TJ pool set to open to the community for swim lessons, open swims

The new Thomas Jefferson High School pool likely will open to the community for swim lessons and family fun nights in the next few months.

Brian McClain, a longtime TJ teacher working as the pool manager this year, said he would like to see lessons and open swim nights launched by April at the TJ aquatic center.

McClain presented his ideas for expanding use of the eight-lane pool that opened in the new $95 million Thomas Jefferson High School this year to West Jefferson Hills School Board members on Feb. 18.

Board members on Feb. 25 approved the creation of several positions, including lifeguard, pool site supervisor and swimming instructor, to make way for the new programming.

Superintendent Michael Ghilani said that McClain is moving forward with plans for the program.

“I think that there’s a demand and an interest in this community to offer swim lessons,” McClain said. “I think that we can bring a program here that offers some programming for our children at a convenient location.”

McClain, who has been involved in running an aquatic facility for 27 years and serves as a Red Cross water safety instructor, recommended the district offer the Red Cross Learn to Swim program on Monday and Wednesday nights, based on interest.

The cost of swim lessons, he recommended, could be $70 per participant, while the cost of admission for an open swim would be $3.

Open swims will not be revenue generation, but the swim lessons would be.

“I think that the open swim is more of a community asset and I think that it’s something that will be appreciated by members of the community,” McClain said.

He recommended using the Red Cross Learn to Swim program because it is nationally recognized with a standardized curriculum and is used in aquatic facilities across the country. It also provides access to resources for instructors, including video and lesson plans, he said.

The program would require the hiring of several people, including lifeguards and instructors.

McClain has been running a lifeguard course at the high school during personalized learning time. The hope would be to hire TJ students for some of the roles.

McClain points out that the program is in its infancy stages. He said he wants to start small, as the program gets off the ground.

He recommended a plan that would have a maximum of 33 students in the pool at one time.

Under the plan, there would be three time slots for swim lessons on Monday and Wednesday nights.

This would total 200 students at the maximum.

If the program was only offered to 100 students, McClain estimates it would bring in about $3,928. The plan also is to offer open swims on Monday and Wednesdays.

McClain also proposed a family open swim on Friday evenings.

The number of offerings will depend on interest.

“Eventually it could move to Saturday mornings, but right now we avoided that because of maintenance costs associated with weekend work,” he said.

Plans would be to offer swim lessons for school-age students, at first.

McClain told board members that he would like to launch a survey to gauge interest.

In the last week, district leaders also met with representatives from Community College of Allegheny County, Ghilani said. The two are in talks to offer programming for senior citizens at the pool.

McClain said he has been approached by other organizations, as well, that are interested in using the facilities.