Southeast Missouri State University may close its swimming pool as a budget-cutting move. But the idea doesn't float with students who like to swim at the 39-year-old pool.

The issue surfaced at the university's fourth and final forum Friday on possible ways to cut costs or raise revenue to make up for decreased state funding.

Dr. Ken Dobbins, university president, is expected to publicly unveil a budget-cutting plan on Sept. 25 after meeting with his top administrators and the school's Budget Review Committee. The plan will go to the Board of Regents for approval on Oct. 18.

The idea of closing Parker Pool doesn't sit well with Jennifer Goldsberry, a sophomore from St. Louis who uses the pool. She said students are interested in starting a club swim team that would compete against club teams from other colleges.

"I have 20 people already interested," she told school officials at the forum.

About 200 people, mostly faculty and staff, attended the forum at the University Center.

Aaron Ulrich, a senior from Cape Girardeau, has worked as a lifeguard at the pool. He's also played recreational water polo in the pool. He wants to start a water polo club team to play teams at other schools.

"We have about 30 guys interested in playing," he said.

Ulrich said track and gymnastics athletes also use the pool at times for exercising.

But school officials said the pool had less than 1,300 users in the spring semester, which included students, university employees and area residents.

Closing Parker Pool would save about $48,000 a year in operating costs, including routine maintenance and wages of lifeguards, officials said.

The university is faced with even bigger expenses in the future if it plans to keep up the pool.

Dr. Pauline Fox, vice president of administration and enrollment management, said the aging pool can't last much longer without a major overhaul.

"The pool mechanical system is in really bad shape," she said.

School officials said immediate repairs could cost as much as $200,000 and a complete renovation as much as $1 million.

Besides closing the pool, other possible budget moves suggested at the forum included:

Eliminating the policy of letting employees cash in vacation days

Making testing services self-supporting

Cutting professional development funds for faculty and staff

Using faculty and student expertise in place of external consultants

Eliminating food and drinks at university committee meetings.

Possible reductions in tuition fee waivers for employees and their dependents

Faculty and staff at the meeting said they opposed cutting employee benefits, whether it's fee waivers or cashing in vacation days.

"Ultimately, it winds up being a pay cut," said biology professor Allen Gathman.

Raising tuition for a third time this year was mentioned at the forum, but school officials have insisted repeatedly that they don't want to burden students with another fee increase.

Dr. Roy Keller, an assistant professor of mass communication, said the university should consider another tuition increase to improve its finances.

"I think students should be willing to pay their fair share of the financial burden," he said.

But Ross McFerron, student government president, said students already are paying $23 more per credit hour than a year ago. He said the cost of tuition has gone up at Missouri's other public schools too.

"Frankly, I think they are all too expensive," he said.

At past forums, a number of other budget moves were discussed, including cutting some faculty and staff positions.

School officials want to come up with half a million dollars in budget savings to go along with the $4.5 million the school already has made up through a tuition increase and cost-cutting moves, including delays in filling vacant positions, cuts in equipment purchases, deferred maintenance and elimination of some staff positions, mostly through attrition.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123