The monthly Levittown Board of Education Meeting on Aug. 9 was not your normal ho-hum summer meeting. Hundreds of Levittown residents were on hand to either dispute or speak in favor of the potential construction of the pool complex at Levittown Memorial Education Center.

Many attendees voiced strong opposition against the idea. Some carried signs and donned T-shirts that read "You're a Fool if You Vote for This Pool" and "If You Build it, We Won't Come."

The line of residents poured out of the board room. The BOE agreed to a 90-minute Public be Heard just to hear residents views on the pool.

"We will not be voting on anything tonight," Board President Gina Interdonato said to the approval of the crowd. "We will take into account all that we hear tonight and be back in touch with the Pool Committee."

Most people that took to the podium spoke with extreme animosity toward the BOE, and at times were asked to curb their comments. However, with nasty comments toward the board, came loud applause from the frenzied crowd.

After the first hour, the meeting was moved to the auditorium due to a fire marshal's orders. By law, the board room can be occupied by no more than 175 persons and there were at least double that number present.

Most residents voiced similar reasons for opposing the pool complex. Many residents don't think that this will actually be a free pool, as they think that money will come out of taxpayers' pockets. It would cost an estimated $600,000 each year for Long Island Swimming, that the nonprofit competitive swimming association proposed the pool complex to the district, to operate the pool. Expenditures such as air conditioning, electricity, pool chemicals, equipment and other things all have to be taken into account also.

Most opposition was voiced by residents in the immediate LMEC area and the largest discrepancy lies in the idea of how many people will be using the pool at once. District Athletic Director Keith Snyder said that only 80 to100 members would be using the pool each day, however, others said large meets could draw as many as 800 to1,000 people. The latter number caused alarm for issues such as increased traffic, noise and pollution in their residential area.

"This might even be lowering our property value," said one Levittown resident. "We bought our houses on the premise that the park at Memorial would close at dusk and there would not be this type of traffic flow."

There was also apprehension over security measures that would have to be taken.

"Do we want our children walking home in a residential area after dark?" one Levittown resident questioned.

"Also, if residents and students during school hours are to be using the facility at once, then that can be a safety concern as well," residents stated.

About a quarter of attendees who that night strongly believe the proposed pool could "work wonders for Levittown." These included members of the Levittown Swimming Association and parents of swimmers. These residents said that the children could be missing out on the numerous swimming scholarships available upon graduation, if the pool isn't built. Also, these residents state that the Aquatic Center at Eisenhower Park is not easily accessible for LSA, as they struggle to book four hours a week of swimming for five months at a cost of $10,000.

Many students addressed the board, expressing their love for swimming and how they think the pool would be a great self-esteem booster.

"Especially since it is a sport for anyone, including people with disabilities," one student said.

The Pool Complex Committee will meet again in September, with the next Levittown Board of Education Meeting coming on Sept. 13. For more information visit www.levittownschools.com or www.longislandswimming.com.