The FHS pool is one of the major contenders up for complete funding cuts starting in the fall of next year, or even possibly this summer. In an estimation made recently by pool maintenance engineers, the total cost of repairs needed to be made in the pool room – to include a new boiler, new pool covers, new lights, new tile for the deck, fresh paint for the walls, repairs and replacements of water jets, and replacement doors – is approximately $150,000. Add in the cost for a new scoreboard and timing equipment and that total shoots up to about $175,000. Finally, add in the annual cost of simply maintaining the pool, and your pool costs for next year are around $255,000. That is one needy body of water. This price tag has served as a red flag for school board members grappling with the tough budget cuts decisions that must be made in the next few weeks. “It’s a matter of dollars and cents,” Dr. Ron Sofo said to a group of concerned swim team members and coaches at the committee meeting April 7. Eight team members, some accompanied by their parents, and the team coach were all present at the meeting to express their feelings against the target that has been placed upon their program. “We do not need to do this at the expense of the kids in this program,” Head Coach Bill Layton said to the board. Coach Layton called attention to the progress the team has made over the years, pointing out the 10 swimmers who attended the MAC Championship meet and the one WPIAL swimmer, Cole Leonberg. A few leaders of the team stepped up to argue their case as well. “I want [the school board] to see this from the side of the students,” 4-year member Jake Cruise said. Leonberg believes that there is money to be made from the pool by holding swimming invitational meets and promoting other community activities. “There’s no promotion for this pool,” Leonberg said. Junior Stephanie Stewart, an avid swimmer since she was three, is upset that her senior season is in jeopardy. “I want swimming to stop having such a bad name,” she said.