School’s Pool to Reopen Oct. 12

CAPE MAY – Over 50 years ago city and school officials in Cape May installed a pool in the city’s then-new elementary school. 
The belief, held throughout the school’s history, has been that children living in a community surrounded by water need to know how to swim.
Reinforcing that conviction was the fact that about two-thirds of the school’s students come from the Coast Guard Training Center, a population of children for whom water skills and water safety are of paramount importance.
Over the years the pool came to be a community treasure as well. With its myriad of recreational programs, the pool was used by all groups including the large senior population.
The pool is also home to the city’s competitive swim team, Waves which is open to ages 5 through high school. The team has been without a home pool since the closing of the old pool.
When the pool had to be closed in 2014 due to the need for major repairs, the school and community felt its loss.
Repairs became too difficult; plans for a new pool with new locker rooms were developed.
The city stepped in to help using its bond rating to obtain favorable financing and share the cost of a new pool in an almost 50-50 relationship with the school district.
Reopening Oct. 12
A state-of-the-art facility is scheduled to reopen Oct. 12. The pool is 75 feet long and 30 feet wide with a depth range of 7.3 feet to 3.6 feet.
Over 86,000 gallons of water is divided into four lanes with removable starter blocks and flag markers. Water circulates at 275 gallons per minute, and the facility is equipped with a remote-control handicapped lift for users with special needs.
Male and female locker rooms are outfitted with non-skid floors, sinks, toilets, lockers, showers and a changing table.
One handicapped accessible shower is provided in each locker room.
Water temperature in the pool is maintained at 83 degrees Fahrenheit.
Victoria Zelenak, school district superintendent, said that swimming instruction is part of the physical education program for grades 3 through 6.
The gym instructor and another individual will be present as certified guards whenever children are scheduled for the pool.
Cape May Elementary which has pre-kindergarten through sixth grades has approximately 175 students, Zelenak said.
Over two-thirds are coming from the Coast Guard Base. The population in the third through sixth grades numbers about 75.
Red Cross Curriculum
The school follows a formal water instruction curriculum developed by the Red Cross and students earn recognition cards as they demonstrate proficiency in specific skills.
Awaiting Public Input
At this point, the pool belongs to the school during the school day. No community programs are scheduled until after the school day ends. “That could change,” said Laurie Howey Taylor, the city’s director of marketing who supervises the city’s recreation programs that use the pool. 
“We want to hear from people in the community about how they would like to use the pool,” she said. “If there is a strong desire for a morning swim time, for example, we would see if we could address it,” she added.
Programs Will Return
Taylor wants people in the community to know “We now have a state-of-the-art facility, but we will be bringing back all of the popular old recreational programs.” A final list of program offerings was not yet finalized, but it will be available on the website www.discovercapemaynj.com or by calling the recreation department at 609-884-9565.
Financing
To finance the pool construction, the city approved a bond of $2 million. The school district is to pay back $1 million of the total costs over 10 years.
The city is absorbing other costs which should be slightly less than the other million anticipated.
Joint management involves agreements for expenses.
Issues of costs for classes, security, lifeguards, and maintenance for community recreation programs will be part of a joint agreement with the district.
Taylor expects a budget for these activities when the city begins its new budget year in January.
Grand Opening
For the present, everyone is planning for the grand opening to be held at the school auditorium Oct. 12 at 4 pm.
Highlights of the event will include pool and locker room tours and light refreshments.
“The pool has been closed for a long period, and we are anxious to see which programs the community favors most,” Taylor said. Individuals will be able to sign up at the Oct. 12 event.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.