MARTIN COUNTY — The Martin County High School swimming pool will stay open, at least through next school year, school Superintendent Michael Maine told TCPalm Thursday.
Status of the aquatic center, named in 2014 as the Coach Dick Wells Training Center, had been the subject of community concern for the past month after district officials expressed worry over the $1.2 million in repairs needed for the nearly 50-year-old facility.
Last week, students pleaded with the School Board to keep the pool open. Those students played a big part in Maine's decision to keep the pool open, he said.
"We're in the business of educating students. I was proud of them for coming forward," he said. "The students were very passionate (about keeping the pool open)."
Among the students speaking at last week's board meeting was Martin County High School senior Cutter Shipman, who said his training at the pool and the coaching staff helped him receive a swimming scholarship at a Division I college. He also competed at the state swimming championships.
"I stand for the survival of the pool," Shipman told the School Board. "My teammates and I have trained here for many years, striving for our goal, many of us practicing multiple times per day to achieve it."
Shipman said he wanted other students to have the same chance he had.
"Our pool is essential for that," he said.
The pool has helped student Manuel Gonzalez achieve more than just learning to swim fast, he told the board. Gonzalez' behavior and grades also improved when he became involved with swimming, he said.
"7,488 hours. That is the number of hours that I have swum at the Martin County High School pool. That is twice a day, six hours a week, all year round for the last eight years," Gonzalez said. "To me, swimming is more than just a sport. I have tried other sports, but nothing gave me the confidence swimming has."
Martin County High's swimming and diving teams use the pool for practices and competition in the fall. Most of its use, though, is from the Martin County Swim Club, which has many public school students as members. The pool is used by the public in the mornings, afternoons and on weekends, district spokeswoman Jennifer DeShazo said.
South Fork and Jensen Beach high schools have no pools, and their swimming teams use the county-owned Sailfish Splash Waterpark in Stuart.
Over the next year, Maine plans to consult with district officials about the repairs and determine what needs to be done immediately. At some point, a decision needs to be made on whether to make the repairs — which include replacing pool heaters and repairing cracks and liners — or permanently close the pool, he said.
Martin County High School pool saved from the chopping block as School Board eyes budget cuts
"We will use that year to make the decision for 2025-2026," he said.
The district last tried to close the pool in 2018, citing high operating and maintenance costs as well as security concerns. After more than 50 people pleaded with the School Board to keep the pool open, the School Board agreed. At the time, the pool was costing almost $155,000 a year to operate, and receiving just $16,250 annually in revenue from Martin County Swimming Inc.
Colleen Wixon is the education reporter for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers. Contact her at colleen.wixon@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Superintendent says Martin County High School swimming pool to stay open for 2024-2025
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