The Salt Lake Board of Education wants more information before it dives into a swimming pool complex with Salt Lake City and swim enthusiasts.
At the same time, it also wants to know whether the city and a private community group are still interested in constructing an international track at West High School.The school board originally announced it would decide whether to contribute $700,000 to the proposed swimming complex proposed for Guardsman Way and Sunnyside Avenue by Feb. 21.
The proposed complex, which would be built on land owned by the federal government, would include a 50-meter outdoor pool with a diving tank, a wading area and a 25-yard indoor pool.
The Salt Lake City Council has pledged to pay one-third of the construction costs contingent upon the school district's one-third participation. The remaining third would come from private donations.
However, Superintendent John W. Bennion said that decision would be delayed until next month because of several school district concerns.
He said a district ad hoc committee, which will include swim coaches, parents and staff, will be formed this week to meet with swimming-complex supporters.
Bennion said some are concerned that the indoor pool is too small and the proposed fee structure is too steep.
On the track, board members said they are interested in building an international track at West High, but they want to know the city's commitment.
They were presented seven track alternatives, including four to build a standard high school track and three for an international track, that ranged from $605,600 to $1.7 million. All proposals include an adjacent baseball field.
Board members said they are leaning toward paying only for the standard-size track, probably at a cost of $722,000. If others want an international track, they would have to pay the difference of $443,000 or more, they said.
West High officials have told the districts for years that their track was inadequate. At several meetings the board said it needed to give West a track that was comparable to those at East and Highland.
Bennion also announced that the school district had reached an agreement with Salt Lake Community College to rent the old South High pool for its water polo teams this spring and the East and Highland swim teams next year.