Like many concerned citizens in the city of Torrance, I attended the March 30, 2015 Torrance School Board meeting to discuss the placement of the new Aquatic Center.
Most of the audience included parents and young people who play in little leagues throughout the city.
The biggest concern on many people's minds, then, rested on whether the Aquatic Center would displace one of the baseball diamonds in the city.
Of the four considered sites, the best location would be between SCROC and Torrance Elementary.
Everyone cheered. Most of the audience left after they were assured that no little league would lose their playing field.
![]("http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_bF9u7537hc/ViaYN-dgmeI/AAAAAAAABtM/KYWpxu6uKUg/s1600/Tajii%2BConfronts%2BSchool%2BBoard.jpg") |
| Former Torrance PTA Presidenti Janet Tajii confronts the TUSD School Board |
One parent, the former president of the Torrance Parent Teachers Association Janet Tajii, had other concerns.
She approached the dias after all comment cards had been read and shared and called out the School Board about their misleading promotion of the Aquatic Center:
"Good evening, members of the Board. I have a question about your statement also where you said it [the aquatic center] was going to be for the high school aquatics programs and for competitive swim meets.
"In the T and U Questions and Answers, it says "Provide an aquatic center for high school swimming and water polo programs and for the entire community as well"
• Replace student lockers at all high schools.
• Replace auxiliary gyms at all high schools.
• Renovate the Torrance High School auditorium Build auditoriums at South, West, and North high schools, and for arts instruction and performances.
• Renovate aging physical education facilities, playgrounds and fields to include resurfacing of tennis courts, and replacement of artificial football turf and tracks at all high schools.
• Build an aquatic center for use in high school swimming programs and the entire community.
Former Mayor Frank Scotto struggled to justify the Aquatic Center, but did acknowledge that it would be open to the public:
The former Mayor acknowledged that the aquatic center with its hefty $15 Million price tag has become a target for those opposing the bonds. Part of the consternation is due to the lack of details about the proposed facility and the yet to be determined location for the pool. Current plans are to have an Olympic sized pool with stadium seating and an open roof. It will be made available to the general public, but high school swim and water polo teams will have priority use. Local schools currently use the outdated Plunge for swimming activities.
"Lack of details" kills this whole deal. That's been the problem for so long.
The District's November 5th press released mirrored the same promises from the project summary.
The last thing that city residents should do is elect the same incumbents who had promised public facilities for the schools and the entire community, then turn right around, renege on the promise, and take away the center from the entire community.
"Trust us!" has not worked as a governing policy for the current school board.
We need new leadership for Torrance Unified. On November 3rd, 2015 — vote for Clint Paulson and Rick Marshall for Torrance School Board.