Central HS pool costs up for debate

The cost to get the Central High School pool up and running ranges between $500,000 dollars and one-million.

The Grand Forks School Board meeting as the Facilities Committee of the Whole received a briefing last night (Monday) on a “buy-time” fix as well as a “long term” solution for the shuttered pool.

Director of Building and Grounds Jonathan Ellwein says the goal is to get the pool filled and ready for the next school year.  “If we would do the first selection we are looking on maybe a max of five years of usability.”

A long term solution to keep the pool afloat could cost upwards of $9 million dollars.

Superintendent Terry Brenner says the district is not in a position to lose its swim program.  “If it got into the $9 million dollar range we would have to be very creative in how we finance that because we have three building projects going on right now.”

There was consensus among the board to support the “buy time” investment – but an official vote will be delayed until after the November 14th special city election to decide the fate of funding for an aquatics facility.