NEW HARTFORD — The New Hartford Central School District’s Perry Junior High School pool will remain open, according to an announcement posted on the district’s website: https://www.newhartfordschools.org.

“Following the New Hartford Board of Education’s most recent discussion on Oct. 25 about whether to close the pool, Superintendent Cosimo Tangorra, Jr. pulled his recommendation to repurpose the space to allow for the creation of additional instructional space,” the announcement said.  

“It’s clear the board is not comfortable in moving forward with that recommendation,” Tangorra said. “I don’t want to hold up the process of submitting our capital project design plans to the New York State Education Department or divide our community on this issue.”

“As the board discussed closing the pool, concern was expressed that if they did vote to close it, taxpayers would distrust the board and district. The district’s capital project proposal, which was approved by voters in December, included improvements to the Perry pool dehumidification system and some tile replacement,” the announcement continued. 

“Tangorra said he recognized the value of the swim programs that take place at the pool, but that the district’s needs have changed since the capital project proposal was put together nearly two years ago. He said he made the recommendation to repurpose the pool area because he felt it would have directly supported the district’s mission of ensuring a student-focused environment,” it added.

“I want to keep us moving forward, enhancing our programs and facilities,” Tangorra said. “I look forward to partnering with the board and community to make the New Hartford school district the best possible school district for our students. We all need to work together because we all have the same goal, which is to ensure an engaging, student-focused environment.”