Mt. Pleasant Aqua Club officials say they may have to disband if the group is not permitted to use the high school's newly renovated swimming pool soon.
"Is there any justifiable reason we cannot get into that pool this week?" club President Ed Farzati asked Mt. Pleasant Area school directors Monday night.
The answer came from board President Tom Miscik, who said, "The general problem is we're having problems with the contractors getting things done on time. ... We're doing as much as we can in every way we can to get things done on time."
Although the contractors still have work to do in the pool area, Miscik explained that swim classes are being held at the pool, and the high school swim team has been permitted to practice and hold some meets at the pool for the past several weeks. But when there are no secondary classes or varsity team events scheduled, the contractor is finishing up work on the pool.
That, Miscik said, does not allow time for any outside groups such as the aqua club to use the pool.
The club, which was organized about 15 years ago and is part of the Chestnut Ridge Swim League, always had used the high school pool for its practices and meets until renovations at the school began last spring.
Beginning with the fall, and now during the winter-spring session, the club has been forced to use the Connellsville High School pool. While the local aqua club does not have to pay for practice time, it is costing the group about $200 for security and janitorial services every time they hold a meet at Connellsville.
That cost, plus a precipitous drop in membership because of the traveling time necessary to get to Connellsville, has resulted in the program being strapped for cash. So much so, Farzati said, that they may not be able to complete the season, which ends in April.
"We have to pay the coach whether we have 100 swimmers or 10," Farzati said, indicating the club's membership has dropped from 78 last year to 32 this session.
Farzati said his group would like to use the high school pool for two hours a day four days a week, but if that is not possible, they will take any time they can get.
"We're really desperate," Farzati said. "We've heard a lot of excuses and complaints but no solutions."
While the board still could not offer any quick remedies, Farzati noted that all of the club's members reside within the school district, and that the program serves as a feeder for the high school swim team. In fact, he said, the club's membership fee is waived for members of the varsity team.
