Eanes ISD school board approves contract on aquatics center

AUSTIN, Texas - The Eanes ISD board of trustees has approved a contract on an aquatics center, finalizing a decades-long push for a school district pool.

The estimated $10.3 million facility was approved in the 2019 Bond with a promise that the District would not absorb any operational costs. The finalized contract approves WAQUA, LLC, the principal group that operates the Westlake Athletic Community Center (WACC), to cover all operational costs while maintaining expectations with regard to student and community use.

According to the district, for every $1 received using bond funds, Eanes ISD keeps 100 percent compared to approximately $0.34 on the Maintenence & Operations side. New construction and certain infrastructure such as the aquatics center can only be funded with bonds.

“The board is very excited to move forward with this aquatics center,” said Eanes ISD Board President Jennifer Champagne. “The agreement fulfills the commitment made to our community that there would be no impact on our budget and provides a much-needed space for our students.”

The District will have facility access for the Westlake High School swimming and diving programs, a possible middle school expansion swimming program, potential water polo, and other District swim activities, and community use for pool time, swim lessons, and swim club rentals.

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The initial contract term is five years, with the ability to renew the contract for up to four additional five-year terms.

Construction on the Aquatics Center will begin immediately, as will the approved Robotics expansion and new Wrestling space.

Eanes ISD voters approved the $80 million bond proposal in May 2019 with projects in safety & security, student programs & support, energy efficiency & conservation, and facilities. The bond also includes new spaces for the Westlake High School wrestling programs and expanded space for the robotics and engineering programs.

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For proposed designs, operational costs analysis and more, click here.