The Board of Education is still talking about whether it wants to put a building project before the voters in 2008, but is waiting for revised cost estimates before it makes any decisions.

Superintendent Susan Swartz said they are trying to determine how the district can best use its roughly $834,000 in Expanding our Children’s Education and Learning (EXCEL) grant.

Comment from the board is that members would like to see the middle school and high school athletic fields improved. “That remains a burning desire,” she said.

However, improving athletic fields would not be an aid-eligible project. Swartz previously presented options showing it would cost roughly $3.3 million to replace the high school and middle school fields.

Swartz said board members have also been interested in discussing whether it should close or reuse schools as part of any project.

Board President Margaret Smith said improving the fields remains a priority for her but it would have to be packaged with a building project to get aid. “We may have to look at classroom space, which we really don’t need in terms of enrollment.”

One idea is to build a classroom addition and then move the district offices into a school.
Swartz said she hopes the board will reach a decision next month if it wants to put a project together this year or hold off until another year.