First published in the April 7 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
The south side of the La Cañada High School campus is in the process of a major facelift and district staff anticipate a delay in the construction of the new 40-meter pool.
Wendy Sinnette, La Cañada Unified School District superintendent, told the Governing Board on March 29 that the project is 40% complete with the pool area having been excavated and concrete slab at the bottom of the pool in place.
District officials hoped the phase of construction that includes demolition of the old pool and finishing the new pool — which will be located farther south from the location of the old pool — would be completed before students return to school in August, but supply chain issues due to the pandemic could potentially delay completion of the project until late fall or early 2023. The contractors will begin removing the old pool during the summer to avoid loud noise that would interrupt classroom instruction.
“We’ve been working to mitigate the schedule delays,” Sinnette told the board. “We’re really looking at the schedule, maximizing opportunities and crews have been working on Saturdays.”
The delay throws a wrench into the scheduling for the high school’s aquatic sports with the old pool gone and the new one being worked on when school resumes Aug. 15.
“We also need to prepare for the reality that given delays, the new pool may not be ready for use immediately at the start of the school year,” Sinnette said. “With the old pool offline and the potential delay of the new pool’s opening until mid-September, we have to think about our aquatic program needs.”
The lone aquatic sport in the fall is boys’ water polo, but the swimming and girls’ water polo teams will also need a facility to practice in during the offseason.
“Because of the seasons, it’s more concern about water polo and matches in the fall, so that gives a little bit more flexibility for swimming because they don’t have to host a meet, at least for the fall, but for water polo it is going to be a challenge,” said Board President Dan Jeffries. “That’s probably the priority is to find a good spot for water polo, both for the summer, if necessary, but also definitely for the fall.”
Sinnette added that every alternative option is on the table, and administrators are reaching out to Pasadena City College, Flintridge Prep, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy and surrounding country clubs to inquire about the availability of their pools. LCHS aquatics coaches are also working with Rio Hondo League coaches to find solutions.
“[We have to] turn every stone to see what the opportunities are because we really can’t have our water polo and our swim programs displaced for that first month of school to whatever capacity they’re engaged in,” Sinnette added.
The project, funded by Measure LCF and estimated to cost $12.7 million, also includes new locker rooms, expansion of the south parking lot, alteration to the junior varsity baseball field and new basketball courts.
Jeffries complimented district staff for implementing so much in the project.
“We’ve got a lot of additional seating that’s going to change the feel of that area a lot,” Jeffries said. “We’re getting rid of a lot of the concrete jungle of that area and we’re putting in a lot of trees. I just wanted to point out the positive that in this place, we’re getting rid of a lot of concrete, of a lot of buildings and putting in a lot of trees and nice seating areas, so well done.”
