7:23 a.m. on Thursday, February 7, the 723 Networking Group will hold their weekly meeting JR’s Whistle Stop featuring The Bethel Aquatic  Learning and Wellness Center. Rob Van Slyke, Director of Operations at the Bethel School District will be the featured speaker.

Van Slyke has experience running several aquatic facilities in Washington state as well as having been in charge of the construction and remodeling of the schools in the Bethel 2006 Capital Facilities bond. 50% of the Bethel District school buildings are now either new or recently remodeled. Due to the economic changes in construction since the bond was passed, almost all came in under budget. (kudos Rob & crew) The school district pays for the construction and after it is complete, the state pays back a portion of the cost through their Capital Facilities fund. Capital Funds can vary each biennium, depending on the money the legislature has appropriated to that fund. This adds some unpredictability to the numbers the districts project on their capital budget.

Now that Bethel has almost completed their list of projects from the 2006 bond, it appears there will be a remaining balance from this bond due to funds they are receiving back from the state. The district can only put this money into another capital facility project. So the Superintendent, Tom Seigel, has suggested it might be the right time to look at how a swimming facility might be built and configured for the benefit of district students and residents. There has been much talk, extensive rumors and at least one unapproved bond over many years in the district. It is possible that Bethel is the largest district in the state without a swimming pool.  There is a girls swimming team that has had to travel between Eatonville, Puyallup and Parkland at odd hours of the morning and night for training because they lack a pool in this 200 square mile district with 4 high schools. Bethel’s neighboring district, Franklin Pierce, does not have a pool facility and potentially could provide some operating funds by renting the facility as well.

The girls swimming team is part of Bethel’s effort to provide equal opportunity for female students under the Federal Title IX Act. Without that effort they would have significant legal and funding issues with the Federal government. There is also a former teacher in the district (Herb Dempsey) that has put a great amount of time into legal provocations at Bethel and other districts around the state in support of women’s athletics.

The Bethel Board has travelled to Gig Harbor to see the YMCA facility which was created as a partnership with the Peninsula District as well as their Boys and Girls Club facility there. The board also plans to tour other pool facilities in the Puget Sound area to explore making the aquatic facility more self supporting. In addition to the competition pool, they are considering adding a lazy river, slides and water fountains to attract public swimming revenue to help with operating costs. Stand alone swimming pools have high overhead and the board does not want to spend general funding money that could be used in classroom instruction on the pool’s on-going maintenance. Classroom funding levels are currently too low in this state which reader’s may know due to the recent McCleary case State Supreme Court findings.

The 723 Networking Group is an organization of business people in the Spanaway, Frederickson and Graham Communities that want to build community to enhance business and jobs in the area. They see the aquatic center as an opportunity to attract the public and other business being to the area, resulting in more jobs and greater revenue to the district. That makes the aquatic center a win-win for the district, businesses and local citizens.

The Spanaway Community Association has stated an on=line petition for those who want to voice their support for the aquatic facility. Here is the link.

Several great comments have been received through the petition site:

Mia Powell of Spanaway,” 1. Our family cannot afford a gym membership, yet I want my kids to learn water safety and have the same opportunity to get in shape.  2. Almost all the other High Schools in Pierce County offer water sports, it would be awesome to provide a place for talented athletes to express themselves through: Swimming, Diving, Water Polo etc…”

Carol Murphy of Graham, “Bethel community and schools have been my home since 1972. I am proud of their growth and helping everyone in our area.”

Gina Smith from the Tacoma addressed part of the district, “Not only will it drive revenue to our community it will be another resource for our children.”

Amber Edvalds of Spanaway, “Two children ages 12 and 4 that LOVE to go swimming and a mom that loathes the drive to South Hill YMCA to swim. I would love to see more family friendly community centers in Spanaway!!!”

Come to the morning meeting Thursday at JR’s Whistle Stop at 224th & the Mountain Highway in the Bethel Station Shopping Center and find out what all the buzz is about!

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If you want to know more about how school construction funding is allocated, here is al ink. http://www.k12.wa.us/SchFacilities/default.aspx

Office if the Superintendent of Public Instruction’s (OSPI) School Facilities & Organization administers the Capital Budget, the School Construction Assistance Program, and a number of other programs. Based on OSPI’s work, the Legislature makes biennial appropriations to release state funds for school construction assistance to school districts. Districts must apply to OSPI for the funding as it is not directly appropriated to the school districts.