Few people attending SCHS open swim

The director of Shawano Community Education does not think many people will miss the open swimming and weight room hours cancelled recently by the School Board.

“It is not like we have a whole lot of people coming and we are shutting the doors,” Sandra Kane said.

The Shawano School Board voted July 7 to discontinue the open hours at the Shawano Community High School facilities, citing high costs and low participation.

“On a good day, we have maybe 10 people (swimming),” Kane said. “It is not like we have a lot of people going to open swim. We don’t.”

School district officials said, from July 2013 through June 1, the swimming pool and weight room generated $785 and $196 in revenue, respectively, but the district spent $9,782 on staffing and maintenance for the pool and $5,290 for the weight room.

State regulations mandate a supervisor and lifeguard must be present during the open swim hours.

Kane said SCE sold only eight annual memberships, covering 12 people, for either the weight room or swimming pool open hours. Those people will be able to use their memberships at the Shawano Recreation Center, 220 E. Division St., or can receive refunds if they want them.

The open swim hours (7-9 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday) at SCHS will end July 30. Open weight room hours (5-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday) will continue through Aug. 28.

Kane noted that swimming and aerobics classes held at the high school will not be affected.

Some residents expressed concerns at a school budget meeting Wednesday that the SCHS pool was the only handicap-accessible pool in the city.

Shawano Recreation Director Matt Hendricks, however, said that perception was wrong, noting that the Recreation Center purchased a detachable wheelchair ramp/lift for its swimming pool within the last three months.

“It is handicapped accessible,” Hendricks said. “We have the ramp for anyone who needs it.”

Kane and Hendricks also said they are working on new classes to be held at the SCHS pool.