Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) newest indoor pool opens June 6.
School and county officials, along with the family of the late Col. Donald M. Wade, dedicated the St. Charles High School pool May 15 during a ribbon cutting ceremony. The county is waiting for final permits and approvals before opening to the public.
The Board of Education named the pool area the “Col. Donald M. Wade Aquatic Center” in honor of Wade, a former Board member who is credited with securing funding and approval to build the pool at St. Charles.
The pool was removed from the original St. Charles building plans. However, in Sept. 2013, even though construction on the high school was underway, Col. Wade successfully lobbied the Charles County Commissioners to restore funding and build the pool.
During the St. Charles dedication ceremony, former Board member Roberta Wise said, “As usual, he (Wade) did this in his gentlemanly way but with the voice of determination and command of the officer he was.”
Wise said Wade explained to the Commissioners the heavy community use of the indoor pools at Henry E. Lackey and North Point high schools; the convenient location and need for an indoor pool in the St. Charles area; and his opinion that all citizens need to learn to swim since Charles County is surrounded by so much water. Wade provided statistics showing children of color are less likely to learn to swim and reminded the Commissioners that CCPS is a minority/majority school system, Wise said. “The commissioners heard him and later granted his wish,” Wise said.
Maurice Wade, speaking on behalf of the Wade family, thanked the school system for the recognition of his father’s efforts that were always focused on education and children. Col. Wade passed away June 1, 2014, shortly before the end of his fourth term on the Board of Education.
According to Steve Andritz, CCPS project manager, construction on the pool is complete. The pool at St. Charles is the third CCPS indoor pool, and the newest since 2005 when the North Point pool opened. The first indoor pool opened at Lackey.
The pool is 19,183 square feet and includes six competition-length lanes; spectator seating for 338, including handicapped areas; and separate men’s and women’s locker rooms to make the pool available after hours for community use.
Andritz said the pool also contains many of the environmental features found at St. Charles, including: day lighting, geothermal heating and cooling, energy efficient lighting and rainwater harvesting from the pool roof.