In a process that started a year ago, school board President Bill Dellicker said they were looking for a consensus to school renovations so it can move forward to the next board meeting on June 15.

KCBA architects were at the meeting.

During that year they have been discussing three options to renovate the athletic, entertainment and high school administration portions of the school.

At a May 19 special workshop meeting, Operations Manager Arthur Oakes said there will be only one entrance for both the gym and auditorium.

By the end of the meeting, the decision was made to move Option 1 forward to the board meeting.

This option addresses accessibility, replacing worn finishes, removal of asbestos, extension of mechanical upgrades to renovated areas, air conditioning added, program issues addressed, security issues, a coach’s office and referee rooms provided and additional space for administration and the nurse.

The total cost for Option 1 is $14,459,118, with $12,119,757 of that being construction costs and $1,733,373 in soft costs, which cover professional fees, asbestos consultant, construction manager, reimbursables, furniture and equipment, permits, legal fees, testing and financing costs.

Option 2 would be $12,668,875 and for Option 3 it would be $13,021,657.

However, for the $2 million difference it would cost as much to renovate those things that have been dropped from Option 1 but will be needed in the next few years.

Jim Keifer of KCBA said the gym and auditorium are expensive because they are such large spaces.

District Superintendent Mary Anne Wright said no money will be borrowed until 2017 so unaddressed issues can be taken care of.

She pointed out offices have changed drastically in the past 15 years and expects they will change more during the 25-30 years the renovations are expected to be satisfactory.

“If we don’t use Option 1, we give up some efficiencies,” Wright said. “I am most concerned about what we need to meet requirements.”

Dellicker said he cannot support Option 2 at all because it leaves the girls locker room in a high traffic area.

He said there was a time when no one thought they needed a board room.

In the administration area of Option 1, there are rooms for meetings with parents and vendors. It is a customer service area.

He suggested the staff and educators have not been heard from sufficiently.

“We brought in a professional who is doing what we asked,” Dellicker said. “This is no Taj Mahal. When we get into design, it may cost less.”

Keifer said the firm has school building experience and used that to estimate the square-foot cost.

“We want to come in less,” Keifer said. “If we set the costs low and they have to be moved up people will be upset.”

Resident John Casciano asked about the professional fee, which isa percent of cost.

The construction manager’s fee is also dependent on how much the school would want him to take responsibility for.

Wright said the $15.3 million would come with $3.3 million from fund balance, $8 million from a bond issue and $4 million from a second bond issue.

Taxes will increase in three increments totaling about $50 for a home assessed at $198,967. Extra revenue is expected to come in from the Hilltop development.

Board member Charlene Rauscher asked if the public was being kept aware of decisions as they are made.

Todd Leiser said he is not opposed to keeping the public informed. Dellicker said there is full transparency as to how decisions were reached.

The section being renovated has not been changed in 30 years.

Option 1 was chosen to take to the board with Phil Toll voting no and Rauscher not sure until she hears from the public.

Barry Brobst, a retired architect, said the $2 million difference will only be $100,000 a year.

He said things should be done right because no one knows what the economy will do.

“The cost for Option No. 1 could shoot up to $20 million or down to $8 million,” he said.

“You have control over doing it right and have estimated costs for this time.

“The image is important because people don’t want to think they are paying millions for something they don’t like.”

KCBA architects was chosen to continue on the job.

Oakes said requests for proposals for a construction manager should be advertised.

The committee will review what the school expects and take it to the board.