So, how do you bring out as many parents and students as possible? You place an item on the agenda regarding a beloved person or institution. In this case it was the institution of the pool at Martin County High School and whether or not it should it be closed.

When the BOCC approved the building of Sailfish Splash Park and the pool there, it was supposed to save the taxpayers money because the County would have a modern facility instead of County taxpayers contributing to the old pool at the high school. If you were like me, you thought that then the school pool would no longer be needed and, therefore, would be closed.

Well, Martin County taxpayers did stop contributing toward the upkeep of the Martin County High pool, but the Martin County School Board taxpayers then picked up the entire tab. You may ask aren’t the two the same? The answer is yes. But, if you think as a politician or a government employee, the promise was kept.

I don’t know whether we need two pools of this magnitude in Martin County. I suspect we do. In fact, I would advocate for the BOCC to build more community pools. Then, of course, we must ask ourselves what role and what government entity should be responsible for sports and recreation.

In most of Europe, there are no sports teams connected with schools. Sports and recreation are handled by clubs. Schools do have gym classes, but their primary focus is education not sports competition.

Can we continue to afford parks that have ball fields and basketball courts for leagues and games while at the same time schools providing duplicates for school athletics? Remember, in the non-governmental world, there is only one set of taxpayers.

But, back to the school pool. The chamber was packed. Not a seat in the house to be had. It was SRO (standing room only). Parents, alumni, and students recounted how that pool was and is a life saver for so many. It probably was and is.

The cost of the pool is budgeted at $154,500.00 for the coming school year. That is not much in the overall school budget. The Board decided that the pool may come back for further discussion after November’s referendum on the ½-cent sales tax. It was a rational decision by a very calculating Board. For I bet, when those parents and alumni go to the polls, they will be voting in favor of the ½-cent sales tax.