CKSD Board votes: Oly pool will close by 2013

The Central Kitsap School District (CKSD) Board of Directors met in session Wednesday to discuss a variety of topics including the recommendations made by Superintendent Greg Lynch for dealing with the issue of the Olympic High School pool.

The district’s plan, which would effectively close the pool “not later than spring of 2013,” but the pool could close earlier if “there is a major systems failure of more than $15,000, the CKSD budget deficit continues to negatively impact programs or activities or a community pool opens prior to spring 2013.”

The board voted unanimously to accept this option, but not before Board Vice President Chris Stokke questioned the wording of the option.

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“I think it takes the board out of the decision process, that last part” Stokke said. “I would like to offer an amendment to the motion to add … ‘And the board approves a recommendation to close the pool prior to 2013.'”

Stokke made a motion to amend the option’s wording by adding a statement which would require board approval in any future decision to close the pool.

Board member Christy Cathcart, in an emotional tone, said the pool was an important part of her life because when her son was a senior, she had to fight to keep his swim program together.

“As a person who went through all of that angst in 1994, it is very painful to me to be doing this,” a tearful Cathcart said. “Because to me, that pool is a very significant asset to this community. But there is a reality here that I just have to face. And you are not going to see me cry very often.”