Dear Community,
Thank you for your continued support of student aquatics and building aquatic facilities in our district. We are moving closer to a time for a decision to be made whether to build pools for our students - this decision lies in the hands of the 5 elected trustees on our SDUHSD school board. This month's meeting contains two Aquatic agenda items:
- Aquatic Center at Torrey Pines High School Update Agenda Item 9 E
- Authorize Superintendent or Designee(s) to Explore Options for Aquatic Center at Torrey Pines High School Agenda Item 9F
Both of these Agenda Items are Possible Action so we need Aquatic families and supporters to email ALL of the trustees and Superintendent Staffieri ASAP to demand that this aquatic project move forward. See sample email below, along with the appropriate emails, and please include your personal experiences/hardships describing how your families/students have been personally affected by SDUHSD NOT having pools at our schools and in our district.
The bottom line is the posted Aquatic Update has some difficult increases in construction costs, increased operational costs and a new deferred maintenance table schedule cost - which we have not seen before on any construction projects from the district.
- Estimated Construction costs have increased $6.9M from the ADG estimated $14M (2022) to CWDriver's estimated over $20M (2024) - we believe this estimate to be inflated as this was not a competitive bid process, just an estimate from the chosen contractor for the Torrey Pines High School Athletic Project Phase 1 and 2.
- Estimated Operational costs have increased and the update does not explore or estimate the revenue that this facility could earn from lane rentals outside of school programming and athletic team usage.
- While the deferred maintenance table schedule is a good best practice to have for any institution to properly plan for future facility costs, we do not want this "new" process to be an excuse for not pursuing the TP Pool. Where are these tables for the rest of the facility projects at SDUHSD?
- Other hurdles include the State Architects office that has been slow to move this project through their approval process, changing CA State building codes that add requirements to this project, and the delay to make a decision to build this facility.
2024 is the year that SDUHSD must commit to build Pools for our Schools. All district students deserve Aquatic facilities and instruction that will ensure they are taught state mandated water safety. Our 12 High School Aquatic Teams deserve equitable practice and competition facilities. SDUHSD is the only High Performing High School District in the State of California that has NO Aquatic Facilities. The only conversation we should be having is how to close the funding gap to build this pool.
How can you support us?
- Email SDUHSD Trustees and Superintendent Staffieri asking them to build pools in our district.
- Spread the word about our mission and please share this email with friends and neighbors - many younger families don't realize our district has NO Pools until they graduate up from the Elementary Districts.
- Sign-up to receive our emails
- Purchase a magnet ($10) or sticker ($5) with our logo please text 619-972-0634 for delivery - all proceeds support our website and promotion of our mission.
- Join our committee - simply respond to this email, sandieguitopools@gmail.com
Thank you for your support, The SDUHSD Parent Aquatics Committee - sandieguitopools.org -
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Emails for SDUHSD Trustees and Superintendent
- Anne.Staffieri@sduhsd.net
- Michael.Allman@sduhsd.net
- Phan.Anderson@sduhsd.net
- JaneLea.Smith@sduhsd.net
- Rimga.Viskanta@sduhsd.net
- Katrina.Young@sduhsd.net
Sample Email
Dear Dr. Staffieri and Trustees,
Thank you for continuing to prioritize building pools in our district. This has been a regular agenda topic on SDUHSD board meetings since 2017 and 2024 is the year to act. Pools will benefit all district students with water safety education, aquatic programming and bring equity and relief to our over 800 aquatic student athletes who struggle with practice commuting times and inequitable athletic facilities. Add your student/family's personal story how they have been affected by not having pools in our district.
Insert your name