Board Can’t Afford To Keep Pools Open, Despite Heavy Protests
Posted April 10, 2008 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Parents and students joined together in a loud protest to save their school pools on Thursday, but their collective voice did little to sway the cash-strapped Toronto District School Board.
The TDSB made the surprise announcement last week that it was planning to shut down 34 of the swimming holes at the end of this year and another 16 in 2009 as a means to save more than $4 million a year.
That sparked a series of protests that culminated with Thursday night’s gathering at Board headquarters at 5050 Yonge St.
“This is about obesity, this is about the Olympics, this is about prevention of mental illness, this is about a whole range of issues and we need an integrated solution,” argued Toronto-Danforth trustee Cathy Dandy.
But in the end pool supporters would leave with little satisfaction.
“We have little choice but to abandon what I believe is precious,” said Eglinton-Lawrence Trustee Howard Goodman.
“At the moment we are looking at a $13million shortfall for next year, and that’s with taking out the $4million for the pools.”
It was a sad conclusion for those who started protesting early Thursday at gatherings across the city. Some arrived at Allenby Jr. Public School on St. Clements Ave. at 8:15am , where kids and adults shouted “Save Our Pools!” as school officials arrived for work.
Most of the older folks involved believe getting the kids to raise their voice against the idea is the key to stopping the shutdown. “I think it’s important that we maintain the pools for fun and for the education, physical education of the kids,” explains parent Carl Hathaway. “I think it’s very important that we’re out to show City Hall that we mean business. We’re supportive.”
Students at Riverdale Collegiate, some wearing their bathing suits (top left), conducted a mass class walkout at 2pm to press their point against the closures. But the big show should come when possibly hundreds meet outside Board Headquarters to pool their resources and try and save the facilities.
The Board insists the city and the province aren’t giving them much choice and the cash strapped system needs the funds elsewhere. Their premise: with so little cash available, they can’t afford to spend money like – or on – water.
Toronto School Pools By The Numbers
Total: 84
Slated for Closure: 23 in June 2008, 16 in June 2009.
In need of immediate repairs: 30
Annual operation costs: $17 million
Total maintenance estimate: $56 million over the next six years
City’s yearly contributions: $5 million, with the TDSB picking up the rest of the tab
Cost of closing them down: $5,000-$15,000 for draining, disconnecting electrical systems, removing chemicals and installing safety guard rails
Annual savings: $4.6 million but $4 million in 2008-09 to absorb decommissioning costs.
Pools Affected:
June 2008
1. Carleton Village Sr PS
2. Earl Grey Sr PS
3. Fern Avenue Jr & Sr PS
4. Keele Street Jr PS & City Community Centre
5. Kensington Community School Jr
6. Queen Alexandra Sr PS
7. Winona McMurrich Jr PS
8. Bickford Centre
9. Central Commerce Collegiate
10. Central Technical School
11. Central Technical School
12. Danforth Collegiate & Technical Institute
13. Downsview SS
14. Forest Hill CI
15. George Harvey CI
16. George S Henry Academy
17. Jarvis CI
18. Monarch Park
19. North Toronto CI
20. Riverdale CI
21. Rosedale Heights SS
22. SATEC @ WA Porter CI
23. Western Technical UFA
June 2009
1. Allenby Jr PS
2. AY Jackson SS
3. Deer Park Jr & Sr PS
4. Glenview Sr PS
5. Bloor CI
6. Harbord CI
7. Humberside CI
8. Lawrence Park CI
9. Malvern CI
10. Northern SS
11. Oakwood CI
12. Parkdale CI
13. RH King Academy
14. Stephen Leacock CI
15. Western Technical-Commercial School
16. Westview Centennial
Pools used for Special Education that will remain open
1. Beverley Jr PS
2. Sunny View Jr & Sr PS
34 City-funded or owned pools good until 2011
1. Annette (City Owned)
2. Bedford Park Jr PS
3. Bowmore Road Jr & Sr PS
4. Brown Jr PS & City Community Centre
5. D A Morrison MS
6. Duke of Connaught Jr & Sr PS
7. Earl Beatty Jr & Sr PS and Community Centre
8. Frankland Community JS & Community Centre
9. Glen Ames/Williamson Road Jr PS
10. Gordon A Brown MS
11. Hillcrest Jr PS & City Community Centre
12. Parkdale Jr & Sr PS
13. Swansea Jr & Sr PS
14. Albert Campbell CI
15. Bendale BTI
16. Cedarbrae CI
17. CW Jefferys CI
18. Don Mills CI
19. Emery CI
20. Georges Vanier SS
21. L’Amoreaux CI
22. Lester B Pearson CI
23. Nelson A Boylen CI
24. Northview Heights SS
25. Runnymede CI
26. Sir Oliver Mowat CI
27. Sir Wilfrid Laurier CI
28. Vaughan Road Academy
29. Victoria Park SS
30. West Hill CI
31. Weston CI
32. Wexford CI
33. York Memorial CI
34. York Mills CI
Source: TDSB
