East Longmeadow Works to Finalize New Pool's Operating Agreement

EAST LONGMEADOW --

TOWN

At the Oct. 5 School Committee meeting, Town Manager Tom Christensen, Recreation Director Donna Prather and Aquatics Director Max Langford briefed the committee on months of talks over operating the new natatorium, which sits on school property but is run by the town. Christensen said the sides are working toward a written agreement covering accounting, scheduling, safety and custody of the pool, modeled on an existing arrangement for recreation department basketball use of school gyms. He said a draft could be ready "within the next couple weeks."

Mock schedules presented to the committee block out time for physical education classes, the swim team and the Marlins, with additional community access during school hours still being worked out. Committee member Carrie Jarczewski asked whether the district tracks how many students actually swim during PE units, questioning whether that time should come at the expense of community groups such as senior citizens if few students participate. A student representative on the committee said that in her experience, "the most students have ever seen swim is for like four people," citing limited locker-room time and the ease of obtaining a doctor's or parent's note to opt out.

HIGH SCHOOL

In committee communications at the same meeting, a member recapped a recent East Longmeadow home football game, calling the student turnout and school spirit strong and noting the home team came away with a win. A student representative on the committee, a cheerleader, said the squad's student section has stayed positive at away games even when rival student sections lacked administrative supervision, and praised the program's first pep rally held in the new gymnasium, saying the space made the performance easier to put on.

Compiled from team and league reports, reader submissions, and local coverage.