Parents and athletes in Stratford cannot understand why they are forced to travel to other towns to practice and compete while a pool sits unused in town.The pool at Flood Middle School has been sitting unused for a second season. Last year, the pool was closed for the whole season due to construction and asbestos removal. This year?s season was interrupted by a broken diving board, which is holding back swimmers from being able to practice and compete in their own facility. Parents and swimmers say nothing is being done to fix the problem that is affecting not only Flood Middle School but also Bunnell High School and Stratford High School, who also use the pool.

Superintendent Irene Cornish says the broken facility was never on the capital improvements list and that there has been a problem with the diving boards for more than a decade. She says an estimate of damage costs will decide whether or not the district is willing to fix the facility. Upset parents when they say if this was a problem with a football goal post or a basketball hoop, those teams would not be asked to go without. Cornish agrees and says she is working fast to fix the problem.