With the Maggie Gilbert Aquatic Center scheduled for completion in June, Palisades Charter High School officials are now looking at a price tag that has risen from $4.6 million to $4.9 million. PaliHi’s Executive Director Amy Dresser-Held told the Palisadian-Post on Monday that the cost has increased because last spring the architectural firm, Aquatic Design Group, made a mistake with its designs, which meant that the contractor had to excavate more dirt and pour more concrete than anticipated to construct the pool. Since then, there has been negotiating on the cost of the additional work. In addition, the aquatic center is being built on fill, so there have been extra costs to make sure the site is stable, Dresser-Held said. Throughout construction, soil inspectors have been coming out to look at stability (such as after a rainstorm). So far, the school has raised $3.2 million, including pledges of $100,000. English teacher Rose Gilbert, who inherited millions from her late husband Sam, has donated more than $2 million of that money toward the construction costs, and the facility will be named after her late daughter and swimmer, Maggie. In addition, Gilbert, 91 and still teaching, gave the school a $750,000 loan in January, so the center (with a 12-lane competitive pool and adjacent two-lane teaching pool) could be completed by this summer. The loan, with a set interest rate of 5.6 percent, will be repaid on a quarterly basis over a five-year period, starting after the pool is finished, according to Chief Business Officer Greg Wood. The loan will be paid back through revenue collected from permits, which community groups and organizations can purchase to use the school’s pool, playing fields, parking lots, classrooms, meeting rooms and gym. In January when the price tag was $4.6 million, the board directed Wood to look into securing a second loan for $750,000. He has since received proposals from Wells Fargo, CalNational/US Bank and Bank of the West. ‘I am still evaluating those options,’ Wood told the Post last week. He expects to update the board at an April meeting. When the Post asked Wood if he would now investigate securing a $950,000- to $1.05-million loan in light of the increased costs, he responded, ‘That is up to the board to decide; there are fundraising efforts going on.’ Jeanne Goldsmith, a consultant hired to help raise money for the aquatic center, said she is speaking to individuals about giving large sums of money and is pleading with the community to help in any way possible. ‘The time to step up is right now,’ she said. PaliHi is selling summer passes (valid from July 1 to September 8) for $500 for an individual and $800 for a family. The aquatic center will be open this summer from 5:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. There will be free swimming available on Sundays. The school is also selling one-year swim passes that are valid from July 1 through June 30, 2011 for $1,000 per individual and $1,500 for a family. Wall tiles (which will be displayed inside the aquatic center complex) are on sale for $500. The title, with room for 15 words or two lines of text, can be a gift to honor a swimmer, a graduate of PaliHi or an entire family. ‘If they want the tile in the pool right away, they need to contact me ASAP,’ said Goldsmith, who is already ordering tiles. Individuals, businesses and organizations may purchase a lane for $50,000 and have their name displayed on it. Six of the 14 lanes are still available. Two groups or individuals can split a lane for $30,000 each. Naming rights to the scoreboard for $150,000 and the instructional pool for $350,000 are also for sale. Goldsmith said the school has submitted grant proposals, but with the economic downturn, ‘many foundations have had their endowments cut, are curtailing their spending, and are re-evaluating what they’re giving to.’ She said foundations are choosing more ‘high-risk, life-altering causes’ such as food banks and shelters. Frank Ryan, a marketing communications consultant who was hired by PaliHi’s Booster Club to raise money for the pool, has sent grant proposals to 62 major foundations in Southern California. Ryan said that he hasn’t heard back from 40 foundations and the others chose not to contribute. He agreed that foundations have had their funding cut and are being more selective. He told the Post that he also thinks PaliHi should have contacted more potential givers before announcing the project. ‘Usually with fundraising, you raise the most in the initial stages,’ said Ryan, who was hired after the fundraising campaign began. Nonetheless, Ryan said that he and Goldsmith are both working hard now to secure the additional funding. He thinks the pool will be a valuable addition for the school and community. Most importantly, young people will have the opportunity to learn how to swim. Those interested in making a donation should contact Goldsmith at (310) 454-9033 or visit PaliHi’s Web site: www.palihigh.org.
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