NEW HARTFORD — As the New Hartford Central School District explores how to best use its existing space to accommodate growing student and staff needs, the board of education has been wrestling with what to do with the Perry Junior High School pool.

Improvements to the pool, which were primarily related to upgrading its dehumidification system, had been included in the district’s capital project proposal that voters approved in December. However, since then, the district’s need for more space has increased, particularly for its special education program and to accommodate new staff hired to support students’ social, emotional and mental health needs.

At the board’s Oct. 11 meeting, Superintendent Cosimo Tangorra Jr. recommended the board vote to close the pool, which is not used for academic purposes, and repurpose the area for instructional space.

“This was not a decision the administration took lightly,” Tangorra said. “But as we delved into capital project planning, it became clear that repurposing the pool area for academic instruction would benefit more students than making slight improvements to a pool that was already underutilized.”

The administration and board recognized that there are several community organizations that use the pool, which is too small for the district to use for interscholastic sports. New Hartford Senior High School has a full-size competitive pool that is used by the district’s athletics department as well as the school’s physical education program.

“As we evaluate our space needs, we have to make decisions that best meet the needs of our students and staff, now and in the future,” Tangorra said. “We know closing the pool is a decision that some people will be unhappy about, and if the board decides to do so, we will work with the community groups that use it to allow them to finish their current programming.”

During the board discussion, board members expressed concerns that residents had voted on a proposal that included upgrades to the pool systems and that the community would be upset if the board changes that plan.

Tangorra acknowledged that concern, but said the district’s needs have changed since the time the proposal was put together nearly two years ago.

Closing the pool would allow the district to address the school’s current needs, such as increasing its special education program space and add needed classrooms for courses that are being taught in spaces not intended for classroom instruction, such as health classes that are being held in the auditorium, he said.

The board asked for more information from the architects that will be shared at the next board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, in the Bradley Elementary School library, 33 Oxford Road. 

The meeting will be livestreamed and the link is posted prior to the meeting in the announcement section on the district home page at www.newhartfordschools.org.

The board also expects to vote on whether to close the pool that evening.

“I know the optics are not the best, but this is the situation we find ourselves in,” Tangorra said.