The school decided to keep the pool open and I am honestly overwhelmed by how this turned out. This success belongs entirely to the 635 of you who spoke up when it mattered most. I will keep a close eye on the school to make sure this remains a priority …
May 8, 2017
Final supporters
MAY 5 UPDATE: As a follow-up to the meetings at Lab School on March 16 (parent meeting) and March 21 (community meeting), Lab School's representatives formed an Advisory Board to study the pool and theater options and asked the school's architect to analyze those options in greater detail. Please see the HIGHLIGHT below for further details and instructions on how to provide input to parent representatives in advance of the first meeting of the Advisory Board on June 7.
FEB. 22 UPDATE: PLEASE SEE HIGHLIGHT BELOW!
The Lab School of Washington (Lab) has an indoor pool that is a unique and valuable resource for students, staff and the community, including Lab's swim team and other local swim teams. The pool is less than 20 years old and was built specifically because many kids with learning disabilities have problems participating in traditional team sports. Swimming is a lifelong sport that provides these kids with therapeutic benefits, inside the classroom and out.
We are perplexed by Lab's announcement that it plans to eliminate the pool to create a new theater. The announcement provided little information, just the statement that the pool is under-utilized and the arts program is important to Lab. If the pool is under-utilized, what steps has Lab taken to fix that problem, such as finding better ways to provide swimming instruction to its students and integrate swimming into its PE and occupational therapy programs? In other words, isn't this really more of a management problem than a space problem? What other options were considered for the theater, such as renovating the existing theater or using nearby space at GW's Mount Vernon campus? Who has reviewed Lab's space plan and provided input?
I request a meeting at which Lab's head of school can discuss these matters with Lab students, parents, staff and community members.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
March 20, 2017
Reached 100 supporters
February 19, 2017
291 Comments
This pool is a tremendous asset for the community year round and always busy when we visit. If usage is a concern, I would think it would be worth evaluating ways of increasing the pool's use before undergoing the substantial cost associated with renovation.
Swimming is not just a sport, it's a survival skill. The pool is a draw for future enrollment and greater revenue for the school. This pool is critical to the lab school student body, the community and the lives of non-swimming children. Serious consideration should be given to this decision.
I grew up swimming at Lab and my family continues to use the pool for our physical fitness. Lab is also one of the training facilities for a local, DC-based swim team that has taught countless members of the community to swim, which is an important life skill.
I spent several years of my life working for and supporting this pool. I have seen many special needs children overcome fears and proudly succeed as "water dragons" Please don't get rid of this invaluable resource for the children.
Our daughter (now 18) learned to swim at this pool and we still use the pool to keep in shape. A theater production can be shown in all sorts of venues. There is no replacement for the pool. Please reconsider.
PLEASE!! There are SOOOO few indoor pools. Keep it please.
This pool should be saved!!
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The school decided to keep the pool open and I am honestly overwhelmed by how this turned out. This success belongs entirely to the 635 of you who spoke up when it mattered most. I will keep a close eye on the school to make sure this remains a priority …
May 8, 2017
Final supporters
MAY 5 UPDATE: As a follow-up to the meetings at Lab School on March 16 (parent meeting) and March 21 (community meeting), Lab School's representatives formed an Advisory Board to study the pool and theater options and asked the school's architect to analyze those options in greater detail. Please see the HIGHLIGHT below for further details and instructions on how to provide input to parent representatives in advance of the first meeting of the Advisory Board on June 7.
FEB. 22 UPDATE: PLEASE SEE HIGHLIGHT BELOW!
The Lab School of Washington (Lab) has an indoor pool that is a unique and valuable resource for students, staff and the community, including Lab's swim team and other local swim teams. The pool is less than 20 years old and was built specifically because many kids with learning disabilities have problems participating in traditional team sports. Swimming is a lifelong sport that provides these kids with therapeutic benefits, inside the classroom and out.
We are perplexed by Lab's announcement that it plans to eliminate the pool to create a new theater. The announcement provided little information, just the statement that the pool is under-utilized and the arts program is important to Lab. If the pool is under-utilized, what steps has Lab taken to fix that problem, such as finding better ways to provide swimming instruction to its students and integrate swimming into its PE and occupational therapy programs? In other words, isn't this really more of a management problem than a space problem? What other options were considered for the theater, such as renovating the existing theater or using nearby space at GW's Mount Vernon campus? Who has reviewed Lab's space plan and provided input?
I request a meeting at which Lab's head of school can discuss these matters with Lab students, parents, staff and community members.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
March 20, 2017
Reached 100 supporters
February 19, 2017
291 Comments
I am a grandparent of a lab school student. My grandson has thrived at the school and his ability to be part of the swim team has been very positive and part of my charitable decision. If the pool is eliminated my contribution may be as well.
This pool is a tremendous asset for the community year round and always busy when we visit. If usage is a concern, I would think it would be worth evaluating ways of increasing the pool's use before undergoing the substantial cost associated with renovation.
Swimming is not just a sport, it's a survival skill. The pool is a draw for future enrollment and greater revenue for the school. This pool is critical to the lab school student body, the community and the lives of non-swimming children. Serious consideration should be given to this decision.
I grew up swimming at Lab and my family continues to use the pool for our physical fitness. Lab is also one of the training facilities for a local, DC-based swim team that has taught countless members of the community to swim, which is an important life skill.
I spent several years of my life working for and supporting this pool. I have seen many special needs children overcome fears and proudly succeed as "water dragons" Please don't get rid of this invaluable resource for the children.
Our daughter (now 18) learned to swim at this pool and we still use the pool to keep in shape. A theater production can be shown in all sorts of venues. There is no replacement for the pool. Please reconsider.
PLEASE!! There are SOOOO few indoor pools. Keep it please.
This pool should be saved!!
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I am a grandparent of a lab school student. My grandson has thrived at the school and his ability to be part of the swim team has been very positive and part of my charitable decision. If the pool is eliminated my contribution may be as well.