Garland ISD Board Reconsiders Delaying $27 Million Swim Center

Garland Independent School District board members are reconsidering delaying construction on a planned indoor swim center after pushback from parents and voters.

In September, board members voted 4 to 3 to delay construction on the $27.5 million natatorium project that was part of a $455 million bond package approved by voters in 2014.

It was a move that surprised many supporters, including self-proclaimed "swim mom" Amie Goins, head of the Garland High School's swim booster club.

Goins has two sons on the swim team who are bussed to a pool in Richardson for practice at 5:45 a.m.

The facility is leased from a Turkish center by the district and can only accommodate swim teams for two of the seven high schools in Garland ISD.

Goins has been one of the most vocal in getting the natatorium project underway sooner rather than later, with an online petition that has garnered more than 500 signatures. 

"Everyone thought it was a done deal," Goins said. "I was devastated."

But the natatorium came in more than $7 million over budget, and in September the board voted to delay construction until "Phase 4" of the bond deal, which would be in 2019.

Garland ISD Athletic Director Cliff Odenwald said the district has leased pools from Dallas, Richardson or neighboring schools for as long as he can recall.

He said it is not a matter of if the swim center will be built, it's when.

"On the selfish side, I'd love to have it. But I'm not the one that has to balance the budget," Odenwald said, adding that he would support the board's decision either way.

When the proposed natatorium opens, all high schools could have swim teams and it would be home to learn-to-swim programs, Odenwald said.

You can view renderings of the proposed natatorium here.

Following discussion Tuesday evening, school board members decided to table the vote until Monday at 7 a.m.