OXNARD : Campus to Include State-of-Art Pool

The new Oxnard High School campus under construction on Gonzales Road will have a state-of-the-art swimming pool, but not in time for its opening this fall, the school board decided Wednesday.

Trustees approved a $1.1-million design that will include 12 lanes, six for competitive swimming and six for instruction. But they cannot afford to begin construction until they find the money to pay for the larger pool.

The pool will measure 105 feet long by 75 feet wide, nearly twice the size of the pool at the old Oxnard High campus.

The board chose the most expensive of three design options, agreeing with a dozen speakers that the added cost will be worthwhile in the long run.

Oxnard Union High School District officials initially considered building a pool that would be nearly identical to the L-shaped pool built at Oxnard High in 1957.

But the school’s head swim coach, Larry Raffaelli, began lobbying district staff and trustees to approve the larger pool, which he said is safer and more in line with today’s standards.

About 75 parents and swimming boosters turned out Wednesday night to support the upgraded facility.

Raffaelli expressed concern after the meeting that the board still has not made a firm commitment to building the pool.

“We’ve got too many loose ends,” Raffaelli said. “We still have a pool that is not going to be built.”

District Business Manager Richard Canady said the school district has $650,000 in reserve to cover the costs of the pool, but will have to raise another $450,000. The district also will look into a possible joint venture with the city of Oxnard.

The pool at Oxnard High School can be used for swimming competitions until the new pool is built.