TECUMSEH — After major structural problems came to light during the course of planned renovations, the Tecumseh school district has reversed its previous course on the Tecumseh Community Memorial Pool, with the school board voting this month to demolish the pool instead.

In a letter to the Tecumseh community, Superintendent Matt Hilton said that as engineers worked on the facility, they discovered problems that were far greater than previously realized.

The work began after voters passed a levy in November 2024 whose purpose was to support infrastructure work across all school buildings, with about $2.5 million devoted to replacing the pool roof. In April 2025, the pool was closed to allow for the replacement of dehumidification and ventilation systems that had broken down beyond repair.

“At that time, we believed we were taking a proactive approach — accelerating mechanical repairs that were part of our planned renovations, with the planned pool reopening in Fall 2025 and the sinking fund-supported roof replacement scheduled for Spring 2026,” Hilton stated.

However, as engineers with contractor Magnus Engineering assessed the facility, they found extensive corrosion affecting nearly all of the primary and secondary steel components supporting the pool roof.

“This type of progressive deterioration causes subsurface swelling, loss of material density, and eventual flaking of steel, significantly reducing the structure’s capacity,” Hilton stated. “Magnus Engineering explicitly stated that the remaining material thickness is misleading and should not be relied upon for structural calculations. While an exact failure date cannot be predicted, the risk of partial or progressive collapse rises over time, especially during winter snow loads and temperature cycling.”

As a result of this discovery, the mechanical systems replacement was paused and never done.

“What began as a mechanical systems replacement project revealed a structural crisis that makes the building unsafe for public occupancy,” Hilton said.

The school board reviewed three options:

• Demolishing the current pool and rebuilding over the current basin, at an estimated cost of $15 million.
• Demolition only, at an estimated cost of $2.3 million.
• Building a new pool facility at a different site, at an estimated cost of $28 million.

The board chose the demolition-only option at this time, but will also establish a committee, led by the superintendent, to explore future options.

Hilton said the school district has been advised by engineers that delaying demolition will only increase the risk of structural failure over time, and that the district’s insurance carrier will require the district will require the district to demonstrate ongoing progress toward mitigating the risk in order to maintain coverage.

Plans call for demolition work to begin this summer or fall.

Hilton said the the district is working to secure pool time for middle school and high school athletes at other area facilities, and is also exploring the possibility of establishing a co-op swim program with neighboring districts.

“I understand this news is disappointing, particularly for those who have cherished memories of this facility, those who use it regularly, our school swim teams, and those who were simply looking forward to its reopening,” Hilton said in his letter to the community. “We share your disappointment. However, we cannot compromise on safety, and we are committed to acting responsibly to protect our community while engaging with you thoughtfully about what comes next for aquatic programming in our community.”

To read the letter, click here. An form is also available at that link for anyone interested in volunteering to serve on the exploratory committee.