In continuing discussions about the so-called "Plan B" renovation of James Buchanan High School, the Tuscarora School Board on Monday evening agreed to stick with an earlier architect and talk to that firm about the cost of bare essential repairs.
Superintendent Rebecca E. Erb said she reached out to Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates earlier in the day to find out what $18 million could do at the 36-year-old building.
The architect returned with a rough estimate of $20.6 million just to meet building code and address structural and mechanical concerns. That project could receive about 25 percent reimbursement from the state.
"These are really very rough figures," Erb said.
"I think the pencil needs to be sharpened to get down to $18 million," said school board member Kenneth Nolen.
More than 72 percent of voters were against spending $35 million to renovate the high school when asked in a special election Sept. 9. That amount would have raised taxes about $283 for the average homeowner, assuming the average house has a market value of $186,000.