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Funding for pool maintenance
If we own your pool the board receives operational funding to maintain it. This funding is calculated on the actual square metres of the pool. You can use this funding for day-to-day maintenance.
Property maintenance grant funding
If your school or community own the pool, the board is responsible for making sure the pool is maintained. You do not get operational funding for board or community owned pools.
Day-to-day maintenance costs
To maintain your pool, you need to budget and pay for:
- pool chemicals
- water charges
- heating charges
- water testing charges
- the salary and training of the person responsible for maintaining pool hygiene and maintenance, such as the caretaker
- painting the pool and surrounds
- repairing fences
- repairing and servicing the filtration plant
- caring for ancillary buildings like changing rooms, storage sheds and roofing structures
- repairing pool covers.
Schools receive funding for heat, light and water to cover operational costs. There is no additional funding if these costs increase due to pool use outside school hours.
Upgrades to existing pools owned by us
Upgrades involve work that is over and above day-to-day maintenance such as:
- resurfacing the pool
- upgrading fences and ancillary buildings
- upgrading or replacing plant and facilities.
We class upgrades as capital works because they improve an asset we own. This means upgrades need to be paid for through board funding or your 5 Year Agreement (5YA). Significant pool upgrades are generally a priority 4 project so may not be prioritised for funding.
Upgrades cannot be paid for from your property maintenance grant.
Read about planning for maintenance work in your 10 Year Property Plan (10YPP).
10 Year Property Plan steps for schools
Repair a damaged pool
If the school board or community owns the pool, you need to pay for any repairs if the pool is damaged.
If we own the pool, contact us to talk about how to fund the repairs. Our School Building Insurance Funding Programme doesn't cover damage to swimming pools, their surrounds or associated facilities.
Build or replace a school pool
If your school is planning to build a new school pool or replace an existing one you need to use board funding such as grants or fundraising. A pool isn't a School Property Guide (SPG) entitlement so there is no funding for building or replacing pools.
School boards become the owners of any new or replacement pools. Boards are responsible for all costs associated with the pool including:
- building the pool and all associated facilities
- maintaining the pool and facilities
- repairing or replacing pool parts or facilities.
Remove a school pool
If your school wants to remove an existing Ministry-owned pool, talk to your property advisor at your regional office first. School boards should consult with the school community before removing a school pool.
