The Clinton Board of Education held a special meeting prior to last Tuesday's community engagement to talk with the architects of the building.

Of the many things the Board discussed, the majority of the discussion focused on the size and cost of the building. Finding areas to scale down on the 100-thousand square foot and estimated $18-million proposed conceptual design of the building and what parts of the building were wants over needs was what was debated extensively.

Board member Rod Werts calls the conceptual design "The Wish List", but he says the challenge for the board is to find ways to get what is both wanted but in budget the Board has for the building.

[audio:elementarybuildin1.mp3]A Word From Werts[/audio]

The conceptual designs allows space in the gymnasium for two regulation IHSA basketball courts. President of the Board of Education Buck Carter says many in the community have said the cost is too much and suggests maybe eliminated some space from the gym would be a start.

[audio:elementarybuilding2.mp3]A Word From Carter[/audio]

Architect of the building Craig Welter says the designs are based off community input, staff and administration input. He believe the challenge facing the Board now becomes, what is going to be the purpose of the building and what will the community support.

[audio:elementarybuilding3.mp3]A Word From Welter[/audio]

The Board faces deciding what things to eliminate from the conceptual design, which some of those things could go against what the community has expressed an interest in, but could also go against what the Board of Education feels is a necessary part of the elementary building. Regardless of what is eliminated from the proposed designs, the Board will shoot for an approximately $12 million dollar project without raising the taxes of the district.