Parents packed Rowland High on Tuesday to hear an update on a new swimming pool. The old pool was closed in May of 2011 after school officials discovered bad water leaks.

“We discovered the pool was leaking 6,000 gallons of water a day,” explained Vice Principal Bob Withers at the time. “There was also seepage that lowered the water quality.”

The district decided to close the aging pool for health and safety reasons. It later learned the leakage had undermined the decking around the pool.

“When we learned about all the damage and the high cost to repair the old pool, we began discussing a new one,” said Superintendent Ruben Frutos.

The popular pool had opened in 1964 and served nearly 100,000 swimmers every year. Families brought their children for swim lessons offered by Rowland Adult and Community Education.

“The high school pool was the only public pool in Rowland Heights. In the summer, it was being used from 6 in the morning to 10 at night,” Withers noted in an earlier story.

So the community has sorely missed the recreational facility for more than two years. District officials say they will look at contractors’ proposals in September and award the best bid at the Oct. 8 school board meeting.

Concerned community members questioned why it has taken so long to get the construction project underway. They pointed out that the district had approved a project budget in July of 2012.

“We submitted our plans to the Department of the State Architect in September of 2012,” Frutos told the packed house. “We received an approval letter from the DSA on June 3.”

Rowland’s Director of Facilities Stuart Moe said the state can take up to a year to review construction plans and approve them.

“This was pretty fast for a project of this size,” Moe commented.

The superintendent said that the project has grown substantially from a simple replacement of the old pool.

“The new aquatic center will have 12 lanes, instead of 10, plus new locker rooms and bathrooms,” Frutos said. “The old pool didn’t have changing rooms.” Click HERE for entire story!