GRANTON RESIDENTS DISCUSS POOL, FUTURE
Wednesday, September 24th, 2008 -- 1:43 PM
The Granton School Board got a clear message from area citizens last night: don?t close the swimming pool.Around 70 area residents attended the meeting to discuss the future of the swimming pool, and the future of the school itself.
Superintendent Rick Rehm explained it costs around $66,000 to operate the swimming pool each year. The water is now so cloudy, the 30-year-old pool has to be shut down periodically.
The culprit: an old coat of rubber-based paint and antiquated hardware.
The fix will cost around $50,000. Those in attendance said the pool was worth the cost. While board members don?t want to cut education spending to pay for the project, a group of teachers and citizens announced plans to raise funds for the project.
But, on the future of the school, the water was a bit murkier.
Declining enrollment is expected to cost the district nearly $200,000 in state aid from the current year to the 2010-2011 school year.
At the current pace, the district will go bankrupt by 2012-2013 school year.
It seemed to be agreed that there isn?t much room to make cuts in the budget. That leaves the district with three options: consolidate, dissolve or attempt another revenue cap exemption referendum.
No action was taken last night, but the board agreed to work with district residents on the problems.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.