Forest Hills board hears multi-year timeline and rough costs for Anderson High pool options
May 21, 2026 | Forest Hills Local, School Districts, Ohio
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The Forest Hills School District board on May 20 heard a multi-year history of problems at the Anderson High aquatics facility and preliminary cost ranges for possible next steps.
Business operations lead Mr. Eert summarized work dating to 2018: an observed water loss in the pool, construction-era surface water, an insurance request that the district drain the pool in 2019 and a comprehensive facilities and geotechnical study presented in 2021. Consultants involved over the years included MSA, SHP, HGC, Moes Engineering, Kleining Jurers and Terracon, Mr. Eert said.
"We started a very comprehensive study of the pool the whole center," Mr. Eert said, recounting the timeline that led to recent re-evaluations and site visits. He told the board the district asked three firms for rough order-of-magnitude (ROM) pricing for three core options: renovate the existing pool, replace the pool in the same footprint, or fill and repurpose the space.
Mr. Eert emphasized limits of the numbers presented: "These are ROM numbers, rough order of magnitude numbers. To get any more specific numbers, that then is a great deal of cost to the district to get everything very specific. But both all three organizations ... believe these are strong numbers that we could work from." The presenters said ROM estimates do not include design and architectural fees or the costs of additional investigative work that renovation would likely require.
Board members and staff discussed technical constraints that affect cost and program outcomes. The presenters said renovating the existing pool might not allow the district to restore or meet current diving-depth standards because of the existing footprint and underlying structure; replacing the pool in the same footprint would require deeper excavation and higher cost but could meet diving requirements. Filling the pool and creating an ‘‘empty box’’ or flat slab would be a lower-cost option that repurposes the space but eliminates an on-site pool.
Officials also reviewed operating costs and long-term maintenance issues for indoor pools: specialized air handling, higher utility and chemical consumption, and accelerated equipment wear in a harsh chlorine environment. The district described roughly how much annual maintenance and utility costs contribute to long-term operating budgets but noted that capital decisions hinge on next-stage design work, funding sources and community priorities.
No formal decision was made at the meeting. Board members asked for additional detail and time to review the 2021 presentation and the updated ROM estimates before any action, and staff said a follow-up with more precise cost estimates and options would be scheduled.
Business operations lead Mr. Eert summarized work dating to 2018: an observed water loss in the pool, construction-era surface water, an insurance request that the district drain the pool in 2019 and a comprehensive facilities and geotechnical study presented in 2021. Consultants involved over the years included MSA, SHP, HGC, Moes Engineering, Kleining Jurers and Terracon, Mr. Eert said.
"We started a very comprehensive study of the pool the whole center," Mr. Eert said, recounting the timeline that led to recent re-evaluations and site visits. He told the board the district asked three firms for rough order-of-magnitude (ROM) pricing for three core options: renovate the existing pool, replace the pool in the same footprint, or fill and repurpose the space.
Mr. Eert emphasized limits of the numbers presented: "These are ROM numbers, rough order of magnitude numbers. To get any more specific numbers, that then is a great deal of cost to the district to get everything very specific. But both all three organizations ... believe these are strong numbers that we could work from." The presenters said ROM estimates do not include design and architectural fees or the costs of additional investigative work that renovation would likely require.
Board members and staff discussed technical constraints that affect cost and program outcomes. The presenters said renovating the existing pool might not allow the district to restore or meet current diving-depth standards because of the existing footprint and underlying structure; replacing the pool in the same footprint would require deeper excavation and higher cost but could meet diving requirements. Filling the pool and creating an ‘‘empty box’’ or flat slab would be a lower-cost option that repurposes the space but eliminates an on-site pool.
Officials also reviewed operating costs and long-term maintenance issues for indoor pools: specialized air handling, higher utility and chemical consumption, and accelerated equipment wear in a harsh chlorine environment. The district described roughly how much annual maintenance and utility costs contribute to long-term operating budgets but noted that capital decisions hinge on next-stage design work, funding sources and community priorities.
No formal decision was made at the meeting. Board members asked for additional detail and time to review the 2021 presentation and the updated ROM estimates before any action, and staff said a follow-up with more precise cost estimates and options would be scheduled.
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