Since the Miramonte class of 1959 first sold Sees candies to fund a community vision to add a pool, the school has been defined by more than just its academic standards, but also athletics. The pool opening in 1960 started the foundation for 66 years of aquatic dominance, fostering ten Olympic athletes in swimming and water polo. To continue that tradition, the AUHSD Board of Education approved a $2.5 million budget in 2024 to upgrade the pool facility, with the school hoping to raise an additional $750,000 through a fundraising campaign for additional upgrades. With construction starting on June 1, 2026, this renovation extends beyond just updating old tiles and paint. It represents the community coming together to ensure that the future of Miramonte Aquatics is successful.
Bill Brown, the founder of the Miramonte water polo program, coached the boys’ water polo team at Miramonte from 1967 to 2005. Under Brown, Miramonte won 15 high-level regional tournaments that determine the champion for a specific area, and placed six athletes on Olympic Teams. To honor his impact on the school, the Miramonte High School pool facility was officially named the Bill Brown Aquatics Center in 2002. Today, the center is a hub for student and community life, hosting everything from the (recently discontinued) first-year P.E. swim classes and Matador water polo games to recreational swim team practices and club water polo competitions.
“The decision to renovate the pool was made by the District’s Facilities and Maintenance Department as part of its long-term master facilities plan. The pool had reached a point where key systems and surfaces required upgrades to remain safe, functional, and aligned with district standards,” Principal Ben Campopiano said. The district is in charge of overseeing the renovation process to ensure the work meets safety requirements, proper timelines, and long-term sustainability. The renovation process includes planning for facility assessments, budgeting, designing, permitting, and coordinating with contractors. Adding structural repairs to the pool shell, improving the locker rooms to make them compliant for Americans with disabilities, replacing the concrete on the pool deck, and upgrading the scoreboard and lighting.
The district plans to upgrade the pool to meet safety standards using the $2.5 million from the Acalanes Union High School District building fund. These funds are dedicated to improvement projects, in this case for fixing the cracked pool shell, poor drainage, malfunctioning chemical testing system, and dysfunctional underwater lighting. Miramonte plans to add several additional upgrades to the pool area through fundraising, including new scoreboards, starting blocks, and bleacher seating. The project will also include improving the locker rooms to make them compliant for Americans with disabilities, new paint, updated signage, a Wall of Fame, and improved team rooms and office storage.
“The renovations will create a safer, more reliable, and more modern facility. Improvements will enhance water quality, visibility, and overall usability, allowing for better practices, competitions, PE classes, and community use,” Campopiano said.
Miramonte Boosters, a nonprofit organization of parents, alumni, and community members, is in charge of managing the Miramonte funds, as well as supporting all of Miramonte’s 29 athletic teams. Currently, the Boosters are focused on fundraising for the pool renovations through the Mats Fund, with a goal of raising $300,000 by May to begin phase one of pool construction.
“The response to fundraising has been incredibly strong. Families, alumni, and supporters of the aquatics programs have stepped up in a meaningful way, showing how much the pool and these programs matter to the broader community,” Campopiano said. As of March, the Boosters have already raised $115,000 for new pool lighting. To recognize major contributions, those who donate over $5,000 will be honored on a new donor wall at the Bill Brown Aquatics Center.
On April 14th, a Community Aquatics meeting was held to provide updates on the renovation timeline, work plan, and other important project details. The meeting also covered information about the fundraising campaign, including the remaining funds needed, and how to donate to support the effort. Contributions can be made by either donating directly to the Mats Fund (matsfund.org/donate) or purchasing See’s candy on the site fundraising.sees.com, where 50 percent of the profits go toward pool upgrades.
Although the district is currently facing budget cuts, fundraising goals were set before based on the actual price needed, while also allowing the community to invest in the renovations that directly benefit the students.
“It’s important to note that this is the ideal time to complete the pool lighting upgrade, since doing the work alongside the larger renovation is both more cost-effective and far less disruptive than trying to add them late,” Campopiano said.
The new additions to the pool are designed to support athletic practices, competitions, and various community events.
“I think the fixed lighting will help make practicing and playing water polo games at night much easier. Having more visibility in the pool during scrimmages will allow us to play with more awareness, even when it’s dark outside,” sophomore water polo player Jemima Hearey said. “The new lights will also make it easier for spectators and fans to see the games at night, along with the athletes, which will also improve the fans’ experience.” These technical upgrades ensure that Miramonte’s facilities remain high-end, allowing students to compete at their best.
Although the pool renovations are intended to improve campus life at Miramonte, some still object to the high costs needed, considering the recent district-wide budget cuts.
“I think the fact that $750,000 is being raised for the pool is extremely unfair to the teachers who don’t have paper towels or hand sanitizers in their classrooms,” sophomore Grace Kosla said. “Not to mention how unfair it is to the students at Miramonte who don’t use the pool, have to lose a lot of conveniences that are probably used a lot more than the pool.”.
Differences in facility management across the athletic department have also led to criticism from students playing other sports.
“This is also frustrating to see as someone who does cross-country and track, where there isn’t a single bike that isn’t broken in some way,” Kosla said. “I personally have been cut because one of the bike seats was so cracked that it scratched my leg so much it started bleeding, and now have to tie a shirt or sweatshirt around the seat just to sit on it; fixing the bikes wouldn’t cost nearly as much as renovating the pool yet the problem is still ignored.”
In a community where water polo is a mainstream, widely recognized sport that can help secure a spot in college, some feel that the administration prioritizes this high-profile sport over academic resources that benefit all students at Miramonte.
“Honestly, I’m not surprised that Miramonte is spending so much money on the pool renovations. Lamorinda places an extreme value on water polo, so it makes sense that there is such a demand for this project,” Kosla said.
On the other hand, the pool renovations are essential for the success and growth of water polo players, swimmers, and those who utilize the pool.
“It’s very important to me that people support these renovations because my teammates and I spend a lot of time at the Miramonte pool facility, almost every day, practicing the sports we love. Improving the facility we use so often will help us continue to improve and also increase our overall enjoyment and experience at practice and at games,” Hearey said. By investing in these upgrades, the school is directly supporting the hard work and passion these students bring to the water every day.
Miramonte has come a long way since the class of 1959 sold See’s Candies to build a dream. Today, that dream is a $2.5 million investment in renovations to honor the long and successful history of the Bill Brown Aquatic Center. As the June 1st start date for renovations approaches, the project has sparked debate about the school’s financial priorities and how to best support our many athletic programs. Ultimately, while the school views these upgrades as a commitment to growth, the project leaves many students wondering if the big investment is fair to all of the other programs that would benefit from improvement.
