Earlier in 2009, the Board of Education approved plans for new pools in a 3-2 vote. These plans followed up the passage of Measure E, a bond measure that calls for up to $10 million be spent on replacing the 50-year-old pool. The original plan was to have an outdoor competition pool as well as a warmer indoor pool, along with locker rooms and classrooms to serve the high school and community.
Since the general economy has taken a turn for the worse, as well as the crippling budget shortage that affects Albany High School, the board has decided to revisit the plans, and see if money from Measure E could be used in a more effective way to build the pool complex. This decision has delayed the start of the pool construction for an indefinite amount of time, and another evaluation of the pool project is scheduled for early march.
So far, this delay has not had an impact on the high school team, which started its season in earlier this February. Unfortunately the loss of a pool 50 yards away from school has put the team at a slight disadvantage. Swimmers shuttle to practice in El Cerrito, which limits practice time in the El Cerrito Pool.
Many of the junior swimmers feel shortchanged that they will never get to swim as a student in the new pool(s), and many are worried that the delays will cause the project to cut into the swim season of 2011. If this happens, the current sophomores will have no pool their senior year.
Inflatable Pools people! think outside the box… or as Michael Phelps would say, “think outside the bong!”