Burke schools can't help fund Valdese pool upgrade
The Valdese Town Council has back-pedaled on approving the construction contract for a permanent structure over the pool.
The current aquatics memberships and the aquatic usage for different days/events.
Swan
Harvey
Andersen
Lowman
Members of the Valdese Town Council have requested a capital project fund contribution from Burke County Public Schools for the town’s year-round pool. School officials have cited legal constraints and are unable to financially support the project.
The Valdese Town Council approved Dec. 2 the nearly $2 million permanent structure to keep the pool open year-round for patrons, from high school swimmers to loyal non-residents. According to recent numbers by Interim Town Manager Bo Weichel, the pool sees around 75 visitors per day, with 61 residential memberships and 88 non-resident members.
In various back-and-forth exchanges through emails, Recreation Director David Andersen and Councilman Glenn Harvey individually turned to BCPS officials to request a contribution to the project since the pool is an asset to two of the district’s swim teams, East Burke and Draughn high schools.
Andersen’s request included working on an agreement between the two parties while Harvey’s proposal was a $500,000 to $1 million contribution. In the end, school board chair Tiana Beachler told Harvey that legal counsel advised that the board was restricted in funding capital projects of third-party facilities.
The town has an ADA-compliance grant of $500,000 from the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust, which will assist in funding the project, and a $300,000 capital campaign led by the Valdese Parks and Recreation Commission. This leaves the town needing to make up a $1,016,930 difference.
In previous years when the pool was covered, BCPS athletics director Casey Rogers said East Burke and Draughn used the Valdese pool during the winter sports season (mid-November to February) to host meets and team practices.
The two other swim teams — Freedom and Patton high schools — utilize the Morganton Aquatics Center.
The Valdese pool is now uncovered, forcing the two eastern Burke high schools to use the Phifer Family YMCA facility in Morganton. When asked about the impacts of not having a year-round pool, Rogers answered, “Both teams are currently not hosting swim meets due to lack of adequate equipment.”
According to BCPS Finance Officer Keith Lawson, the school district paid Valdese $2,000 ($1,000 each) for DHS and EBHS to use the town pool during fiscal year 2023-2024. The school district currently pays the YMCA $2,160 per team, for a total of $4,320.
The Paper filed Freedom of Information Act requests to BCPS and the Town of Valdese to obtain emails regarding the requests and discussion over the Valdese pool.
Mayor Charlie Watts told The Paper that Harvey’s request was neither on behalf of nor represented the town council. “Council members have no authority by themselves. It is only when we work together as a whole council that we have any authority,” Watts stated.
In an email, Harvey commented on his reasoning behind the requests.
“My position on pool funding is quite simple. Although there were many speakers at council meetings requesting the expensive pool cover, the council was never provided data on usage or operating costs,” Harvey wrote. “Now that we’ve received the usage data, they confirm our assumptions all along that winter swimming doesn’t serve many citizens.
“Since it is the highest per capita capital investment and monthly expense of any service the town provides, council members feel that the more frequent users — nonresidents and the school system swim teams — who use this service even more than citizens should share the cost with Valdese taxpayers.”
THE REQUESTS
Sent on Nov. 18 in an email titled “Valdese Parks and Recreation,” Andersen made the first request to Superintendent Dr. Mike Swan, Deputy Superintendent Dr. Karen Auton, and CC’ed Rogers. He explained the biggest concern with the pool is funding.
“Do you think there is any possibility where BCPS might be able to contribute to the capital project in exchange for no future use payments to the town for a negotiated period of time?” Andersen wrote.
Their potential agreement would include meets, practices, and meet support.
“Further, this structure would have a greater occupancy for swimmers and spectators, allowing the schools a chance to recoup expenses from greater ticket sales,” he added.
Swan replied back, “Thanks for the email, David. We will discuss this.”
In Harvey’s requests, he sent a similar email to school board members Aaron Johnson, Leslie Taylor, Beachler, and newly sworn-in members Vice Chair Jamey Wycoff, Sonya Rockett, Jeffrey Reid Beck, and Brad Camp. He also emailed former member Jane Sohovich.
He explained to each member where the project stands, among the town’s other capital projects like street resurfacing and public safety facilities.
“As it turns out, a relatively small number of citizens utilize the swimming pool in winter months,” Harvey wrote, “but we realize its importance as a varsity athletic facility for East Burke and Draughn High Schools.”
He added that Councilwoman Rexanna Lowman, retired Director of Secondary Education and Career Technical Education of BCPS, told the council that Swan said if the board agreed, they would contribute. She confirmed this before Harvey’s emails were sent to board members.
“Of course, Dr. Swan did not and could not suggest an amount, but may I respectfully suggest that you and your fellow board members consider contributing an amount in the range of $500,000, comparable to the state grant, or $1 million which would be 50% of the total project cost,” he requested.
On Nov. 26, Swan replied to Harvey that he had responded to Andersen’s email and that he would “discuss this in the upcoming months with our board.”
The following week on Dec. 2, Swan wrote that the amount that Harvey requested was “considerably above” what he felt comfortable requesting from the board.
“At most, I think we could contribute $10,000, but our board may not even feel comfortable with that amount. The pool is utilized approximately 12 weeks out of the school year for our Draughn and East Burke swim teams, which is comprised of roughly 40-50 students each year. I know this is a small percentage of your total patronage,” Swan said.
When later asked about the potential $10,000, Swan explained it was suggested as “an upfront payment of the annual $2,000 that BCPS pays for pool usage,” meaning BCPS would not be charged for the next 5 years.
DENIED REQUESTS
Last week on Wednesday, Dec. 11, Beachler explained to Harvey that under the School Budget and Fiscal Control Act, the board is restricted to only using its funds on capital projects of BCPS-owned properties.
“Unfortunately, this legislation does not permit the Board of Education to expend or donate funds for the construction, repair, or renovation of facilities owned by third parties,” Beachler said. “We understand this may not be the response you were hoping for, and we sincerely regret any disappointment this may cause.
“Please know that we fully recognize the value of the Valdese Pool to the community and hope you are able to secure the necessary funding to bring it into excellent condition.”
In response, Harvey explained that the council was not asking for support for the surrounding communities, “but because it is the varsity athletic facility that Valdese provides for the swim teams of two Burke County High Schools.”
“... On the other hand, surely the school system can legally support the operating costs associated with that extensive usage …,” he wrote.
When asked about the operating costs, Swan explained that “the annual $2,000 from our understanding goes to the operating cost of the pool.”
Swan confirmed there is no school board discussion pending at this time regarding the contribution.
Saydie Bean may be reached at 828-445-8595, ext. 2011, or saydie@thepaper.media.
