New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) hopes to have four of its five pools open this summer — assuming its latest $250,000 contract is enough to help make Conte West Hills School’s pool functional for the first time since 2020. If that work is successful, then pools at Conte, Career, Hillhouse, a nd John S. Martinez schools will be open this summer. The pool at Wilbur Cross, meanwhile, remains closed for the time being because of needed roof repairs. NHPS Chief of School Operations (CSO) Paul Whyte provided that update Monday during the latest meeting of the Board of Education’s Finance Operations Committee. Whyte presented a recommended contract with Ruotolo Mechanical, Inc. to install a new balance tank and sand filters for Conte’s pool at 511 Chapel St. That contract amount is not to exceed $250,187. Whyte’s presentation came a week after Conte School Building Manager Dennis Tondalo spoke up to the Board of Education about his concerns that this work isn’t enough to make the school’s pool safe in the long run. Read more about Tondalo’s testimony here. Board of Education member Andrea Downer requested on Monday that Whyte connect with Tondalo to review his concerns. Whyte said he is already in conversation with Tondalo and that plans to get further clarity on Tondalo’s specific concerns related to asthma. Whyte also agreed with Tondalo’s argument that the pool does still need improved HVAC, dehumidification, and climate controls systems as well as locker room improvements. However, Whyte said, those additional needs “should not prohibit us from opening.” He said that Monday’s contract for a new balance tank and sand filters should cover the final steps needed to get the pool open again. “Is this a Band-Aid?” Downer asked. No, Whyte replied; instead, it’s the main piece of work still needed to get Conte’s pool up and running. He estimated that if all approvals are granted for the contract, the Conte pool work will take about 8-10 weeks to complete — meaning the pool could be open by early July. Whyte said that Conte’s pool would be the fourth school pool slated to be open this summer. He said that pools at John S. Martinez School and Career High School are open and operational. He also said that the pool at Hillhouse High School also recently reopened after a temporary closure temporary for the building’s doors to get replaced over spring break. Whyte said that now that the work is complete, Hillhouse’s pool is cleared for use again. The fifth and final school pool that remains closed is at Wilbur Cross High School. That pool is still closed because the building needs roof repairs. “To do the work within the Cross pool we first have to fix the roof above it, otherwise any work that’d be done there would be destroyed,” Whyte explained. The post 4 Of 5 School Pools Could Open This Summer appeared first on New Haven Independent. ...read more read less