County in Maryland Cutting Swimming From Budget

FREDERICK COUNTY, Maryland, December 29. ACCORDING to a report by the Gazette, the Frederick County Public Schools is contemplating cutting swimming from its district that encompasses nine high schools in the area.

According to the report, "School system staff estimated that if schools don't have to hire swimming coaches and lifeguards and eliminate the cost of maintaining the three pools in the county, it could save up to $764,000 per year."

Additionally, a decision to cut swimming would eliminate the possibility for 419 student-athletes to represent their high schools.

Recently, USA Swimming Club Development Managing Director Pat Hogan spoke with Swimming World regarding how possible budget cuts across the country can impact pools throughout the United States.

"One of the things that we have tried to do is educate our members about the costs of running a pool, and to help them understand that the pool must be a viable economic entity or it won't be there over the long-term," Hogan told Swimming World. "In some cases, this philosophy means that clubs need to step up and cover some of the costs of operating a facility. In other cases, it means that they need to push (and/or help) the pool owner/operator to conduct additional revenue-producing programs (like swim lessons). In a few situations, this approach has resulted in helping a club create a public-private partnership where the club takes over partial operation of the facility. Our assistance can end up going a variety of directions."

Full text of Gazette article.

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