ON AQUATICS CENTER

BOERNE ISD BREAKS GROUND

ON AQUATICS CENTER

$8.7 million facility to open in August 2024

BY JEFF B. FLINN Managing Editor

The Boerne ISD broke ground last Tuesday on the long-awaited $8.7 million aquatics learning center, approved by Boerne voters in the 2022 bond election.

The pool, 25 meters long, can accommodate 9 or 11 competition lanes and features two 1-meter diving boards.

BISD Superintendent Dr. Thomas Price, Board President Carlin Friar, and Caleb Beets, chief operations officer at Tegrity Contractors, spoke to the gathered Sept. 19 at the site, Cibolo Creek Elementary and Champion High School.

Bryan Benway, Boerne Communications, said the facility is slated for an August 2024 opening.

“Building the Aquatics has been a long-term goal for Boerne ISD,”

Boerne Superintendent Dr. Thomas Price (center) turns shovels of dirt at the Sept. 19 Boerne ISD Aquatics Learning Center ground-breaking, along with Boerne board trustees (from left) Rich Sena, Maritza Gonzalez-Cooper, Kristi Schmidt and board President Carlin Friar.

Courtesy Photo Benway said. “The facility will serve not only our water polo team, as well as swimming and diving teams, but also other BISD students, and the community.”

In August 2023, Boerne ISD trustees approved Tegrity Constructors as the contractor to build the aquatic center, the lowest of the nine bidders.

Benway said the “teaching area” of the pool measures 20-feet by 82-feet, designed in accordance with World Wide Swim School guidelines. The 25-yard direction is referred to as “high competition distance” and includes 11 lanes with starter blocks. The 25-meter direction has a nine-lane capacity in accordance with the National Federation of State High School Associations.

The pool measures 51-feet by 82-feet for water polo competition. Mobile bleacher seating capacity for spectators will seat 144 attendees. With bleachers removed, capacity will be 397 individuals.

“District administration, including our athletic department, will work with the community to open the Aquatics Learning Center for use by non-district entities,” Benway said. “We are excited for the community to use this beautiful facility as well as our students.”

The district, Benway said, wishes to thank voters for approving the bond in 2022 that made the aquatic center a possibility.

“We also would like to thank the city of Boerne for their partnership, as Boerne ISD swimmers have used the city pool for decades,” he said. “We look forward to future generations using the BISD Aquatics Learning Center.”