USD 443 to contribute $155,825 to YMCA pool repairs; board debates ownership and use

Board members voted to authorize a district contribution toward repairs at the YMCA pool after city and YMCA representatives presented competing bids and a negotiated plan. The repairs address a failed dehumidifier and damage to ceiling insulation that occurred during freezing weather.

Administration said the city and YMCA will perform much of the labor and the district’s proposed share—including a contingency—totals approximately $155,825 to be taken from capital outlay. Board members questioned the fairness of paying half the bill for a city‑owned building and discussed the consequences of delaying repairs, including the potential loss of the high‑school swim season.

After debate, a motion to approve the district contribution passed with four votes in favor and one opposed (one member recused or absent). Administrators said the city has capacity to complete the work on a roughly 90‑day timeline and that the facility is the primary pool available for student use in the community.