School boards approve pool use agreement

Gregory Harutunian

McHenry -- 080515 D155 OKs swim agreement PHOTOWith the girls swim team season rapidly approaching Aug. 12, the Community High School District 155 Board unanimously favored a pool use agreement with Woodstock District 200, during its regular July 21 meeting. At the same time, Woodstock’s district board also approved the agreement unanimously at its session.

Practices would be held at the Woodstock High School pool, using four lanes. Side agreements with the Crystal Lake Health Bridge facility for their pool, and team competitions are slated for the Sage YMCA of Metro Chicago in Crystal Lake, with dates and times to be announced.

“The boys team begins in November, and the girls Aug. 12, but we also have the girls co-op, Cary-Grove girls team, and co-op boys junior varsity team,” said Shannon Mortimer, district 155’s Director of Communications. “We wanted to use the high school’s lanes and starting blocks for our swim team.

“We are already looking at options for the next school year, as the current situation of using several sites. Students needing transportation to Woodstock would come under the agreement, without disrupting their class schedules.”

The Woodstock portion of the agreement was also approved July 21, at the District 200 meeting, with all board members voting unanimously in favor of the package. Mortimer had said the amount of the agreement was tabbed at $38,000 for the 2015-16 school year.

“We were approached by District 155, for the use of our pool,” said District 200 Superintendent Mike Moan. “We don’t use it, or rent it out. So, this was a chance to help out the Crystal Lake students, and there is no impact to out own students. This was a good option for everyone concerned.”

The situation of scrambling to find facilities stemmed from an agreement that was approved by the full District 155 School Board with the Algonquin-based Lifetime Fitness, Inc. at its June 16 meeting to relocate its swim meet events and practice sessions from the Sage YMCA of Metro Chicago in Crystal Lake, largely as a cost-effective measure.

The Sage YMCA had hosted the district’s swim teams in 2013-14, for approximately $11,000 in rentals. The cost rose to $45,987.50 in 2014-15, with a higher asking price for the coming 2015-16 season. The amount was perceived as cost-prohibitive and initiated board considerations and efforts into looking at other options.

The Lifetime Fitness agreement was negated at its corporate level, as having a potential negative impact on its own membership being able to use its equipment. Mortimer said the agreement was not to exceed rentals of $16,000 for the year, with another $4,000 for expenses associated with meets, and using the starting blocks for practice sessions.

“The way things are structured now, it’s a situation where everything is spread out, but we will be looking to secure agreements with facilities that would present the best advantage,” said Mortimer. “Offering the transportation to our students to the Woodstock site is an important aspect. They are students and we don’t want them to miss classes.”

 

— School boards approve pool-use agreement —