Agenda 2023-07-24

19 Comments

1. Megan Horn on July 31, 2023 at 11:55 am

   Dear Board Members,
   I write to you in support of option #2 regarding the renovations for the High School. I am a parent of a young Trojan who just had his first swim season last winter as a 6 year old in first grade. As a parent of a child that loves to swim, I was pleased to learn that there was a program that the district provided for their students starting at such a young age. It’s hard to put into words the growth I saw in my son in during that 8-week season. I remember sitting at the top of the natatorium at my son’s first swim meet; filled with excitement and nerves. His first race was a relay and he was the second leg. As he stood at the end of the pool with Coach Heidi, I could see the expression on his face turn to worry. When it was his turn to jump into the pool, he couldn’t do it. Another child stepped up and jumped in in place of my son as he stood there bewildered. Heidi and the other coaches were able to help him collect himself and find the courage to get in and finish the last leg of the relay. The pool was empty by the time he jumped in and he swam the lap alone while the whole crowd cheered for him. I will never forget that moment. By the end of his 6th meet, my son was jumping in the pool confidently. Swimming is not only a team sport, but it’s an individual sport. It not only builds physical endurance, but just as important, mental. And of course, it’s a necessary life skill to have.

   I would hate to see the district end the long legacy of York Suburban Swimming. My husband and I moved to YSSD because of the district’s historically good reputation in the county. We hope to proudly continue our tenure with the district.

   I mirror all of the sentiment mentioned above and thank you for taking the time to read my comment. I urge the Board to strongly consider Option #2 when voting.

   Respectfully,
   Megan Horn
   2630 Carnegie Rd
   York, Pa 17402

   
   
   
2. Joshua Carney on July 25, 2023 at 12:38 am

   1290 Grantley Road – I am writing in support of option 2 including the construction of a new pool at YS. I am not only intimately familiar with the existing pool as a parent of a student in TAC, but I have also evaluated the pool structure several years ago in my role as a structural engineer. I have also reviewed the proposed options for upgrades at the High School, and am very familiar with the architectural firm doing the work as they were a client of mine for over a decade. Finally, I reviewed the proposed budgets for both options.

   Swimming at YS has been a fixture of the district going back over 30 years. I feel it makes no sense to all of a sudden walk away from a pool based on the incremental cost of having one. The cost difference between the two options is relatively nominal when look at through the lens of it being capitalized over a finance term, and frankly, the expenditures are long over due, and there is no viable way to repair and extend the life of the current pool (as I told the district 10 years ago in my official capacity). With this being the case, the budgets established for the projects seem very reasonable given the current construction climate, and there is no realistic expectation of seeing any improvements in the cost of construction going forward. the district has engaged with a firm (CRA) that is know for cost sensitive K-12 schools, and at the end of the day, facility improvement costs are part of the reality of being a building owner. Long and short of it, i don’t think it makes any sense to go partway and do a limited project. Renovations are expensive and disruptive, and i feel very strongly that it makes far more sense to do the complete project at one time and minimize the need to come back sooner rather than later with additional improvements. Further, and I am sure I am not the only one who feels this way, I would be happy to volunteer my time as a district resident to work with other residents with expertise in design and construction as a secondary review to ensure that the project is being done in the most reasonably cost effective manner. If nothing else, it would provide an independent perspective on the project.

   
   
   
3. Jennifer Philippe on July 24, 2023 at 6:59 pm

   Dear Board Members,

   I am writing to offer my support for Option #2 on tonight’s agenda regarding keeping the pool. Keeping the pool will continue to provide opportunities for individuals of all abilities to participate in a sport that offers ways to be part of a team, help with time management, improve discipline, boost confidence, learn water safety, learn a lifelong skill, and have fun.

   It is great to see boys and girls practicing together and attending meets together. There is a lot of camaraderie that exists within our teams and sportsmanship that our swimmers display at events. How our swimmers treat each other, and those outside of our teams, is an attestation to the quality of the program and the lessons that the coaches instill in the swimmers.

   My daughter swam for TAC for several years and swam at the high school level last year. Being part of swimming has been an amazing opportunity for her personal, physical, and athletic growth. Please keep the pool so that she, and all the other swimmers, can continue to be part of this amazing program and YS family.

   Sincerely,
   Jennifer Philippe
   1200 Ruxton Road
   York, PA 17403

   
   
   
4. Alice Song Hartye on July 24, 2023 at 6:00 pm

   Dear YSSD School Board Members,

   I am writing in support of a future school plan that will include a pool. I am a parent of two elementary school children. Both of my children swim for the Trojan Aquatic Club (TAC). TAC has been much more than a swim team for both of my children.

   Last summer 2022, my family and I relocated to the area due to work. We had been looking in the area and were drawn to the YSSD, given its reputation. Prior to starting the school year, we joined the TAC summer program and were welcomed immediately by the swimmers, coaches and parents. During their time with TAC, our children have made good friends while developing swimming skills, building their sense of teamwork, confidence and camaraderie.

   Being part of the swim team has not only been about swimming, it has also been about the TAC family, the connections they have made and their personal growth. From speaking to others, I know that others share similar feelings. I truly believe that having a pool facility at the school maintains our reputation, draws in others to our district, and helps mold and shape well-rounded future individuals for our community.

   I understand the challenges and hurdles in including a pool in a future facility plan. I recognize that the school district has a limited land base and pool inclusion may be costly over time. However, I wholeheartedly support the inclusion of a pool in the school’s future plan for endless reasons. Some of which are personal, but they extend beyond that.

   I would love to see the opportunity for my children and other swimmers (present and future) to continue to have the opportunity to be part of such a great team at YSSD at our own pool for their own well-being and the well-being of YSSD.

   I am urging for consideration for a future school plan with a pool facility!

   Thank you for the time and consideration!

   Alice Song Hartye

   
   
   
5. Cristy S Zortman on July 24, 2023 at 4:54 pm

   Dear Board Members,
   Please select Option 2 because I cannot express how much swimming has contributed to the development of the children fortunate to have been raised in the York Suburban School District. As a parent having 2 graduates from the swim team move on to continue their swimming careers at College and excel not only in the classroom but as leaders and fabulous teammates. As a Coach who has witnessed very shy, socially awkward children blossom into confident swimmers who can achieve anything they set their minds to. The transformations witnessed during my 13 years as a coach for the Trojan Aquatic Club have been phenomenal. Swimming is a skill all children should learn because as a former lifeguard it just might save yours or a loved ones life some day. Swimming builds strength, endurance, confidence, and it is a sport those which are unable to participate in land activities can be part of. I was a swimmer in high school and after seeing my daughter struggle to be part of a team due to her physical limitations of her disease I found a wonderful TAC team. What a blessing and life altering experience. To this day Cara still competes in Masters swimming and coaches for her College Alma Mater. There have been other children who came up through TAC and went on to compete on District Champion and State teams who also would have been limited in any other sport. Swimming wasn’t nothing short of a miracle to these children. Thank you for taking the time to read my comment.

   Cristy S. Zortman
   1781 Verdan Dr S

   
   
   
6. Lucas Baldwin on July 24, 2023 at 4:52 pm

   Dear Board Members,
   I have been on the YSHS Swim team since my freshman year of highschool, and ever since I joined i have grown tremendously. This growth is both physical and mental, and can be attributed to being a part of the YS Swim team. I have learned great team work skills and have made friends out of some of the best people in the world. The YS Swim team is more than a team, it is a family. Getting rid of the Swim team is no different than getting rid of the amazing family that has continuously been growing since the team was founded. If I didn’t join the swim team I would be a very different person today and to have such stability while going into my senior year of high school is crucial to my success and the success of everyone on the team. Please remember that if you do choose to abolish the swim team in your renovations, you will be ridding the highschool of its most successful sport and a family of students and coaches.
   Sincerely,
   Lucas Baldwin
   YS 2024
   200 S Keesey St
   York, PA 17402

   
   
   
7. Chris Noel-Russo on July 24, 2023 at 4:43 pm

   Dear Board Members,
   I am writing to offer my support for option #2 on tonight’s agenda. My daughter is a 2020 graduate of YSHS and had the opportunity to swim with York Suburban swimming programs from second grade to her senior year. Through these programs she grew so much as a person. She overcame disabilities, learned how to make friends, speak in public, and how to work as a teammate. While she no longer swims competitively, the lessons she learned through the TAC program and the HS swim team really shaped her into the successful adult she has become.
   It would be such a shame if these programs would cease to exist because of the lack of a “home” pool. That little four lane pool really meant everything to this York Suburban family and I’m sure it means a lot to many other families as well. Please consider keeping this great asset for our district and future guppies.
   Chris Noel-Russo
   555 W Springettsbury Ave

   
   
   
8. Holly Weinrich on July 24, 2023 at 4:00 pm

   I feel if we are going to invest in a new pool then it needs to be used for more than swim practice/swim team. We need to have community swim lessons, community lap swim sessions, and family swim nights. Put swimming back into the phys ed curriculum. Maybe offer a PE elective in life guarding/swim instructing so you have a resource for providing the community programs.

   
   
   
9. Cara Zortman on July 24, 2023 at 12:56 pm

   Dear Board Members,
   I graduated from York Suburban in 2017 and attended the district my entire K-12 career. I started swimming for the Trojan Aquatic Club at the age of 4 and swam with the York Suburban Swimming Team all 4 years of high school. I went on to swim at the higher level at Lycoming College where I am lucky enough to now coach.
   While there are many things I look back fondly on from my years at YS, nothing tops the experiences I had on the swimming teams. YS Swimming is a family like no other, and continues to be until this day. I am still in contact with so many of my teammates and coaches from the team and as I have experienced hardships in recent years, they have continued to support me. I cannot imagine a world where YS Swimming no longer has a program or a pool to swim in. Apart from being a close knit family, the sport has seen some of the most success over the years of any other sport at the school. I was lucky enough to be apart of a district championship team and a relay that won state silver. While these accomplishments will always be a fond memory, the team taught me more important things that shaped me into who I am today. It taught me about being apart of something bigger than myself, it taught me hard work, it taught me how to overcome adversity, it taught me how to manage my time, and so much more. I know most YS swimmers would say the same too.
   I am currently a high school biology teacher at Williamsport Area High School. While I do not coach the swim team here, I can see the positive effects of a swim team on my own students. Swimming is special because it gives so many different students an opportunity to be apart of a team, regardless of their skill level. It helps students build a sense of self, worth, and accomplishment. I would hate for students to miss out on this opportunity at YS, especially given them amazing program that has been around for decades. Just looking at the Trojan Aquatic Club coaches, you will find countless former YS swimmers on deck because they WANT to be there and had an experience that makes them want to pass on the tradition.
   The pool is also something not just used by the swim team, but I have fond memories of my physics class completing our card board boat races in the pool as well (another example of a large YS tradition that would be taken away).
   So with all of this considered, I highly recommend that the school board voted to go with option number 2. Tradition is something YS Swimming is proud of, and that tradition is something this community cannot afford to lose. Once a guppy, always a guppy. Please make us YS Well and YS proud in your decision coming up.

   Cara Zortman
   Class of 2017
   1781 Verdan Dr S

   
   
   
10. Craig Zortman on July 24, 2023 at 12:27 pm

    To our YS School Board members,
    In regards to the possibility of no longer having a swimming pool at York Suburban HS, I am deeply saddened by that prospect. Two of my children have gone through the Trojan Aquatic Club and the York Suburban Swim Team. The memories and accomplishments are things that have shaped them into fine young adults. They both were a part of District Championship teams and were both able to move on and swim at the collegiate level. They learned important lessons and created lifelong friendships. Please do do take that away from future York Suburban students. Please choose option 2 and let the storied tradition of York Suburban swimming live on!
    1781 Verdan Drive S York, PA 17403

    
    
    
11. Sarah Peters on July 24, 2023 at 11:15 am

    Dear York Suburban School Board Members,
    I am writing to express my wholehearted support for the continuation and enhancement of our school district’s swimming pool and swim program. As a parent who was active in the school community while my children attended public school, I can speak personally on the benefits of selecting option #2 which includes the district continuing with a district swimming pool.

    I have participated in discussions with administrators and teachers about the importance of a sense of community and inclusion amongst our students in our school community. I have heard about programs the district provides, designed to promote a feeling of community and belonging. Why would we look to remove one of the most inclusive activities within the district?

    All 3 of my children participated in a variety of sports and activities during their time in the YSSD school community. I can speak personally that the swimming program was the most inclusive of all sports. My youngest son began participating in YS swim program at the age of 4 and continued through highschool graduation Regardless of a child’s ability, the YS swim program was the only sport that allowed all of its team members to participate fully during both practices and competitions. As a result of the YS swim program, my son currently swims for York College, and most recently achieved a 4.0 for the 2023 spring semester. The YS swim program was instrumental in giving him the skills necessary to be successful in college both in and out of the pool.

    The school pool and swim program play an integral role in fostering a well-rounded education for our students and YSSD community. Not only does it provide a platform for physical fitness, but it also promotes essential life skills such as water safety, teamwork, and discipline. Swimming is a sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities, making it an inclusive activity that brings our diverse community and student body together.

    I urge you to prioritize the swim program’s sustainability, as it plays a pivotal role in shaping well-rounded individuals and contributes to the overall growth of our district. Let us continue to empower our youth through this enriching program.

    Respectfully submitted,
    Sarah Peters
    2685 Hartford Road
    York Pa 17402

    
    
    
12. Helen Marsteller on July 24, 2023 at 10:36 am

    YS School Board Members:

    I understand the decision to include/exclude a swimming pool is an emotionally charged issue. As a parent of two swimmers who participated in the Trojan Aquatic Club and an award-winning high school program, it is easy to fall victim to the emotions. I will try not to do that in my comments.
    I am not expressing my concern for or against having a pool in the building. There are numerous factors that go into such a decision, all of which need consideration. I am, however, expressing my strong support for continuing the York Suburban swim program. Therefore, I ask that the School Board consider the following:
    1. How many students does the swim program serve in comparison to other athletic teams?
    2. What is the track record of swimmers during their high school tenure (Academic All Americans) as well as post-graduation success? I believe the discipline instilled in these student athletes serves them well beyond their high school years.
    3. Have you had discussions to pursue LONG-TERM solutions for pool time at other facilities in the area? Will these discussions take place prior to making a decision concerning the swimming pool? (JCC, York College, Graham and Natatorium at the York YMCA, Crispus Attucks, Other high school pools)
    4. If there is not a LONG-TERM solution for the swim program, are you, by default, making a decision to discontinue the swim program
    5. Should you choose to eliminate the YS pool, and have an alternate solution for pool time, what decisions need to be considered for transportation to/from another facility.
    Many others have commented about the success of the swim program. I point you to an article in the York Daily Record by Frank Bodani that highlights York Suburban’s Greatest Athletes- his “all time list”. He starts his article with “York Suburban boasts one of the top swim programs in the state.” In addition, of his top 10 list of best athletes of all time, three were York Suburban swimmers, representing more than any other sport at York Suburban on the list. I would hate to see such a legacy disappear.

    Comments respectfully submitted,
    Helen Marsteller
    946 Stream View Lane

    
    
    
13. Craig Brennan on July 24, 2023 at 10:00 am

    To the esteemed Board Members at York Suburban,

    The legendary YS Swim Coach, Richard Guyer, would say, “It is an awesome responsibility to be a York Suburban swimmer.” That means a lot of things. It means committing to training before and after school, not just for two week pre-season training like other sports might, but season-long unconditional effort. It means developing important life skills such as Leadership, Teamwork, Perseverance, Learning from Success (and Failure), Time Management, Goal Setting, Communication, Problem Solving, Physical & Mental Skill Development, Poise and Confidence building under pressure conditions, and all the while balancing positive Academics with Athletics. It is no secret that 95% of all CEO’s of Fortune 500 companies were student athletes.

    What is also not a secret is that drowning is the leading cause of death for children under 5, and second leading cause for those under 14. 71% of our planet’s surface is water-covered, and roughly 50% of families vacation to either the ocean, a location with a pool or other body of water. Teaching our children how to be water safe should be a high priority of any school board in any community. Giving them a chance to be competitive as equals to other sports offered by the school seems like common sense. Given that York Suburban already has an established tradition of success and excellence in swimming should make it a slam dunk for option #2 of York Suburban High School renovation plans.

    Having worked in business and with budget plans, I do understand that it’s not as simple as that. If the question is, “What is the financial value of a natatorium facility?”, the answer to that is, “How does one put a price tag on a child smiling after learning how to do a flip turn for the first time? Or, a hard fought team victory celebration after a close meet? Or, the smile on their face of a high school student after touching the wall first at the PIAA State Swimming Championships? The nearly 70 year old, little four lane YS pool has produced these moments and experiences to our students many times over and everything in between. Moreover, several YS students earned partial or full scholarships to colleges ranging up to $160,000. While the YS School District may not see the scholarship money, it is a DIRECT RESULT of the York Suburban School District providing swimming programs and facilities to students. Even if not Division 1, many chose to continue their swim careers in college at other levels because of the love and passion they learned at YS.

    If the question is, “How does a natatorium prepare students for their futures?”, then consider the following. For regular students, being academically successful is challenging enough at York Suburban with its curriculum. To achieve success academically AND find success through sport, specifically the vessel of swimming, is even more difficult. However, every year it seems there are YS students achieving both academic success in the classroom and athletic success in the pool. One would be hard pressed to find more Academic All-Americans and Athletic All-Americans at York Suburban than in the sport of swimming. When a school realizes that sport ADDS to a student’s well-roundedness, ADDS important life skills mentioned earlier, and ADDS more direction and purpose in their lives, then it should want to provide its students equal opportunity and access to all sports. In this scenario, it means providing a swim facility in the future to give York Suburban students the opportunity to unlock their full potential as a ‘STUDENT-ATHLETE.’. Option #2 will allow YS students who choose swimming as their extra-curricular activity to have the same opportunity to thrive the way other students in other sports that YS provides the turf fields, track, and gymnasiums for.

    It has, is and hopefully will continue to be an awesome responsibility to be a York Suburban swimmer. It is recognized that the York Suburban School Board has an awesome responsibility as well…to make a very difficult decision. Please have strong consideration and make your vote for Option #2.
    WE ARE…YS!!!
    Craig Brennan
    Class of 1998
    Head Coach, York Suburban High School Boys & Girls Swim Team (2009-2018)
    1213 Copper Beech Drive, York, PA 17403

    
    
    
14. Jessica McInerney on July 23, 2023 at 8:43 pm

    Dear York Suburban School District Board Members,
    I am respectfully writing to voice my support for option #2 for the high school’s facility needs based on many factors, including the continuation of the high school and TAC swimming programs and a YS pool. I graduated from Suburban in 2006 a proud member of the swim team and a student-athlete under Mr. Geyer. I was fortunate enough to continue my career swimming at Denison University and perfected the skills I learned at YS— dedication, hard work, and not breathing into a flip turn! I am currently the Social Studies Coordinator in Worcester County, MD and credit my teachers and coaches at Suburban with my choice in becoming an educator.
    I want to share all of the lessons and support that my high school swim team gave me in hopes of showing any Board members or community members who are not familiar with the sport of swimming why a pool and a place at York Suburban is so important for us and for future students. Swimming is not cool or flashy like basketball and football can be. We do not have gigantic sports deals or intense physical fights. Instead, swimming is about mental toughness that only early morning practices and working for a season to shave .01 of a second off your time can teach you. While I graduated a long time ago, I can only imagine that your current swimmers are also learning the same lessons I did in the pool—grit, determination, and hard work. Taking the physical pool away from the high school not only takes a physical space away, but it also takes away those lessons that so many students have learned and could learn in the future. I also want to note that, in addition to swimming for the high school team, I also swam for a club team in high school; while I may have still gone to swim in college based on my club team alone, I would never have had the same experiences and confidence going through high school as a member of the high school swim team. Under the guidance of Coach Geyer and my swimming peers, I blossomed from a shy ninth grader who did not know where she belonged into a confident member of the YS community by twelfth grade. That is because of my excellent teachers at Suburban and my YS swimming community. Students currently enrolled at Suburban should be afforded the same opportunities I was given, to succeed both academically and athletically within their high school.
    In addition to the high school program, the youth swimming programs at YS are vitally important, not to make star athletes, but to teach all students and community members basic water safety skills that could save their lives one day. The York Suburban Swim team is not a group, it is a family; it is important to know that, even if there are other physical spaces out there, taking away that family will have dramatic effects for future students and the shape of the Suburban community. Finally, I want to second Mr. Shorb’s comment on naming the pool the Richard Guyer Natatorium. I apologize for not being able to come to the meeting in person but I appreciate your time and consideration.

    Jess McInerney
    Class of ‘06
    11956 Majestic Prince Lane

    
    
    
15. Lena Englerth on July 23, 2023 at 12:25 pm

    Dear YS School Board Members,

    For the past 10 years swimming in the YS pool has been part of my life. This is not the first time I have had to fight to maint thiain s pool, which is so discouraging. I want the YS School Board members to know that the pool is home to more than winning teams and swimmers it supports a family of swimmers, from TAC through the high school. I have never felt more supported by the environment that is created and the thought that future student athletes might not have this opportunity disappoints me. Throughout the swim season, my life is filled with hard work, dedication and a sense of safety and belonging. Our team creates community that contibutes to a positive YS experience overall. Please do not abandon this YS legacy. I urge the school board to vote for HS renovation options that include maintinaing the pool and the swim program, now and in the future. Please stop considering the pool and the swim program as expendable!

    Lena Englerth
    YS 2024
    840 Grantley Ct.
    York, PA 17403

    
    
    
16. Denise Bates on July 22, 2023 at 6:21 pm

    Dear Board Members,

    I am driven to tell you the impact the YS swim program has made in my daughter’s life. She stated swimming at YS when she was 2 years old. She’s now entering her Sophomore year at the HS. Swimming has taught her leadership skills as well as the importance of a team mentality. It’s been key in her growth and development. As proven by her excellence in her academics and leadership in her freshman year. The swim program at YS is such a special part of the YS community, this family! Please vote option 2 for our swimmers, our HS team. This program is part of the YS legacy. Please don’t let it end under your watch.

    Denise Bates
    Parent, YS swim team parent
    101 S Yale Strreet

    
    
    
17. Havannah Suarez on July 22, 2023 at 3:11 pm

    Dear Board Members,
    I attended Suburban since the 2nd grade and graduated in 2017. I was part of the Trojan Aquatic Club from 2007-2013. I was part of the high school team all four years and continued my swim career in college at IUP. Without the YS pool I would have never made lifelong friendships and experience hard work and determination at a young age. The YS swimming program has taught me and many other swimmers’ leadership, confidence, working under pressure, that you must work hard for the things you want, learning how to cope with failure and setbacks, being a team makes everything better, and many more. These skills that I’ve learned have helped me throughout school and even as a full-time employee. I strongly encourage the board to select Option #2 and keep the YS pool.

    Havannah Suarez
    1649 6th Ave

    
    
    
18. Stephanie Roberts on July 21, 2023 at 8:32 pm

    I am a York Suburban alumni, class of 2010. I participated on the swim team three out of my four high school years. I can’t imagine what my high school experience would have been like without the aquatics program. Not only did the program help me to be a well rounded individual but it helped me academically. Many a swim practice i found myself thinking over what was taught that day in science class or thinking about new calculus concepts. I strongly urge you to pick option 2 and retain the pool and aquatics program as a whole. Keeping the program allows for many students to experience the privilege of an extracurricular activity that builds friends, muscles and confidence while working both as a team and individually to better yourself. I am unable to attend the meeting on Monday so I am hoping my voice is heard via this letter.

    Thank you and Go YS!
    Stephanie Roberts(formerly Stephanie Shoff)
    130 Hudson Blvd

    
    
    
19. Matthew Shorb on July 21, 2023 at 11:59 am

    Dear Board Members,
    I would like to voice my opinion regarding the board’s ongoing study of the High School’s Facility needs. I strongly encourage the board to select Option #2 that includes amongst other options the inclusion of a pool.
    Should Option #1 be chosen it will mark the end of the swimming program at York Suburban School District. Since the school and the pool with it were built, the YS Swimming program has been arguably the most successful program in the history of the school. The swimming program has captured more county, district, and state titles than any other YS program. The YS swimmers are consistently competing at the highest levels taking countless medals at the county, district, and state levels. As importantly the student athletes are consistently earning recognition in academic awards not just at YS but on the national level. Over the years the program has had many athletes go on to compete at Division 1, Division 2 and Division 3 schools. The loyalty to the program runs deep through the alumni and is perhaps best evident by the number of graduates who have returned to help coach the age group and high school programs well after having “real world jobs”.
    As an alumni swimmer myself I can tell you that “once a guppy, always a guppy” is a very true statement for many of us. The YS swimming program through the years has always taught its swimmers a strong sense of dedication and commitment. Our program always welcomed young men and women of all backgrounds, talents, and skill sets. This diversity always led to a sense of belonging and made our teams so very strong. Our program has even had many multi-generational members with parents and children both having been team members. From our traditions to our lasting friendships, we have learned much from our time in our “little 4 lane pool”. We were never the biggest teams, but we were always recognized amongst the best.
    Without a pool, all of this would be lost. It may not happen right away, but in time the program would not survive. There are no other good options for the program without a YS pool. Even if other pool space and times were available, which they are not, the program would not last.
    If the school chooses to select option #2, I hope you capitalize on this wonderful asset. When I was a student there was a swimming requirement as part of Phys-ed. This should be brought back. Swimming is one of the few things that the school taught that literally could save a student’s life. The districts Community Ed program could be revitalized and make use of this facility as well. Even if nothing else is added to the use, having a pool will allow the continuation of one of the district’s greatest success stories in its swim team and its members.
    Please select option #2 and keep the YS Pool.
    And please consider naming it the Richard Guyer Natatorium.
    Sincerely,
    Matthew Shorb
    Class 1995, Parent.
    1863 Grantley Rd