Sharon School Directors are facing some decisions about what amount of money they want to borrow for proposed renovation projects at the high school and Case Avenue Elementary.

The district must borrow another $2 million to complete construction at the high school. That cost will increase to $10 million if directors decide to renovate Case Avenue, Business Manager James Wolf said Wednesday.

Directors were presented in April with a $7.5 million renovation plan for Case Avenue that includes asbestos removal, plumbing and electrical renovations, new kitchen equipment, brick pointing, a new security system and renovations to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.

At the time directors said they weren't sure they wanted to commit to the project without more information about how borrowing the money would affect the district's financial situation in the future.

Since than Wolf said he's talked to local bank representatives to compare the cost of borrowing locally with a bond issue from the state. Wolf said he thinks it's in the district's best interest to take out a bond issue.

Wolf said if the board borrows the full $10 million the money doesn't have to used for three years, Wolf said. If the board would decide not to renovate Case Avenue the money could be returned to the state without a penalty, he said.

In addition to good interest rates of about 4.6 percent, Wolf said the bond issue payments can be worked so they will have no impact on the 2002-03 budget and could be phased into the budget in the following two years.

Traci Valentino, assistant principal at Case Avenue, said there are daily problems in the building with the heating and cooling system and plumbing. During the winter some classrooms were so cold that space heaters had to be used, she said.

After a heat pump broke the library and some classrooms flooded, Ms. Valentino said. Now that the water is drying the floors are starting to come up, she added.

Maintenance Supervisor Ralph Trenga added that bees are getting in the building through areas that are missing grout.

The district needs the $2 million for the high school by mid-July, Wolf said. Directors are also considering an additional $614,500 in projects at the high school that include locker room renovations, refurbishing the gymnasium bleachers, paving a parking lot of Forker Boulevard and new cafeteria tables and chairs.

Improvements already completed or underway at the $16.8 million high school project include asbestos removal, a new heating and ventilation system, new plumbing, a new gym floor and a new technology wing.

Director Dominick Russo also wants the board to look into installing a security system in the high school and the three elementary schools.

Directors agreed to continue to discuss the bond issue Monday.