SIMI VALLEY : Schools to Pay $14,250 to Keep Pool Open
Simi Valley school officials Tuesday agreed to contribute an additional $14,250 to the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District to keep the pool open at Rancho Simi Community Park through the school year.
The Simi Valley Unified School District will split a $28,500 shortfall with the park district for the next year.
The compromise gives park officials time to seek a permanent solution to the revenue shortage that has threatened to close the popular pool from September to June, leaving it open only during the summer months, officials said.
The school district already pays $40,000 per year for its aquatics teams to use the Olympic-size pool for practices and competitions during the school year.
The teams do not use the pool at Simi Valley High School because is not regulation size and because it has fallen into disrepair.
In a separate action, the school board decided to disband the fledgling swimming and water polo teams at Simi Valley High because of coaching turnover and lack of student interest, officials said.
That move will free up the pool during morning hours for uses other than swim practice, officials said.
The Royal High School swim and water polo teams will continue to compete and accept Simi Valley High students who want to transfer.
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