By Marianne Lincoln

The Bethel School Board continued its dialogue about a swimming pool complex or aquatic center near the end of their meeting on November 20. They are still not anywhere near a decision, they are just talking about possibilities.

The Bethel School district is the largest district in the county without any kind of swimming facility. They have a girls swimming team in order to maintain their balance of opportunities for Federal Title IX compliance. Those young ladies on the team have to spend a considerable amount of time travelling to other pools at unusual hours when those institutions are not using them.

The board also understands the public could use a facility to swim for recreation and providing life saving swimming lessons for children. With more pollution pressure on local lakes such as duck itch and algae blooms, pools seem like a much better way to get into the water.

Over the past two years, the Bethel Board, staff members and local citizens have travelled to locations such as Gig Harbor to visit the YMCA. There, the  YMCA entered into a partnership with the Peninsula School District and the city  to build a facility which the YMCA operates.

YMCA President and CEO, Bob Ecklund was on hand last night along with the VP of Communications, Michelle LaRue. He explained the market research they did before entering into the design and construction of the facility. Their contractor, Daxko T2 Consulting, said it could be done and came in with what turned out to be a very accurate prediction of the facility usage. He also offered to partner with the Bethel School District in the local facility project.

The YMCA operates 11 facilities in Pierce and Kitsap counties with over 100,000 members. In Lakewood they have 14,000 and 22,000 in Puyallup-South Hill.

Director Rogers stated her support of collaboration and child centered activities, but suggested the district not take an action until after the holidays. Superintendent Seigel asked Ecklund what his list of questions might be for surveying the public about the plan.

No actions were taken that evening, but the board agreed they should take a couple more trips to see the aquatic facilities being operated in Silverdale and Lynnwood. Those facilities have other amenities including a lazy river, zero incline entries for the disabled and therapy pools.

After the tours, the board will likely do some research in to the interests, desires and willingness of the public. It is quite obvious they are not rushing into a decision since they want to make sure when it finally happens, they have gone about it the best way they can and built a facility that will serve many local needs.

While speaking with Bob Ecklund, he left me with a quote from Warren G. Bennis, “Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.” The Bethel board just hasn’t nailed down the vision quite yet.