Plans for the possible renovation of Case Avenue Elementary School stalled after Sharon school directors said Monday they need more information.

Directors unanimously tabled a motion to start planning the proposed renovations at the school and to authorize architects to prepare an initial plan to submit to the state Department of Education for review and approval.

Director Melvin Bandzak asked if approving the motion would commit the district to the entire plan and borrowing necessary money.

Approving the motion would at least commit the board to paying architects, Superintendent Richard A. Rossi responded.

Director Kathy Hall said she believes approving the first part of the plan would commit the board to the project.

A decision on whether to proceed with renovations at Case Avenue is going to have to be made, Business Manager James Wolf said, because the board will be asked to approve a bond issue in May to cover the costs of the renovations.

The amount of the bond issue will be either $2 million or $10 million, depending on the board's Case Avenue decision, Wolf said. At least $2 million is needed to complete work at the high school.

A bond issue is a long-term loan. Investors buy bonds on the open market and school districts and municipalities repay them with interest.

"I'm not comfortable with borrowing this money right now," Mrs. Hall said.

Bandzak said he didn't feel comfortable making a decision about the Case Avenue renovations until budget issues for 2002-03 are resolved. He said he would also like to look into borrowing the $2 million locally, instead of floating a bond issue.

Delaying the decision could cause project prices to rise, Wolf said, adding that contractors' prices are usually better earlier in the year and go up in the spring when work is plentiful.