Marietta City Board of Education President Cody Parman, right, responds to Mid-Ohio Valley Aquatic Center Board President Greg Krivchenia, front, during the special board of education meeting Tuesday evening to discuss the potential MOV pool plan. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

The Marietta City Schools Board of Education met Tuesday evening with board members of the Mid-Ohio Valley Aquatic Center to further discuss the possibility of a pool on the school’s campus.

Although there were no decisions made regarding the pool proposition, both boards advanced the conversation.

The proposed aquatic center would be built near Marietta High School and include two indoor pools and two gyms. The facility would be operated by the MOVAC, partnering with the Southeastern Ohio Port Authority. The money for the project would not come from the district but from the fundraising efforts of the MOVAC.

“We have $5 million in the bank already, so that’s about 20% of what we need,” said MOVAC Board President Greg Krivchenia. “This includes the two gyms and the two (indoor) pools … that can be scaled down as this (discussion) goes on.”

The pools would be in indoor facilities to allow for year-round access, he said. The total project cost would be around $25 million for the entire package.

“From a strictly business point, what’s the return for the school system?” asked Jeff Hollister, a member of the Board of Education. “We would grant you a lease to our property; we would have to move things and make new parking lots and are going to have to spend money.”

Krivchenia said everything about the project was negotiable and they needed to know what the district wants if this project comes to fruition.

“There’s a lot of good stuff going on, and I think the community and the school district need a win,” said MOVAC board member Gene Hollins. “We’ve heard a lot of positive comments from the community.”

Rebecca Johnson, with MOV Grant Writing LLC, said there isn’t a lot for the kids to do in this area and building an indoor pool and gym complex would give them something to do after school.

MOVAC representatives also expressed benefits such as engaging the students and community in swim classes and giving the district’s swim team a place to practice without traveling.

Members of the board of education had an opportunity to share their concerns which included upcoming renewal levies for the district, priorities for academics and the timing of the project.

“One of the obstacles I see can possibly be in timing,” Board President Cody Parman said. “I know you guys are two years into this but we’re six months in thinking about this. In those six months, we’ve been working on a district-wide assessment.”

The assessment analyzes the entirety of the district from infrastructure to academics to enrollment and more.

“With that district-wide assessment, we’re going to have so much more information as to what direction we need to go,” said Parman.

The assessment has been conducted by SHP who will be in attendance at the July regular board of education meeting to provide an overview of the information they gathered.

Parman said SHP might present information to the board that will help make more determinations regarding the potential pool project.

“I think my hesitancy is we’re asking questions to find out with SHP on the large scale of what the district needs,” said Superintendent Mary Schaeffer. “My hesitancy is the fact that we don’t have that plan right now and once you commit to something then people feel like that’s what you committed.”

There were concerns from board member Taylor Huffman about what it would look like to voters if the public sees a pool being built on district grounds while there is a school levy on the ballot.

“I don’t think anybody here is against having this on-site, but the concern is having a voter thinking that we are spending the money … that would take away from voters for levies at Marietta City Schools,” said Huffman.

“We are not asking for public money; we are not asking for the school district to contribute,” said Hollins. “In the current proposal, the only thing to consider is leasing land to the port authority.”

Schaeffer said once the board receives more information from SHP over the summer, they will have a better idea on what potential next steps could be.

“There’s nothing for kids to do outside of school, we’ve lost our bowling alley, we lost our movie theater, there’s outdoor stuff in the summertime but there’s nothing indoors,” said Rebecca Johnson, with MOV Grant Writing LLC, who attended with the MOVAC board members. “You could build the greatest schools in the world but that’s nine months out of the year … there’s nothing for the kids to do outside of school.”

Board of Education member Chris Fennell said these discussions are the first steps in any potential project.

“I think continuing the conversation is what we’re asking of you guys,” he said. “We don’t have the information on our side.”

The next regular Board of Education meeting is slated for 6 p.m. Monday at 111 Academy Dr.

Amber Phipps can be reached at aphipps@newsandsentinel.com