For the first time in a few years, students at High School South returned from summer break and entered the new school year without construction underway.
With all but one piece of the 2006 referendum construction project complete, officials are now turning their attention to the one item that has been experiencing delays — the bubble over South’s swimming pool.
School board member Ellen Walsh reported during the board’s September 15 meeting that the recent repaving of the South student parking lot had been finished for the beginning of the school year. The board’s student representative from South even commented that many students had been excited to be able to drive on the new parking lot pavement without having to avoid the pot holes and other conditions that had existed prior to the work.
But the pool enclosure issue loomed. The bubble over South’s swimming pool — an air-supported structure that is similar to a giant tarp supported by air, so that hot air is blown into it — needs to be replaced. The current bubble is the third the district has had, and most bubbles have a lifespan of only 10 years.
The process to replace the pool bubble began last March, when the board awarded the bid to AC Construction Corp., of Woodbridge, for $446,000 for the work. A total of eight other bidders, submitted bids ranging from $473,000 to $660,000.
The board then hashed out an issue with state officials regarding the state’s interpretation of the definition of a temporary structure, which the school district believed the bubble to be, because it is taken down during the warmer weather. Whether it should be considered a new structure, or a rehabilitation of a current one, was at issue. The state, in its feedback to the district, called for sprinkler lines inside the bubble. But officials argued that because it is an air-supported structure, it could not support a sprinkler line.
The state essentially decided that a bubble was no longer a bubble, and that it has to meet additional rules. That added to the costs, but officials worked out a general agreement. In the spring, officials estimated the bubble would be completed by the end of June.
Over the summer, however, no work took place on the enclosure. Walsh reported that school officials are continuing to meet with AC Construction Corp. representatives because the project is “considerably behind.”
She said school officials were told that the new pool enclosure would be delivered by September 18 and that construction would begin promptly after. “They expect to have the enclosure ready” before the opening of the winter swimming season, Walsh added.
Walsh also said that officials continue to pressure the construction crews about the work and that they have already set up a contingency plan so that impact to the swim season can be avoided.
Meanwhile, Walsh reported that the pool lining was replaced at North’s swimming pool and that drain work was performed this summer. She also said there is some ceiling work in the new theater being completed.
