L-W District 210 Cuts Back on Hours for Public Use of Pools

The pools at Lincoln-Way District 210 schools will be available for public use for fewer hours than usual, as administrators scaled back as a cost-saving measure.

Pools will now be open from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Fridays. Previously, the pools opened at 5:30 a.m., but staffing the pools at that hour was costly, said Superintendent Dr. Scott Tingley. Like the fieldhouses at each of the district’s schools, the pools are open to use by residents.

Reducing the hours saves the district an estimated $2,500-$3,000 per month.

“What it comes down to, for those additional hours, we had to pay staff to come in and open up for a handful of individuals,” Tingley said. “While it inconveniences some of those people, we’re at a point where our expenditures need to be spent on our students and school functions.

The change in hours affects roughly 30 visitors to the pools, Tingley said. The district will monitor the use going forward, and hopes residents will fit their swims into the new schedule.

“We’re looking at every expenditure,” Tingley said, “trying to do the best we can while the state keeps cutting back on us.”