Page 12 The Advocate News (Wilton-Durant, Iowa) Thursday, December 6, 2012

OpiniOn

'The pool and I have grown up together'

f the walls of the Wilton Pool could talk, that provides that (K-12 swimming) to all the theyd surely have plenty of stories to tell kids. about most of our communitys residents Allison herself is also considered a school especially those who have gone through employee and as of this year qualified for full the Wilton school system during the past 30 IPERS benefits. It was the right time. Ive got years. It could even tell several stories about grandkids it was getting to the point where Durant, as it has bussed children over for I want to spend more time with them. I know morning swimming lessons at the Wilton Pool its time, but its going to be hard, she said. for many years. Her impact on the pool, school, community, Yet theres one name that would come up its residents and students are in ways immeain several, if not most, of the stories Allison surable. Growing up in Wilton, I can say that Stoll. I have many vivid memories involving the Allison has been the aquatic director at Wilton Pool. From several fun activities in P.E. the Wilton Pool since 1986 and will be retir- class over the years, to birthday parties at the ing at the end of 2012. She lives north of pool, to just watching the clock and eagerly Wilton with her huswaiting for it to hit 1 p.m. so that I could go to band Art. They have open swim in the summers or on the weekends, three kids (Amanda, it was certainly one of the venues that I hold Adam and Austen) and near and dear to my heart. five grandchildren. The one constant through it all was AlThe pool opened lison. in the fall of 1980. I have K-12 all in one year so I see all the Stoll was hired as a kids all year long, she said. I see people I part-time lifeguard and had in kindergarten and they now have their swimming instructor kids there. by Mike Moran, the As a lifeguard and water safety instructor, pools first director. as well as staying active in teaching swimming Allison Stoll After three years, Molessons, its safe to say that Allison has had a ran left for a job in Iowa City. Denise Austin, hand in teaching most of the children in our currently the assistant Jr./Sr. High principal communities. She was also able to train her and curriculum director at Wilton Jr./Sr. High own lifeguards, which provided many fun, School, then served as aquatic director for rewarding part-time jobs to several area youth three years. over the years. Denise came in for three years and I was The pool also offers aquasize classes, adult under her, said Stoll. She went into the school lap swim times, senior citizen swim times system and I applied for the job. The rest was and open/evening swim times, which only history. continues the outreach and connection shes A history that would span 32 years caring had with residents. for a facility she calls my baby in a commuIm going to miss everything, said Alnity shes truly grown to lison. The best part of love. it are the people. Ive Allison was an Air got lap swimmers who Force brat. Her father have been here for 20was from Columbus plus years. I may even Junction and was a start swimming with pilot in the Air Force, them! causing his family to Something tells locate and relocate me the lap swimmers By Derek Sawvell all over the U.S. He would like that. Someeventually retired back thing also tells me that to Columbus Junction, where Allison spent after the first of the year, well still see Allison her senior year of high school. Although she around the pool, although its new aquatic direcgraduated from Columbus, she went to four tor, Kim Feuerbach, a 2008 WHS graduate, elementary schools, two middle schools and will be in place. two high schools. In fact, Feuerbach has been working with We moved every 2-3 years, said Allison. Allison for weeks, learning the tricks of the I married into Wilton. I didnt even know trade while settling in. Allison has impleWilton existed until I met Art. mented several house cleaning initiatives She was working as a nurses aid at Lutheran over the years, such as draining and refilling Homes in Muscatine, where she met and got to the pool once every five years and shutting it know Art when he would come there to visit down for a week every year to take care of his grandfather. The couple were married in other tasks. 1975 and have called Wilton home. The more preventative maintenance you The Wilton Pool was a joint venture be- do, the better off youll be, said Allison. tween the city and the school system. It was Shed also still like to stay involved in built between the elementary and high school teaching aquasize and swimming lessons. Im buildings and as Allison would tell you, the quite sure Feuerbach and the pool board of idea was to integrate the school district children directors (Keith Stanley, Gary Maurer, Matt with the daily operations. Fowler, Jeff Belknap and Don Walsh) will When the city and school were thinking continue to welcome her with open arms. about it, they would provide nine weeks of The pool truly is her baby. While most of swimming for every Wilton student from day its stories include her, most of Allisons stories one, said Allison. Every student from Wilton would involve the pool as well. can handle themselves in the water from third Its never been a job to me, she said. Its grade on up. been my life for 30 years. Im just so passionI didnt really think about that until we ate about it. Ive grown up with it. The pool talked about it. Shes right! Surely there are and I have grown up together. exceptions such as kids moving into the district perhaps later in their scholastic lives, but Open House thinking back, I cant remember Wilton kids An open house will be held in honor of Albeing unable to swim because beginning in lisons retirement on Monday, Dec. 10, from kindergarten, we would spend at least a quarter 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the pool. of the school year at the pool for gym class. The event, hosted by the pool board, is We have a good relationship with the open to the public and refreshments will be school, said Allison. They did it right. Were provided. Come share stories with Allison and one of the few (school systems) in the nation wish her well!

The Wilton Pool, which opened in 1980, has been a staple of the Wilton community. One name that has been synonymous with the pool since the beginning is aquatic director Allison Stoll, who will be retiring at the end of 2012 after 32 years. The pool serves customers of all ages annually, including all Wilton students from grades K-12.

Case in Point

Allison Stoll is shown above taking the temperature of water as the Wilton Pool was being refilled in March. Once every five years, the pool gets drained in order for any grout and caulk to be replaced. Then it's refilled. Allison is pictured sitting in the pool where the six-foot section ends and the decent to the 12-foot section begins.
Photos by Derek Sawvell

Adding 'detail and clarity'

Editor: To add some detail and possibly some clarity for your readers regarding the article entitled F upheld in your issue of the Wilton-Durant Advocate News Nov.29, 2012 (Vol. 118, No. 48.), I have provided some more information. The school board, following Code #506.1 Appendix B (Student Records Access), recognizes the importance of maintaining student records and preserving their confidentiality. As part of Iowa State Administrative Code through the Iowa Department of Education and school board policy, school boards are not permitted to discuss any student, any student record, or information related to student discipline in an open meeting unless the student is 18 years old and consents to hold an open meeting or the parents/guardians consent to hold an open meeting. The School Board did not request the special meeting referred to in the article instead the students father requested the open meeting. The student was asked by the board if the student wanted to speak. He did speak, as did the parents and a few others who believed they had information to add to the discussion. Present at the special meeting to report facts related to the class and the disputed grade given, was the teacher who gave the grade to the student (and for which eligibility for sports was denied per State Athletic Association rules). The teacher handed out a written class timeline and a calendar to board members and the parents to explain the classs 9-weeks period schedule, including the due dates for assignments, quizzes and projects. Then he filled in dates when the student was absent and how long that teacher waited for assignments to be turned in, giving the student one month at one point and also working with him after school. There are rules specific to one day plus one after an absence and so on, which can be found in the Student Athletes Handbook and the State Athletic Association website. The Athletic Director (AD) also attended to explain when he received the D and F list of students of which this student was only one among others. That list is the ADs guide for informing the school principal and the superintendent of failing grades and for letters to be sent stating ineligibility. Thank you for allowing me to fill in some details about the special school board meeting. Barbara Reasner President, Board of Directors, Durant Community School District

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