Saratoga News Saratoga News File Photograph by Robert Scheer. Students share crowded conditions in the SHS pool during swim team practice. SHS hopes to boost pool fund with its annual appeal money By Michelle Alaimo Kevin Skelly is on a mission to raise $1.1 million to build an Olympic-sized swimming pool on the Saratoga High School campus. The SHS principal's latest effort in his nearly two-year quest for money comes in the form of this year's annual appeal to parents. So far, Skelly has raised $430,000 toward construction costs from last year's annual appeal, a pledge by the Saratoga Falcon Athletic Booster Club, a grant from a local foundation and $200,000 in pledges from two SHS families. "We believe that, if we once again target the annual appeal to the pool and make requests to other funding sources, we can raise the necessary funds to begin construction in the winter of 1999," Skelly said in his letter to parents. This year's appeal also has a new twist on how money can be donated. Jeff Wilkes of Smith Barney said he is helping SHS sell any "negotiable securities" donated to the pool fund. Wilkes said the donation is acknowledged by a letter telling the giver when and for how much their stocks or bonds were sold. Skelly cites numerous reasons why the current 40-year-old pools should be upgraded. Over the years, Skelly said, the needs of the school have changed and so have the interests of the students. Water polo is one of the school's most popular sports for both boys and girls, according to Skelly. Students playing water polo must use the diving pool, which is about half the size of an appropriate water polo facility, Skelly said. He added that at a depth of 3 1/2 feet, the lap pool is too shallow for competitive meets and "completely inadequate" for the schools' teams. The small lap pool and dive tank are also now shared by both the boys' varsity and junior varsity swim teams, the girls' varsity and junior varsity, the SCUBA club, the girls' and boys' water polo teams and physical education classes. Skelly said many of SHS's competitor public schools, such as Lynbrook High School, have built new pools and that it is time for SHS to do the same. "A school with the kind of students we have should have facilities worthy of the kids," Skelly said in a Saratoga News article earlier this year. [ Back to Contents Page | Saratoga News Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Saratoga News, December 9, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.