Facing the loss of its own swimming pool, the Shaler Area School District is partnering with the Sarah Heinz House on Pittsburgh’s North Side for use of its pool beginning with the 2027-28 swim season.
The school board on Wednesday voted 8-0 to approve a three-year agreement with the Sarah Heinz House, beginning Sept. 1, 2027, to rent use of the swimming pool, locker rooms, weight room and storage space for swim team equipment at Sarah Heinz House at mutually agreed upon days and times throughout the swim season.
The first year will cost the district $63,900. Annual increases are capped at no more than 5%. The agreement would continue on a three-year basis unless ended by either party.
Board member Jason Machajewski was absent.
Shaler Area’s own pool is located in Shaler Area Elementary School, which the district plans to close after next school year as part of a reconfiguration plan. The district is moving fourth and fifth grade students from the elementary school to its four primary schools and sixth grade students to its middle school.
In November, the school board approved submitting a reconfiguration plan to the state Department of Education to create four K-5 elementary schools and for Shaler Area Middle School to house grades six through eight. It also authorized administrators to start closing proceedings for the elementary school.
The agreement with the Sarah Heinz House is intended to support the needs of Shaler Area’s varsity swimming and diving program, Superintendent Bryan O’Black said. The district is not now planning to offer swim lessons, physical education classes, or other district-operated aquatic programming there.
The Sarah Heinz House is about 8 or 9 miles away from the elementary school.
”Sarah Heinz House emerged as a strong option due to its existing aquatic facilities, geographic proximity to the district, and willingness to work collaboratively with Shaler Area on scheduling and access needs,” he said. “We are grateful to Sarah Heinz House for collaborating with us to ensure our swim program continues to thrive in a high-quality environment that supports student success, teamwork, and wellness.”
The Sarah Heinz House is an affiliate of the Boys & Girls Clubs. It serves children from ages 3 to 9 daily and has summer programming, CEO Demeshia Seals said.
The Heinz House has an Olympic-size swimming pool, used by the children and older adults during the day.
While Heinz House doesn’t currently have any other agreements with outside organizations or groups to use its pool, it has in the past, including Central Catholic and Oakland Catholic, Seals said.
Shaler Area representatives approached the Sarah Heinz House about using the pool and took a tour.
“I thought it was great that they reached out to us,” Seals said. “We were delighted to have the opportunity. What a great opportunity to partner and provide support for Shaler for a resource we already have.”
Shaler Area Athletic Director Stephanie Strauss described the Sarah Heinz House as “a first-class facility.”
“We are incredibly thankful to the leadership team for opening their doors to our student-athletes,” Strauss said. “Access to this pool will allow our swimming program to continue competing at a high level within the WPIAL while also providing our student-athletes with an outstanding environment to train, improve and achieve new personal bests.”
O’Black said Shaler Area has no long-range plans to build a new district-owned pool.
Current planning work is focused on addressing infrastructure needs across the district, including HVAC systems and roofing, and the transition to the elementary and middle school model.