New Hartford — As the New Hartford Central School District seeks ways to maximize the use of existing space to accommodate the growing needs of its students and staff, the school board has faced the question of what to do with Perry Middle School’s pool. It is working.
Pool improvements, primarily related to dehumidification system upgrades, were included in the district’s capital project proposal, which voters approved in December. But since then, the district’s need for more space has grown to accommodate special education programs and new staff hired to support the social, emotional, and mental health needs of students. I’m here.
At the Board’s October 11 meeting, Superintendent Cosimo Tangorra Jr. recommended a board vote to close pools not being used for academic purposes and repurpose the area as an educational space. did.
“This was not a decision taken lightly by the administration,” Tangola said. “However, as we delve into the planning of capital projects, we see that more students benefit from reusing pool his area for academic instruction rather than slightly improving an already underutilized pool. It has been shown to bring about
The administration and board have recognized that there are some community organizations using the pool, but the pool is too small for districts to use for interschool sports. New Hartford Senior High School has a full-size competition pool that is used not only by the school’s physical education program, but also by the district’s athletic department.
“When assessing space needs, we need to make decisions that best suit the current and future needs of our students and staff,” says Tangorra. “We know closing the pool is a decision that some people will be unhappy with. If the board decides to do so, we will work with the community groups that use it. so they can finish their current programming.”
During Board discussions, Board members expressed concern that residents had voted on a proposal that included an upgrade to the pool system, and that the community would be upset if the Board changed its plans. did.
Tangola acknowledged its concerns, but said the district’s needs had changed since the proposal was put together nearly two years ago.
By closing the pool, the school district will be able to address the current needs of the school, including creating more space for special education programs and adding classrooms needed for courses taught in spaces not intended for classroom instruction. can do. Auditorium, he said.
The board has asked the architects for more information, which will be shared at the next board meeting on Tuesday, October 25, at 6:30 pm.
The meeting will be live-streamed and a link will be posted in the announcements section of the district’s website www.newhartfordschools.org prior to the meeting.
The board will also vote on whether to close the pool that evening.
“I know the optics aren’t the best, but this is the situation we’re in,” Tangora said.
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