01/18/2026
Dear TPS Community,
This week, the Board of Education made a difficult but necessary decision regarding the future of the Tecumseh Community Memorial Pool. I am writing to share that decision with you and explain how we arrived at this point.
The Journey to This Decision
In November of 2024, our community demonstrated its commitment to our facilities by passing a sinking fund to support critical infrastructure improvements across all our school buildings, including roofing projects, HVAC upgrades, and other facility improvements - with approximately $2.5 million allocated for the Tecumseh Community Memorial Pool roof replacement.
Many of you will recall in April 2025, we announced a temporary closure of the pool to replace the dehumidification and ventilation systems that had broken down beyond repair. At that time, we believed we were taking a proactive approach - accelerating mechanical repairs that were part of our planned renovations, with the planned pool reopening in Fall 2025 and the sinking fund-supported roof replacement scheduled for Spring 2026.
However, as our engineering teams conducted further investigation and assessment of the facility during the closure, they discovered far more extensive problems than initially identified. Magnus Engineering documented extensive lamellar corrosion affecting nearly all primary and secondary structural steel components supporting the pool roof - including the wall columns, primary girders, open-web steel joists, and structural connections.
This type of progressive deterioration causes subsurface swelling, loss of material density, and eventual flaking of steel, significantly reducing the structure's capacity. Magnus Engineering explicitly stated that the remaining material thickness is misleading and should not be relied upon for structural calculations. While an exact failure date cannot be predicted, the risk of partial or progressive collapse rises over time, especially during winter snow loads and temperature cycling.
What began as a mechanical systems replacement project revealed a structural crisis that makes the building unsafe for public occupancy. As such, the mechanical systems replacement was paused and never done.
The Board's Decision
After careful consideration of three options, (1) demolition and rebuild over the existing basin ($15 million), (2) demolition only ($2.3 million), or (3) building a new pool facility at a new site ($28 million) - the Board voted to proceed with Option 2: Demolition of the current pool structure, along with the formation of a Superintendent-led exploratory committee to engage with our community about the possibility of a new pool facility.
This decision prioritizes immediate safety for students, staff, and the public while providing time for thoughtful community engagement about our long-term vision.
Why This Decision Was Made & Why Timing Matters
The safety of our community is our highest priority. The pool must remain closed to all occupancy, with access limited only to maintenance staff and professionals. The structure is deemed unsafe for public use.
Our engineers have been clear: delaying demolition increases the risk of structural failure over time. Each winter cycle of snow loads and temperature changes accelerates the deterioration we've already documented.
The pool building's location also affects daily school operations. The structure sits adjacent to areas used for parent and bus drop-off and pick-up, before and after care services, and classroom instruction. A structural failure could disrupt these essential functions that families rely on every day. Acting now to remove the compromised structure is the responsible path forward to ensure uninterrupted school operations and community safety.
Our insurance company has confirmed that maintaining coverage requires us to demonstrate ongoing progress toward addressing the structural issues - further emphasizing the need for timely action.
This recommendation accomplishes three critical goals:
Eliminates safety risk by removing the deteriorating structure before conditions worsen
Facilitates thoughtful community engagement by providing necessary time for public input about a possible new pool facility
Avoids hasty financial commitments by preventing potentially costly and premature investments without full consideration of all options
What Happens Next
Demolition Timeline: The demolition process will take approximately 12-18 months from Board authorization to completion. Beginning in Summer/Fall 2026 is the target timeline, which aligns with safer weather conditions and reduces the period of structural risk. If delayed beyond this construction season, the structure must remain closed through another winter cycle with continued deterioration expected - extending both the timeline and the risk.
Supporting Our Student-Athletes: In the interim, we are committed to working with our middle school and high school athletes to secure pool time at other area facilities and are actively exploring the possibility of establishing a co-op swim team with neighboring school districts to ensure our student-athletes can continue to compete and develop their skills.
Exploratory Committee: We will establish a Superintendent-led exploratory committee to:
Engage diverse community stakeholders including parents, athletes, community members, coaches, business leaders, and advocates
Educate the community about the pool's history, safety mission, health benefits, and impact on students and community members
Assess community needs and desires for a potential new facility
Develop transparent cost projections and explore funding and fundraising options
Determine whether there is sufficient community support for a new pool facility
About the Sinking Fund: The sinking fund approved by voters in fall 2024 was designed to support critical infrastructure improvements across all our school buildings. The comprehensive plan included roofing projects, HVAC upgrades, and other facility improvements throughout the district - with approximately $2.5 million allocated for the pool roof replacement that we now know cannot proceed due to the structural findings.
This is an important point: the sinking fund was never intended solely for the pool. It represents our community's investment in maintaining and improving all of our educational facilities. The funds designated for the pool roof repair remain available and will be redirected to pool demolition costs and addressing other roofing and HVAC priorities across our buildings. We remain committed to using these voter-approved funds responsibly and transparently - ensuring safe, functional facilities for our entire school district.
Why This Matters
The Tecumseh Community Memorial Pool has served our community across all generations. Programs serving everyone from 6-month-old infants learning water safety to adults participating in fitness and rehabilitation programs to Tigersharks, to our middle school and high school swim team to swim lessons for all ages, the facility has truly served all generations.
A Community Decision
Truth is, the future of aquatic programming in Tecumseh is a community decision. The exploratory committee process will ensure that any path forward reflects our collective vision and values.
We will keep you updated throughout this process with regular communications about the demolition timeline, the exploratory committee's work, opportunities for community input, and next steps. Your voice matters in this decision.
If you have questions or would like to be involved in the exploratory committee process, please fill out this form to express your interest.
I understand this news is disappointing, particularly for those who have cherished memories of this facility, those who use it regularly, our school swim teams, and those who were simply looking forward to its reopening. We share your disappointment. However, we cannot compromise on safety, and we are committed to acting responsibly to protect our community while engaging with you thoughtfully about what comes next for aquatic programming in our community.
Thank you for your understanding and engagement as we navigate this challenging but important decision together.
Sincerely,
Matt Hilton
