JACKSON TWP — Seneca Valley's choice for a new natatorium design may cost more, but it will give the district extra space to align with Title IX.

The school board voted 6 to 3 at the Feb. 12 meeting to direct architecture firm IKM to move forward with a schematic design for the second of two options for the new aquatics center presented at a meeting last month. School board members Jeff Widdowson, Eric DiTullio and the Rev. Reid Moon voted against option two.

Option two places the pool between the intermediate high school and the 7-8 middle school, where there is an existing building and grounds garage.

In this design, the pool is closest to the parking lot, and the spectator stands, locker rooms and other areas are closest to the football stadium. This design would allow for a shell space at ground level with the stadium. That space could be turned into an extra women's locker room.

This would put the district better in line with Title IX, a federal law that requires that male and female student athletes have equitable programs and equal facilities, training, equipment and more.

IKM project manager Matt Hansen presented the board with the two design options at its Jan. 8 board meeting and asked them to choose one by the end of February to keep with a timeline that has the project breaking ground in December. Following this timeline, the new aquatics center would be finished in the 2019-20 school year.

The first design was a flip of the second in the same location, with the pool sitting closest to the stadium and the locker rooms, stands and other gathering areas nearest the parking lot.

Option one was less costly and had a better flow with the existing topography. The second design option worked against the topography, but that allowed for space underneath at the stadium level to possibly be turned into a women's locker room.

At the football stadium there are men's locker room facilities in the field house, but there are no women's locker room facilities.

Heather Lewis, district athletic director, said that's an issue for Title IX compliance. The district has known about this issue and has been looking for ways to resolve it.

“We want to ensure we are meeting the standards expected from our community and students, and our goal is to provide the best facilities for students and athletic programs,” she said. “This includes venues that meet the needs of all of our student-athletes.”

Bob Cook, district director of buildings, grounds and security, said they had discussed the possibility of putting women's locker rooms under the stadium's press box, but that project was not on his comprehensive building plan that runs through 2022.

School board members Leslie Bredl and Kathy Whittle pointed out the need for extra space regardless of its end use.

“You have more versatility in accommodating more than just swimming,” Whittle said of the design.

Tammy Blazer, a Cranberry Township resident and Seneca Valley Swim Club member, spoke during public comment and supported the second option because of the extra space on the lowest level of the facility. Blazer was also part of the stakeholder group that met several times through the fall to come up with design options for the board to consider.

The second design also includes a stretch 25 pool that has a movable bulkhead to create either a 25-meter or 25-yard pool. The standard NCAA and WPIAL short course pool is 25 yards long, but international pools are 25 meters.