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
Saturday, March 8, 2008
OJR SB B and G Committee considers Temporary Pool
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Owen J. Roberts group wants district to buy a backup pool
By Don Beideman
Inquirer Staff Writer
A community group in the Owen J. Roberts School District is pitching a plan to buy a swimming pool that could be used while the district's regular pool is closed during renovations at the Roberts Middle School.
> The unnamed group is scheduled to make a presentation tomorrow night to the school board's building and grounds committee at 6 p.m. in the administration building.
> The district's pool is at the middle school, which will close this summer for the construction project. It is due to be completed by January 2010.
> The committee will hear a plan that calls for purchasing a six-lane, four-feet-deep pool with decking, and engineering services to install it. A skin-like cover would be rented for a year at $4,000 per month.
> Frank Scalise, district supervisor of special projects, who is working with the group, will make the presentation. He says the total cost would be about $180,000, including the cover rental. The pool would be in a high school parking lot.
> The project would allow the high school swim teams and a youth swim program to keep operating until the middle school construction is completed.
> The community group hopes the committee will recommend that the school board accept the proposal and vote on it at its March 17 meeting.
> The district has also signed a contract with the Pottstown YMCA for the use of a limited number of lanes at its pool for the high school swim team as a contingency.
> Residents and businesses are being asked to make pledges to help with some of the costs.
>
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Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Posted on Mon, Mar 3, 2008 Zoom + | Zoom -
Temporary OJR poll would cost $179,000
By Laura Catalano, Special to The Mercury
SOUTH COVENTRY — Installing a temporary, enclosed pool outside the Owen J. Roberts High School would cost an estimated $179,000, the school board’s building and grounds committee learned Monday.
While board members balked at the cost, members of a community pool committee who presented the cost information have also proposed an ambitious fundraising campaign. Committee member Mary Hopkinson said they were seeking to raise $250,000 over the next year to cover the installation and operating costs of a temporary pool.
The buildings and grounds committee agreed to move the proposal for a temporary pool on to the full board for discussion at their next board meeting. That meeting is scheduled for 7:30 on March 17 in the high school LGI room.
The buildings and grounds committee consists of Chairman John Dutton, Debbie Bissland and Keith Fulmer. Fulmer was not present at the meeting. All other board members attended, but could not vote.
Bissland said she was hoping to get input from several members of the community as well as the board at the March 17 meeting.
The pool committee has been working for months to come up with a plan for the high school and age group swim teams next year. Those teams currently practice in the middle school pool, which will close in June when the building undergoes renovations. The pool isn’t expected to reopen until December 2009.
Pool committee member Mark Zeleznick gave a power point presentation on the costs and benefits associated with installing a temporary pool at the high school. The proposal calls for locating the pool directly outside the high school gymnasium.
The pool itself would cost about $90,000, including installation, decking, power hookups and other associated fees. In addition, the district would need to lease a cover — a tent-like facility with a metal structure at a total cost of about $65,000. Site work to set up the pool would add about $24,000.
To pay for that, the committee has promised $15,000 from the age group swim team — saved up to lease pool time from other community pools. It has also estimated the pool’s resale value at $30,000.
And, it has begun an aggressive capital campaign. Hopkins said the $250,000 the committee is seeking to raise through donations, grants and fundraisers would cover not only the $179,000 in estimated costs, but any unforeseen costs as well.
But committee members noted they could not begin to collect money until the board approved its plan. The committee was seeking a recommendation from the buildings and grounds committee to the school board.
However, neither Bissland nor Dutton were ready to give such a recommendation. Dutton noted that the district could seek to have the pool open earlier than the middle school, so that only a single swim season would be effected by the renovation project.
“We’re spending a lot of money for one season,” he observed. “We’re in a recession here. Elderly people have to spend money on medicine and food. We’re in reality here.”
Bissland was also unwilling to make any decision on the pool.
“You’re asking me to make a decision based on something I just saw tonight,” she said, referring to the power point presentation. “I would rather the whole board sit and discuss it so we can hear from all types of people.”
Dutton also wondered about the actual costs for the project. The $179,000 estimate was based on research done by the pool committee. But an engineer would need to be called in to work up true estimates. That could cost between $5,000 and $10,000, according to Business Manager Jaclin Krumrine.
Frank Scalise, the district’s supervisor of special projects, has been working with the pool committee. He observed that there would be a number of benefits to having a temporary pool, including additional physical education opportunities.
It would also enable the high school swim team to continue practicing on site. Plans right now call for the team to practice at the Pottstown YMCA at 8:15 every night. Parents are concerned about both the late hour and the fact that they would have only three lanes, as opposed to six.
In addition, without a pool on site, the age-group swim team would have to swim on different nights at various sites, including the Pottstown YMCA, Spring Valley YMCA and the Hill School. That’s something parents see as less than ideal.
However, Dutton told the teams they might be better off signing contracts than waiting for board approval for a temporary pool.
“I’d rather see contracts signed and locked in. If you have something pending, go for it,” he said.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Posted on Mon, Mar 3, 2008
Temporary OJR poll would cost $179,000
By Laura Catalano, Special to The Mercury
SOUTH COVENTRY — Installing a temporary, enclosed pool outside the Owen J. Roberts High School would cost an estimated $179,000, the school board’s building and grounds committee learned Monday.
While board members balked at the cost, members of a community pool committee who presented the cost information have also proposed an ambitious fundraising campaign. Committee member Mary Hopkinson said they were seeking to raise $250,000 over the next year to cover the installation and operating costs of a temporary pool.
The buildings and grounds committee agreed to move the proposal for a temporary pool on to the full board for discussion at their next board meeting. That meeting is scheduled for 7:30 on March 17 in the high school LGI room.
The buildings and grounds committee consists of Chairman John Dutton, Debbie Bissland and Keith Fulmer. Fulmer was not present at the meeting. All other board members attended, but could not vote.
Bissland said she was hoping to get input from several members of the community as well as the board at the March 17 meeting.
The pool committee has been working for months to come up with a plan for the high school and age group swim teams next year. Those teams currently practice in the middle school pool, which will close in June when the building undergoes renovations. The pool isn’t expected to reopen until December 2009.
Pool committee member Mark Zeleznick gave a power point presentation on the costs and benefits associated with installing a temporary pool at the high school. The proposal calls for locating the pool directly outside the high school gymnasium.
The pool itself would cost about $90,000, including installation, decking, power hookups and other associated fees. In addition, the district would need to lease a cover — a tent-like facility with a metal structure at a total cost of about $65,000. Site work to set up the pool would add about $24,000.
To pay for that, the committee has promised $15,000 from the age group swim team — saved up to lease pool time from other community pools. It has also estimated the pool’s resale value at $30,000.
And, it has begun an aggressive capital campaign. Hopkins said the $250,000 the committee is seeking to raise through donations, grants and fundraisers would cover not only the $179,000 in estimated costs, but any unforeseen costs as well.
But committee members noted they could not begin to collect money until the board approved its plan. The committee was seeking a recommendation from the buildings and grounds committee to the school board.
However, neither Bissland nor Dutton were ready to give such a recommendation. Dutton noted that the district could seek to have the pool open earlier than the middle school, so that only a single swim season would be effected by the renovation project.
“We’re spending a lot of money for one season,” he observed. “We’re in a recession here. Elderly people have to spend money on medicine and food. We’re in reality here.”
Bissland was also unwilling to make any decision on the pool.
“You’re asking me to make a decision based on something I just saw tonight,” she said, referring to the power point presentation. “I would rather the whole board sit and discuss it so we can hear from all types of people.”
Dutton also wondered about the actual costs for the project. The $179,000 estimate was based on research done by the pool committee. But an engineer would need to be called in to work up true estimates. That could cost between $5,000 and $10,000, according to Business Manager Jaclin Krumrine.
Frank Scalise, the district’s supervisor of special projects, has been working with the pool committee. He observed that there would be a number of benefits to having a temporary pool, including additional physical education opportunities.
It would also enable the high school swim team to continue practicing on site. Plans right now call for the team to practice at the Pottstown YMCA at 8:15 every night. Parents are concerned about both the late hour and the fact that they would have only three lanes, as opposed to six.
In addition, without a pool on site, the age-group swim team would have to swim on different nights at various sites, including the Pottstown YMCA, Spring Valley YMCA and the Hill School. That’s something parents see as less than ideal.
However, Dutton told the teams they might be better off signing contracts than waiting for board approval for a temporary pool.
“I’d rather see contracts signed and locked in. If you have something pending, go for it,” he said.
www.mcall.com/news/local/all-b3_1panther.6303542mar08,0,6434033.story
themorningcall.com
Panther Valley directors say they won't close pool
Concerns followed board member's inquiry about costs. Radio show also discussed.
By Ashley Kosciolek
Special to The Morning Call
March 8, 2008
Just five days after Panther Valley High School's varsity girls swim team won its first district title, the school board on Thursday assured a room of concerned parents, coaches and students the school's swimming pool won't close.
At least 20 people at the meeting to support keeping the pool open cited the swim team's success and the facility's benefits to the community.
Superintendent Rosemary Porembo shared five letters from groups that use the pool -- including senior citizens and the district's cross country and baseball teams and life skills classes -- asking that it stay open.
After being closed for 21 years because of leaks and high costs for heating and other maintenance, the pool was reopened in 2000 and is used for athletics, physical education classes, senior citizen recreation, birthday parties, scuba certification and lifeguard training.
When School Director R. Mickey Angst asked for a breakdown of pool operating costs at a February meeting, people became concerned officials were considering shutting down the pool.
Resident Kim Kokinda on Thursday asked Angst for clarification.
''I have never indicated that I want to close the pool,'' Angst said. ''That would be idiotic with the success [of the swim team]. I am in favor of getting all of the information possible. I'm in favor of more sports, not less, but I'm also in favor of holding costs down.''
After most board members said they would never vote to close the pool, Director Wayne Fritzinger asked that the issue be discussed at a board Athletics Committee meeting and be put on the agenda for a board meeting.
Also Thursday, several residents spoke out against a local radio show that has been accused of portraying the district and its student athletes negatively after controversy on the girls varsity basketball team caused a shortage of players this season.
Mark Marek, a Panther Valley graduate and host of ''Air Your Opinion,'' a weekly show on WLSH 1410 AM, and Angst both have been accused of making comments about the girls junior varsity season being canceled because of a lack of players.
''The people who are happy with [the board and the district] are out doing other things, not calling into this program,'' said Linda Hiles, wife of former board President David Hiles. She said she thinks people with positive things to say about the district should call the show.
At an Athletics Committee meeting Wednesday, board President Ron Slivka asked whether WLSH and sister station WMGH 105.5 FM could be banned from broadcasting district events, but Porembo and high school Principal George Gillespie agreed to first discuss the issue with Marek and the station manager.
Ashley Kosciolek is a freelance writer.
Copyright © 2008, The Morning Call
Dear Sirs/Madam:
I read with disappointment your editorial Saturday about the OJR pool
issue. Your opinion that this issue is about parents who don’t like to be
inconvenienced is less than accurate. In fact the larger issue is about
safety and fairness.
My first point is that this is not about one swim season – the renovated
middle school is set to open in January 2010 and the School Board hopes to
open the pool sooner. As was said at the last building and ground meeting,
this is an old building and you don’t know what you will find when you
start demolition – we could well be later. The swim season begins in
late fall and lasts through the winter. This is really about two seasons
– not one.
The High School Swim team going from 6 to 3 lanes seems just an
inconvenience until you consider that there are over 50 members of the swim
team. These kids swim at different paces and are at very different levels
of ability. With 6 lanes, you can separate kids by levels and keep the
lanes moving appropriately. With 3 lanes the kids are doubled up and the
danger arises when faster swimmers continually overtake slower swimmers
resulting in situations where kids coming up for a breath are met with
obstacles like legs, arms, etc. A swim practice can look like orderly
pandemonium in the best of circumstances. This circumstance is just plain
dangerous not just an inconvenience.
A second inconvenience for the swim team has to do with those swimmers who
are working hard toward college scholarships. With less than half the
practice time from previous years, those dreams become much less real or
reachable. I suppose to those kids we really need to let them know we are
sorry about those scholarships but it’s just an inconvenience.
Another inconvenience is the Physical Education provided to the High School
and the Middle School for the next two years. With the middle school down,
the pool and the gymnasium also go down. That means that the high school
facilities, which are adequate for the high school population, will now be
stressed to their maximum. While it is certainly possible in warmer, drier
weather to use the outdoor facilities, that is not the case for most of the
school year. The physical education classes for the middle school are
currently at between 50 to 65 kids but with the lack of facilities at the
high school, those classes for both the middle school and the high school
will nearly double in size. The picture of 100 to 120 plus 7th graders
doing PE at the same time in limited space is very scary. I have a great
deal of respect for the principals of the High School and the Middle School
but I know that this is a herculean task. I know that they are working hard
to come up with alternatives and options but there is only so much they can
do with the space they have. This is a significant safety issue and one
that the temporary pool solves.
With all this said, I don’t believe this is about inconvenience but
rather the safety of these kids.
Another correction to the editorial is that at the Building and Grounds
committee, it was not asked that the board approve this project out of hand
but rather, with the School Board permission on the 17th, , that the pool
committee be allowed to start to fundraise and that the school district
work on developing the Request for Proposals for the Engineering
Feasibility Study. It was also discussed that at the end of two months we
would get back together and that if the pool committee had not raised
significant funds or the concrete prospect of them that the RFP would not
go forward.
Finally, according to the editorial, this issue is all about the age group
swim team. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The age group swim
team is made up of 200 kids who, with very few exceptions attend the OJR
schools and are constituents of the district. That being said, they have
offered to contribute to this program a sum of money which is greater than
what they will need to rent space in alternative pools next year. In
addition, many of these parents have offered their time and money to help
with this project. The Age Group would use only 2 hours a day of pool time
during swim season. The rest of the time the pool would be used by the
district with the majority of time being used by the high school and middle
school programs with the remaining time available to the school district to
use as they please for revenue generation (lap swim, summer programming,
swimming lessons, etc) as well as community projects such as Special
Olympics, elder programs, etc.
Mary Hopkinson
Parent of a Age Group Diver
www.mcall.com/news/local/all-b1_3pool.6307552mar11,0,3073206.story
themorningcall.com
Easton Area eyes funding options
District must decide how to pay for March, Paxinosa, pool work.
By William J. Ford
Of The Morning Call
March 11, 2008
The Easton Area School District is expected to obtain a $36 million bond issue to pay for two elementary school renovation projects and a new natatorium at the high school, but deciding the specifics of the funding might take a month.
The Paxinosa Elementary project in Forks Township would cost about $16.4 million; March Elementary on Easton's College Hill would cost about $14.2 million. That would leave about $5 million of the bond for a new pool at the high school in Palmer Township.
The pool project is expected to exceed $7 million, so the remaining balance would come from the district's capital reserves, Business Manager Jeffrey Bader said.
Two financial consultants -- Brad Remig of Public Financial Management Inc. in Harrisburg and Kenneth A. Phillips of RBC Capital Markets in Lancaster -- gave spending proposals to the school board's finance committee on Monday night.
One option to pay for the three projects is a traditional fixed interest rate and the other a combination of fixed and variable interest rates, or swap, the consultants said.
A swap is a contractual agreement between two parties to exchange interest rates on bonds that can last up to 30 years with a financial institution.
The financial institution's hedge against interest rates is based on two indexes. The district would need short-term interest rates to be lower than long-term interest rates to profit.
Phillips and Remig list several advantages to a swap, such as being able to restructure a debt service payment schedule. A risk, they say, is that a bond issuer would pay higher tax-exempt rates if the market changes.
The average interest for a fixed rate would cost the district 5.4 percent, versus 3.8 percent with a swap rate, according to estimates from Phillips and Remig. Their figures also show the district would save at least $280,000 a year versus a 100 percent fixed rate.
The district used a swap deal to build the $83 million middle school complex in Forks Township.
But school board President Pat Vulcano isn't sure the rates Phillips and Remig presented Monday are worth the risk.
A fixed-rate interest payment would always remain the same from the first payment to the last, Vulcano said. An interest rate swap could change every year during the district's 20-year bond, he said.
''There's a lot of ifs with a swap deal. The district could pay more money in the long run,'' he said. More research needs to be done, he said.
The board's Buildings and Grounds Committee met afterward and agreed to ask its engineer to present drawings for an eight-lane and 10-lane pool at the high school. D'Huy Engineering of Bethlehem was also asked to provide cost estimates to renovate the existing 45-year-old natatorium, which has four lanes.
The board is expected to make a decision March 31.
william.ford@mcall.com
610-559-2142
Copyright © 2008, The Morning Call
Some how the taxpayers are going to be bent over again! OJR schools are an educational system not an entitlement program! Do like other schools, rent swim time from a YMCA!
Other school programs that have pools, have bigger and better benefits than those that don't. Swim programs that rent at a YMCA are not as successful as those that do AND they can not offer the educational benefits that having a pool in-house offer. Children from 6th through 8th grades learn the advantages to swimming and can use this as a life lesson. Get a clue to the benefits before you start offering your 2 cents!
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