Kids swimming and splashing around is a common sight in Southern California, but for students in the Escondido Union School District, access to a pool is not always available.

That's why the district is partnering with YMCA Escondido to launch its first after-school swim and safety program. The YMCA's pool had been closed and in disrepair since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“So we started working with the YMCA ... and using some of our after-school funds to get this pool back up and running so that we could have our kids come over here for water safety and swim lessons,” Incoming Superintendent Andy McGuire said.

The district used $1.2 million from the state's Expanded Learning Opportunity Program (ELO-P) to renovate the pool. McGuire said that was something that the community wanted.

"And we

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