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To: San Juan Unified School District
Encina Piscina
Build and maintain a swimming pool and diving pool on campus at Encina Preparatory High School, 1400 Bell St., Sacramento, CA 95825
Why is this important?
The CDC reported in 2014 that people of color are more likely than whites to accidentally drown. In fact African Americans are likely to drown at a rate of 10X more frequently than whites. This is a shocking statistic and the reason for this I believe is lack of access to municipal pools.
The 911 students at Encina are 81% minority and 93% are economically disadvantaged. They must endure the hot summers of Sacramento and there are few public pools in the vicinity.
I presented this information to the Encina School Site Council in November, 2016. I thought that they would see how important a school site pool would be. I was so happy when Measure P passed. I assumed the district would provide a necessary provision. Then I saw that a track and field turf with stadium bleachers had been prioritized and was surprised that this superseded the need for a pool.
The average temperature in Sacramento in July is 94 degrees and the nearby rivers are enticing. The American and Sacramento Rivers are dangerous, but attractive to swim in on hot days.
On June 24 2018, an Encina Student, Mohammed Mounir Kamal, aged 17, accidentally drowned in the Sacramento River when he was on a picnic with his family. This sad tragedy should be our wake up call.
Studies have shown the risk of drowning can be ameliorated by providing safe swimming sites, according to the author of “Contested Waters-A Social History of Swimming Pools in America” Prof. Jeff Wiltse, 2007.
Moreover, swimming is a California State Teaching Standard. Having a pool on a school site underscores the importance of knowing this skill. A pool on campus supports four sports; Competitive Swimming, Diving, Synchronized Swimming and Water Polo.
The Mission Oaks Park and Recreation District which serves the area has no pool either. Dan Barton, the Director has said he is open to operating the Encina pool over the summer. There are many models for this. For example in West Sacramento, The Parks and Recreation District has a contract with the Washington Unified School District to operate the pool during summertime at River City High School. It is called a Mixed Use pool.
The approximate cost for a pool is $7 million. Encina had a winning swim team in 1991 and the SJUSD filled in the pool with dirt and asked the students to practice at Sac State. This proved to be too much of an inconvenience and the team disbanded soon after. Seven other SJUSD high school sites have pools so please consider giving these needy students a pool.
A pool on campus supports four sports: Competitive Swimming, Synchronized Swimming, Water Polo and Diving.
Swimming is unlike any other sport; it is a life saving skill.
The 911 students at Encina are 81% minority and 93% are economically disadvantaged. They must endure the hot summers of Sacramento and there are few public pools in the vicinity.
I presented this information to the Encina School Site Council in November, 2016. I thought that they would see how important a school site pool would be. I was so happy when Measure P passed. I assumed the district would provide a necessary provision. Then I saw that a track and field turf with stadium bleachers had been prioritized and was surprised that this superseded the need for a pool.
The average temperature in Sacramento in July is 94 degrees and the nearby rivers are enticing. The American and Sacramento Rivers are dangerous, but attractive to swim in on hot days.
On June 24 2018, an Encina Student, Mohammed Mounir Kamal, aged 17, accidentally drowned in the Sacramento River when he was on a picnic with his family. This sad tragedy should be our wake up call.
Studies have shown the risk of drowning can be ameliorated by providing safe swimming sites, according to the author of “Contested Waters-A Social History of Swimming Pools in America” Prof. Jeff Wiltse, 2007.
Moreover, swimming is a California State Teaching Standard. Having a pool on a school site underscores the importance of knowing this skill. A pool on campus supports four sports; Competitive Swimming, Diving, Synchronized Swimming and Water Polo.
The Mission Oaks Park and Recreation District which serves the area has no pool either. Dan Barton, the Director has said he is open to operating the Encina pool over the summer. There are many models for this. For example in West Sacramento, The Parks and Recreation District has a contract with the Washington Unified School District to operate the pool during summertime at River City High School. It is called a Mixed Use pool.
The approximate cost for a pool is $7 million. Encina had a winning swim team in 1991 and the SJUSD filled in the pool with dirt and asked the students to practice at Sac State. This proved to be too much of an inconvenience and the team disbanded soon after. Seven other SJUSD high school sites have pools so please consider giving these needy students a pool.
A pool on campus supports four sports: Competitive Swimming, Synchronized Swimming, Water Polo and Diving.
Swimming is unlike any other sport; it is a life saving skill.