Fate of Cudahy Middle School pool causes controversy, board votes to table discussion
CUDAHY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The fate of a middle school pool in Cudahy is causing controversy.
The School District of Cudahy board meeting was packed with dozens of residents Monday night, demanding the pool stay for good.
“Gives us a ton of revenue,” said a Cudahy resident speaking during public comment. “It is a tremendous asset to the community. Don’t get rid of that for a cafeteria, in a room that has no windows, no skylights. We might as well have the kids eat in a dungeon. It makes no sense.”
The board’s proposal is to convert the Cudahy Middle School pool into a multipurpose cafeteria space and to turn the current cafeteria into a contemporary learning environment.
This project is listed as a 2024 referendum project, and residents who voted to pass that say this is not what they want or what they were told their taxes would be funding.
“As a resident, my taxes went up almost $900 because of your referendum, and yet the money is not being used as you said it would be used,” said Jenny Hohner, Cudahy resident.
People say the pool is a cherished community resource for all ages, providing summer camps, swim lessons, aerobics and more.
The board stressed that if the pool was replaced, the aquatics program would not be dissolved, saying they are looking into a temporary lease with the YMCA.
“If at some point, the pool were to be filled in, such a decision would not be the result of a lack of space for incoming students,” said Kari Durr, the president of the School District of Cudahy Board of Education. “Rather, it would be based on the district's ongoing efforts to modernize and update learning environments to best support students' success.”
The board voted unanimously to table the discussion until March of 2027. They agreed at this time, they don’t have enough information on what’s the best option moving forward.