After several lengthy discussions about the Garland ISD natatorium at September and October board meetings, trustees further deliberated the subject at a special 7 a.m., Oct. 31 meeting.
Votes cast at the Sept. 13 meeting by board President Linda Griffin, along with trustees Larry Glick, Jed Reed and Johnny Beach moved the natatorium construction closer to the end of the bond project list.
Trustees Robert Selders, Rick Lambert and Scott Luna disagreed with the majority and requested that it again be placed on the agenda for more discussion and another vote.
Additionally, the Sept. 13 board decision to delay natatorium construction angered a contingent of taxpayers who had worked to get the $455.5 million bond package, including the natatorium, approved by voters.
The Sept. 27, Oct. 10 and Oct. 25 board of trustees meetings included opinion sharing on both sides of the issue by trustees and citizens. Swim team students, parents, advocates of the bond package had opportunities to voice concerns and disagreement.
More than 100 minutes of discussion were spent on the contentious issue at the Oct. 31 meeting with no change in opinion on either side.
Throughout past discussions, Selders, Lambert and Luna have cited numerous reasons to keep the natatorium project in phase 1 of the bond package. They said that because the taxpayers voted for it, it should not be changed. They also stressed that the natatorium, already over budget, would cost more if delayed. The rundown condition of the current practice pool being used by the swim team was also cited as a reason, along with the location of the pool, which is in Richardson.
Griffin, Glick, Reed and Beach again voted to delay the project. They are concerned about the increased cost estimates of the natatorium as well as whether it would prevent other, more important projects from being completed. Glick pointed out that student safety and renovations to aging facilities are priorities.