SAINT CLAIR - The Saint Clair Area School District is planning to manage the borough's pool this summer.
During the elementary/middle school open house Wednesday night, Superintendent Kendy K. Hinkel said that while there isn't "a firm agreement" yet with the borough, she's pretty confident that the school district will be running the pool, which is owned by the Borough of Saint Clair.
"My hope is that we have a safe place for kids all summer long and I'm so confident that we're going to come to an agreement," she said Wednesday. "Moving forward, if you can support us with season passes, we are going to adjust the hours slightly and have pool parties for kids on the weekends."
Hinkel said she's going to be contacting churches in the area to see if they would sponsor children with needs for a pool pass for the summer.
The school district also plans to serve food, so children will be able to go and have a free lunch every day and participate at the pool.
"I'm working on grant money for kids in the valley to be able to bus them in with the lunch program," Hinkel said. "I'm not as confident with that but I'm working on that."
She's hoping that the community will get involved by purchasing passes so there is a "break-even situation" to be able to continue to manage the pool in the future.
On Thursday, borough Treasurer Roland Price said that negotiations are ongoing but the borough is hoping to work together with the school district to open the pool.
He said that while no formal agreements have been adopted, the borough would provide utilities and supplies while the school district would provide other materials and handle paying the lifeguard's salaries.
"It looks promising," Price said.
The borough is planning to open the pool by mid-May.
According to Republican-Herald archives, the borough signed a lease last year with Neptune Pool Management Inc., Wilmington, Del., to manage the pool.
Due to problems with the company, the pool, which opened for the season June 16, had a "very early close date" of Aug. 13.
Price said Thursday that Neptune is no longer managing the pool.
In 2011, Frackville leased its pool complex to Neptune but parted ways after one year, having problems with employees not getting paid.
Neptune has also been managing the Mount Carmel Community Pool, owned by the Borough of Mount Carmel in Northumberland County.
Ed Cuff, borough manager for Mount Carmel and manager for the Mount Carmel Borough Community Pool, said Thursday that Neptune is still managing the pool this year as they signed a two-year contract.