During their regular meeting today, Texarkana Independent School District's Board of Trustees will consider a lease agreement with Texarkana College for exclusive use of their aquatic center. If approved, the 30-year lease would begin Jan. 1, 2019, and TISD would take control of the aquatic portion of the Pinkerton Center.
Renovations to the facility, which include roofing, dressing rooms and lining, would begin after the state swim meet in February. The project currently has a proposed completion date of August 2019.
TC President James Henry Russell said the change will be good for both entities, as the pool needs up to $2 million in renovations and those are not in the college's strategic plan.
"Two million into the pool is not an investment that we want or can make right now," he said, adding that the college is focused on renovating the science, technology, engineering and math facilities, parking lots and roads and heating and air systems campus-wide." It's a big cost avoidance to us and a huge asset to them for a program that has hundreds of students. It's kind of the best of both worlds."
TISD Superintendent Paul Norton said the board will hear a report today from a financial advisor who will outline potential strategies they can take to fund the project. He said that will probably include the district taking a 15- or 20-year note which would be paid out over time. "He is just presenting the options," Norton said. "The board would then vote during the October board meeting on what they want to do." TC's Board of Trustees will also consider the resolution during their October meeting.
Norton also said that funding the project is basically a numbers game.
"You take a look at our swim program and what it brings to a school. It's a program that's done great things," he said. "We have lots of transfer students in swim. Even though taking over the pool costs a lot of money, it could cost us a lot of money if we don't take it over because those students could go somewhere else."
He added that the project's completion date could change due to unforeseen issues.
"We know what our plans are, but when you're dealing with water and walls, you never know what you're going to find when you get in there," he said.
Currently, the pool is used by students, community members and those who utilize the fitness center adjacent to the aquatic center. Those classes and uses would end, Norton said, until they can control the schedule of the pool to allow for TISD student use.
"We may adjust the schedule at some point in the future," he said. "Right now, we are looking at what's best for our students and our staff and we will later evaluate that point for the community classes."
The meeting will be held at 11:30 a.m. at the TISD Administration Building, 4241 Summerhill Road, Texarkana, Texas.