CBC NEWS

A deal appears to be in place that will prevent the closure of most of Toronto's public school swimming pools.

Toronto District School Board trustee Josh Matlow said Monday the province has pledged $16 million for repair work to keep the pools open. And the money needed to operate the individual pools will be raised through permit sales.

For the pools on the chopping block, that share amounts to about $100,000 per year.

"For many, many years the TDSB was taking money from other grants, such as grants for English as a second language to cover all these costs of the pools. Now I think we've found a far more rational and responsible way to keep our schools afloat while ensuring that both students and community residents have access to them," said Matlow.

Community groups and organizations like the YMCA will rent the pools during the evenings to help defray the costs.

The money raised by the permits won't keep all of the city's school pools open. Right now only 26 of the 39 pools slated to close will be covered by the extra money.

But Matlow says there is still plenty of time to find resources to keep the other 13 open.

Those pools aren't due to close until the end of the year.

Toronto has 79 pools at schools, as well as a further 30 city-run indoor pools for its 2.5 million residents.

The deal, brokered by former Toronto mayor David Crombie, is expected to be discussed at this week's TDSB board meeting.