By Robert Smith
[Editor’s Essay: Re-opening the Natatorium on the campus of Culver City High School – dark for two decades – has been a centerpiece of Robert Zirgulis’s earlier campaigns for the School Board. It is again this summer. Below, Mr. Zirgulis forwards a letter from community activist Robert Smith.]
“Had a meeting with Coach Nestor at his house on Monday.
“He told me the whole story about how the pool was closed due to the maintenance that was needed. The light fixtures also doubled as sound- damping fixtures to absorb sound. These fixtures had a foam-like substance, or actually foam, and they started to break down over time. The foam particles got into the pool filtration system. They could not keep the water clean anymore with the stuff from the fixtures falling from the ceiling.
“To remove the fixtures and replace the pump and filter equipment was going to be to expensive, so they closed the pool.
“No earthquakes. No cracking in the pool tanks. Because they did not do the maintenance, just like the rest of the District facilities they closed the Natatorium
“In 1997 the School District got $3 million to fix the pool. I have the paperwork from six years ago –that Bill LaPointe, the city’s former Parks and Recreation director, gave me – showing a grant from the state to fix the pool. They had a design to make one single pool tank from the two existing tanks.
“The School Board voted to not fix the pool because they didn't have the money for maintenance. Just like everything else in the District.
“Two years ago I got pricing to fix the pool. I came up with $3 million, roughly, to fix the pool and the locker rooms. This did not include scoreboards, diving boards, bleachers and everything. Lenny Krazelburg (the former Olympic swimmer) confirmed I was in the ballpark. I never knew they had the $3 million.
“However, I did know there was a Capitol Improvements budget, and the money from the grant they got in the 1990s went to fix the athletic field. I was okay with that. If they used it for the Robert Frost Auditorium, I also would be okay with that.
“What I am not okay with is the baloney I have gone through with the District and how nobody at the District knows up from down when it comes to the pool. Not the School Board members, not the staff. I have met with all of these people over the years. None knows where to begin talking about the Natatorium.
“Now they want us to vote for a bond measure that would raise anywhere from $50 million to $150 million.
“And the Natatorium is not in the plan. They want to knock this building down and make more parking…
“Robert Zirgulis is running for School Board, and I am helping with his campaign.
“Nestor and his wife have agreed to support Mr. Z.
“We have almost 1,000 signatures on the paper and online petition. United Parents of Culver City started a petition for the bond after they saw our petition was working.
“I can't believe I have to fight UPCC as well as the School Board to get this pool reopened. Who are these people who want to tear down the building ?
“What kind of neighbors do I have who can't support water polo, swimming and teaching all of our kids to swim.
“Coach Nestor agrees with me that we need to outsource the operation and raise the money to fix the pool privately. I will need more support to get this done. Please tell everyone to sign the petition.
“Tell everyone to vote for Mr. Z. We need him on the School Board to get this done.”
Mr. Zirgulis may be contacted at zirgulisr@yahoo.com
