A plan for $37.5 million Olympic-sized swimming pool at Oak Park and River Forest High School was approved by the board in April, 2015.

After a group of Oak Parkers gathered 4,300 signatures in two weeks to force the local high school to put a $17.5 million swimming pool bond on the ballot for referendum, the Oak Park and River Forest High School Board is now considering a retreat.

The board got an earful at a special meeting Jan. 14 to gather community input on whether or not to pull the bond, and hence remove the referendum issue from the March 15 ballot. The existing plan, approved in April 2015, would tear down a village-owned three-story parking garage on campus and replace it with a proposed Olympic-sized swimming natatorium

In the landlocked suburb where parking is scarce around the high school, neighbors reacted strongly at the board meeting.

“If you tear down that parking garage there will be a tsunami and don’t expect to be elected again,” said Rebecca Morrow-Nye, who said she had lived in Oak Park for more than 30 years. “We need a pool, but not at the expense of the garage.”

The proposed 50-yard natatorium would allow the high school to host swim meets. Tearing down the garage and building the pool will cost $37.5 million, the board has announced. The board voted to use $20 million of the school’s fund balance and finance the $17.5 million with a so-called “back-door referendum” working cash bond.

Under Illinois state rules, working cash bonds can be issued by school districts without a referendum. However, if, within 30 days, petitions are submitted signed by at least 10 percent of the registered voters in the school district, the bond is forced onto the referendum.

Oak Parker Monica Sheehan and her neighbors utilized Facebook and a group of volunteers to collect signatures. The signatures were challenged by Matthew Kosterman of River Forest and Wayne Franklin of Oak Park but Jan. 11 the challenges were overruled by a hearing officer at the Cook County Clerk’s office.

Citizens Thursday scolded the board for trying to duck asking voters to approve the bond.

“What came across to me is denial of the ballot, and denial of your fellow citizens,” Bruce Kleinman told the board.

Pools need replacing

The OPRFHS board and a pool committee have been working since 2012 on a plan to replace the school’s two swimming pools, which are both more than 90 years old. Diving teams can no longer practice at the pool because the diving well is not at regulation depth.

Pool walls are cracking and the rebar is failing, according to an engineering report mentioned at the meeting. Tiles are missing from one pool, causing leaks, but the staff has been advised not to drain the pool entirely because hydrologic pressure of refilling it could burst the walls.

Oak Parker Chris Meister, executive director of the Illinois Finance Authority, an Illinois-owned bank, urged the board and his fellow citizens to invest in “long-term infrastructure of our community asset.”

“Build consensus or you’ll lose the referendum in March or November,” said Oak Parker Judith Alexander.

After comments, Board President Jeff Weissglass said he would consider withdrawing the bond proposal until a thorough parking plan was complete. He said he didn’t think the board would try to float a bond again without a referendum.

Board member Steve Gevinson acknowledged the board may have to re-think other sites, including partnering in an off-campus community center proposed by the Park District of Oak Park.

Board member Fred Arkin, a former OPRFHS wrestling coach, said the board needed to let the community have a voice.

“I know what a fight is. This is not a fight. We’re trying to solve a problem,” Arkin said.

“I take my hat off to the leaders who were able to engage 4,300 people.”

Board member Jackie Moore said she was made weary by the “polarization” of neighbors and reminded Oak Parkers that “we live in such a resource-rich community.”

The board will vote Jan. 19 whether or not to withdraw the bond and work on an education campaign to present a new bond proposal and referendum for the November election.

— Facing referendum, high school may withdraw  $17.5 million swimming pool bond —