Toronto’s ongoing school pool drama continues. Just before 23 school pools were scheduled to close in September, they have received a stay of execution and will remain open for another year. The piece of information that amuses me the most is that the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) did not drain these 23 pools and has maintained a level of chlorine in the water to keep them safe over the summer. So, apparently no one really expected the pools to close and all of the hoopla was grandstanding.

The TDSB made it clear that they could no longer afford to keep these 23 pools open and that they would be forced to close another 16 pools next September without funding. David Crombie, a former mayor of Toronto, was retained by the TDSB to find alternative funding in order to keep the pools open. Mr. Crombie managed to get the province to kick in $4 million to keep the pools open for 1 more year. In addition the operational and licensing responsibilities of the 39 pools for the next year will be turned over to the Toronto Lands Corporation.

The schools are opening next week and there is water in the pools, but no swim staff. The schools had the foresight to maintain the pools but get rid of the staff. Aquatics instructors and maintenance staff need to be hired ASAP. The staff that had been laid off will be called back but at the present time no one knows how many of them are still available for work. It will probably be at least a month before the school swimming programs are ready to resume.

This year’s issue has been settled but will we have to relive the same drama again next year?