Pool construction continues underway
Across the quad instead of hearing the sound of splashing and spectators cheering on swimmers, the pool is filled with sounds of heavy machinery. Construction started by request of the city due to health code violations blocking off the surrounding areas around the pool.
“There were violations and concerns whether water coming through the rebar and the city of Thousand Oaks gave us a deadline to get it done,” Steve Lepire, principal, said.
Originally, the construction crew began with demolition to the pool, bringing about noise and air quality complaints. However, this part of the reconstruction has been finished over spring break and will alleviate these problems, according to Lepire.
“We think that concern will be over and moving forward after the break, a lot of it is pouring the concrete, so there will be a lot less noise attached to that,” Lepire said.
While the pool is temporarily unavailable, the swim team has been practicing at the Thousand Oaks High School pool and at their own individual club teams.While the team placed similar to last year at the Spartan Relays, the first meet of the season, junior Victoria Dzieciol feels like the change in schedule still has impacted the swimmer’s progress.
“A lot of the newer swimmers there weren’t really sure about stuff like basic rules, techniques, dives and stuff that they would have practiced more if we had more regular practices which was a little worrying,” Dzieciol said. “I also feel like maybe I don’t know everyone on the team as well and all of us aren’t as close because we don’t train together every day.”
The pool plans to reopen in June in preparation for the Parks and Recreation summer activities and open swim hours. The renovations will also result in the removal of the diving board, new timing pads and improvement to the electrical and fencing around the area. Lepire believes that the months of reparations will be worth it for the school.
“We appreciate the flexibility of the teachers and the students who have been affected by it,” Lepire said. “In the end it will be a good thing for the school but there are pains that go with it so we are trying to minimize those pains.”
