by Raveena Aulakh, Toronto Star

Toronto trustees voted last night to keep nine school pools open, thus saving all but seven of the 37 pools initially threatened with closure.

"It's a great day for these communities and people who care for pools," said trustee Josh Matlow, who called it a collective effort by citizens, the city and province.

The funds needed for the operating costs will come from permit revenues and the private sector.

"There are many seniors' groups, the Y and local aquatics clubs, which have shown interest in using the pools," Matlow said.

The nine pools need approximately $2 million in operating costs annually.

The board's aquatics working group has forecast more than $300,000 in permit fees for the school pools for the next few months and has said there's a reasonable chance the remaining costs will also be covered.

"The group demonstrated to the board that there is money already committed by permit holders and there's a projection for more since we have been receiving so many requests," Matlow said.

The nine pools are at Carleton Village, Central Technical School, Earl Grey, George Harvey Collegiate, Kensington Community School, Monarch Park, SATEC@W.A. Porter, Western Technical-Commercial School and Winona/McMurrich public schools.

Last month, a report prepared by the aquatics working group, headed by David Crombie, recommended that the board save the pools, which were facing closure.

The Toronto board has been scrambling to find funds to keep the pools open because it can't afford to keep them running.

Last spring, Premier Dalton McGuinty announced $12 million to $15 million to fix and maintain them.

The City of Toronto covers the full $6 million cost for 33 other school pools.

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