pool Committee asked permission from the Board to go and raise up to 250,000 privately, for the cost of the Temporary pool.

At the suggestion of Deb Bissland, and seconded by John Dutton, it was decided to defer the decision, as to what to do, to the entire OJR School Board at their meeting on March 17, 2008.

Please attend the meeting on March 17, 2008, and see how OJR can go from good to GREAT, and the entire community can come together.

To listen to the presentation click here

Tonight is OJR 's Opportunity to go from Good to GREAT!

Tonight at 7 PM, at the OJR SB Building and Grounds Meeting the OJR SB will hear the final presentation from the OJR Pool Committee about how to keep the OJR Aquatics Program alive and well for the next two years.

Over the weekend, many OJR Pool Advocates shared the concept of a Temporary Pool with the OJR Community at the OJR Craft Fair. What a wonderful opportunity for the OJR Community to come together. For more information on how you can help go to www.ojrpool.com and download information on how to Help Build the Pool.

Tonights meeting will be at 7 PM at the OJR Administration Building Board Room. Please be sure to attend.

What is important to the OJR SB? Does anyone know? Please let us know

The OJR SB spends over 80 Million Dollars a year of YOUR Tax Money. What is important to the OJR Community?

Below is a wonderful symbol of what the Ideals of Public Education should be.

The Star Spangled Banner was sung at the last OJR Age Group Diving Meet ( something that is not officially sanctioned by the OJR School District as part of the Curriculum) by Morgan MacConnell, who is not even a student at OJR, but whose Parents are Taxpayer of the OJR School District.

What Obligation does the OJR School Board have for those that pay Taxes, but do not get the benefit of the OJR Facilities, etc.? Please let us know.

Most importantly take a look at Morgan's singing of the Star Spangled Banner.




BRAVO and thanks to Morgan for sharing this with us.

OJR Pool Committee Presentation to OJR School Board

For those of you that missed Mark Zeleznick's Pool Bubble Presentation to the OJR School Board, Building and Grounds Committee you can listen to it here, (click here)

OJR Pool Proposal Can OJR go from Good to Great?

OJR parents propose portable pool
By Laura Catalano, Special to The Mercury
SOUTH COVENTRY — A temporary, inflatable pool with a heated, covered dome could provide the Owen J. Roberts School District with a swim program while the middle school is being renovated.
At least, that was the proposal set forth by the district’s pool committee at a school board buildings and grounds committee meeting Monday night.
The pool committee, composed primarily of swim coaches and parents of swimmers, said a temporary pool would not only be feasible, but also affordable. They estimated the cost at around $100,000 to $150,000, and claimed the expense could be offset by summer swim programs that could yield as much as $40,000 each summer........

..........Zeleznick closed his presentation with a reference to Superintendent Myra Forrest’s emphasis on taking the district “from good to great.”
“Only one thing stands in the way of going from good to great, and that’s one word: impossible. We have an amazing thing in front of us. I challenge the school board to take that word away.”

OJR Pool Committee Presentation to OJR School Board January 28 2008

http://www.ojrpool.com

How Many OJR MS and HS Students can fit in this Gymnasium for PE Class?

 
 
 
 

An Example of a Pool Dome Emmaus Aquatics Club

 
 
 
 

What is OJR's Plan for PE for the MS and HS?

As of Monday's Owen J. Roberts School Board Building and Grounds Meeting, it became official that OJR would not phase the Middle School Renovation Project, and will be losing access to the Pool and the Gymnasium for Physical Education.

An OJR High School Teacher spoke at the meeting about the difficulties this will cause.

Our question for the Community of OJR is what is the Plan for next year? Is Physical Education in Hallways really what "Good to Great" is all about? See below clip to see for yourself..

OJR POOL COMMITTEE PRESENTS SOLUTION TO OJR SB TONIGHT!

The OJR Pool Committee after many month's of meetings and work has come up with a WIN WIN WIN Solution for the OJR Pool.

Please come out to tonights OJR SB Building and Grounds Committee meeting and voice your support.

Take a look at the last OJR Age Group Swim Meet that occured this weekend and was featured on Channel 6 Action News

OJR HS SWIM TEAM WINS AGAINST BOYERTOWN

Congratulations to the OJR Swim Team!

Take a look at the excitement of the OJR Swim Meet against Boyertown



Let's hope the OJR School Board comes to watch the last OJR Age Group Swim Meet this Saturday at 11 AM at the OJR MS Pool.

When will the OJR Pool Re Open?

Many thanks to all that showed up at last nights OJR School Board Meeting.

Be sure to see the below Video of Mark Zeleznick addresssing the OJR School Board.

WHEN WILL THE OJR POOL RE OPEN??

Many thanks to everyone that attended the OJR SB Building and Grounds Committee Meeting tonight. We are all hopeful that the OJR SB and Administration is sincerely interested in keeping the OJR Pool OPEN, and working with the Aquatics Community.

Does anyone know when the OJR Pool will be OPEN after this season, and what if anything the OJR SB will do to provide a Temporary Location for:

1) The High School Swimming and Diving Team

2) The Age Group Swimming and Diving Team

3) The Community Swim Program, that benefits ALL TAXPAYERS of OJR.

Please tell us what you think, and take a guess when the OJR Pool will open once again. Many of us attended the meeting, BUT we still have NO CLUE, do you ?

Keep the OJR Aquatics Program going

PLEASE NOTE that the OJR School Board Building and Grounds Committee meeting is TONIGHT, Tuesday January 22nd and that the time has been changed to 7:30 PM, and will be held at the OJR Admin Building. If you care about the future of the OJR Pool , attend the meeting, email the OJR SB, (sbmembers@ojrsd.com) as well as the OJR Admin, and let them know how you feel about the future of the OJR Pool. Also, be sure to post your emails, thoughts and concerns to this blog.

KEEP THE OJR POOL OPEN!

The discussion and FINAL DECISION on whether the OJR Pool can be kept open, as well as if the Pool needs to be dug out or not, will be discussed at the OJR SB Building and Grounds Meeting on Tuesday, January 22, 2007 at 6 PM at the OJR Admin Building. Depending on attendance this location may be changed to the OJR HS LGI Room. If you want the Pool to remain OPEN, tell us why here, as well as be sure to email and call your School Board Members, and let them know how important the OJR Pool is to you and your children. If the OJR Pool can not be kept open ask the OJR SB what they will be doing to find an alternative location. For an example of what the Upper Dublin School District is doing during the Demolotion and Construction of their High School and Pool take a look at: http://www.udsdf.org/InterimFacilityOnline/UDHS_AlternatePoolOptions0809_files/frame.htm This same thing could happen at OJR.