The Prince William County School Board voted 5-3 to approve an aquatic center for the 12th high school that is to open in September of 2016. The pool has been very controversial and has brought much angst and gnashing of teeth from more than a few citizens. Local bloggers have taken the pool at the school debate and flown with it, using the issue to mete out a ration of daily bashing of school board members and school employees who support the pool.
Frankly, I am glad to see this vote. Prince William County is a wealthy county and it is time for it to shine. It has come from being a one pony show, especially in the eyes of its neighbors to the west and north, to being a force to be reckoned with, despite citizens and elected officials attempts to paint the county as rather provincial and bo-hick.
More and more schools are including swimming and aquatic sports in their athletic programs. Remember when lacrosse was something that the rich kids did? Ever teach a kid who had been up at 3:30 a.m. to get his swim practice in? Ever talk to his exhausted parents? A county pool will be an equalizer. Since the new high school will be a specialty school, students with aquatic interests will be able to apply to attend on a full-time basis. No more 3 a.m. practices.
Good for school board members Johns, Williams, Covington, Otaigbe, and Jessie for giving the green light for this much needed facility in the new school. Schools should be places kids want to go, rather than institutional egg crates. Because of these brave school board members, who knew they were probably going to be called everything but jellyfish in the blogs have created a unique opportunity for students. Following this vote, the students of Prince William County can compete in style and perhaps along the way, many of our students will receive water safety instruction.
Yes, there is expense involved. The same hue and cry was heard when teachers wanted calculators and computers. Those who drag their heels always want to fall back on ‘the way we’ve always done things.’ Sometimes we just need to look at things in a new light. Is the expense worth it? Many PWC citizens seem to think it is. Most importantly, kids think it is.
We certainly don’t debate about putting in football fields or gymnasiums that cost millions of dollars. We shouldn’t do that over a swimming pool either. Thanks for the leadership, Chairman Johns.
Pool gets green light from Prince William County School Board can be read in the Washington Post.
Ahhhhhh. Those 4am weekday practices were so much fun. Bottom line, swim teams don’t make money like football and basketball does. Swim does provide scholarships, build stamina and teaches healthy competition. But where’s the money in that?
Americans only value money and those that generate it. Everyone else is considered a parasite.
Am convinced the pool is a bad idea. First of all, $12 million or so to build. Then comes annual maintenance of somewhere between $1.2 and 1.6 million per year. Thirdly, will the general public have access to the pool? Maybe, maybe not. Fourth–no curriculum for an aquatic program at this time. Fifth, it the public; i.e., swim teams, does have access, who says it won’t still be at O’dark:thirty?
And let’s don’t forget the motorized orchestra lift? Huh? There are grand theaters that don’t have such a thing.
I keep thinking about all these $$$$$$$$$$ and what they could do toward lowering classroom size, increasing the pay of teachers and improving the quality of education for students–TODAY. We can go on treating our teachers like second class citizens and subjecting our students to a second class education. And what we will get eventually–second class citizens. Just what PWC needs. Maybe someday they will serve on the BOCS or the PWC School Board or maybe they will even be teachers.