Dear Concerned Parents and Community Members,
We appreciate your ongoing support and engagement in matters concerning the use of Southwestern College’s aquatic facilities. Our partnership with SUHSD (Sweetwater Union High School District) has allowed us to provide access to our pools for their athletic programs, contributing to the development of young athletes in our community. We value this collaboration and its positive impact on our students and the community.
Over the past year, we have faced a growing demand for access to our pools and have had to balance pool schedules with our college’s class schedules, accommodating the college’s SOL Swim Programs, addressing the needs of SUHSD for their athletic activities, and responding to requests from our community and JAWS (fitness center) members who have expressed a desire for more open swim hours.
Additionally, we’ve encountered difficulties related to industry-wide chemical shortages and supply chain delays, which have impacted our ability to perform critical maintenance tasks promptly. These challenges are not unique to Southwestern College and are being experienced by other public pools and aquatic facilities, exacerbated further as our pools have experienced a significant increase in usage.
Our SOL Swim Program is a community-oriented initiative offered by Southwestern College, catering to individuals of all ages. This year, we are proud to have received a Prevent Drowning grant from The San Diego Foundation. This grant allows us to offer free swimming classes to young children, addressing the concerning issue of childhood drownings in our county.
Despite the increasing demand, we continue to provide access to SUHSD high school athletes. The hours allocated for SUHSD’s use of our pool facilities were determined through consultation, partnership, and mutual agreement with SUHSD, reflecting our dedication to supporting local athletic development.
The college deeply appreciates the community’s support, which has played a pivotal role in the development of state-of-the-art educational facilities that benefit both our students and the community. This support has enabled us to expand our educational programming while maintaining community access to our facilities.
We understand the significant deficit in aquatic facilities within our surrounding community, and we acknowledge that the demand far exceeds the availability. Southwestern College remains dedicated to finding the right balance between meeting our students’ educational needs and ensuring community access to our facilities. Our strong relationship and ongoing communication with SUHSD continue to guide our efforts in addressing facility needs collaboratively.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support as we navigate these challenges and work towards creating a better aquatic experience for our students and the community.
Mark Sanchez, Ed.D., is Superintendent/President?Southwestern Community College District.
