Like that old Abbott and Costello

routine, "Who's on First, What's on Second," the county school

board and facilities managers went round and round last week through a

dizzying scenario of proposals about how to get construction projects

at McIntosh and Sandy Creek high schools going as soon as possible.

And still, nobody knows who's

on third. Or rather, nobody knows when promised funding from the state

legislature will come through to make the projects reality.

Nearly $12 million in additions

and renovations has been proposed for both high schools, including a new

gym, expanded kitchen and conversion of the old gym to a fine arts center

at McIntosh, and a new auditorium at Sandy Creek.

In a special called meeting

Thursday, board members heard one more scenario for getting the projects

going now with or without confirmation of state funds.

Key to the McIntosh construction

is reconstruction of the parking areas, work that can only be done during

summer when students are not present. It was thought that similar work

would be required at Sandy Creek, but Facilities Services Director Mike

Satterfield now says that the work at the Tyrone school could be done

anytime meaning the parking lot there doesn't necessarily have to be torn

up right away.

That pleased board members,

who asked Satterfield to estimate the cost of going ahead and doing the

McIntosh parking lot this summer using another source of funds. That proposal

is still pending.

They then agreed to bid both

the McIntosh and Sandy Creek projects at the same time, when the funds

are confirmed. If the full amount comes in from the state, both projects

will be completed as proposed. If funds are short, the McIntosh fine arts

renovation could be postponed to a later time, but the school would still

get a new gym.

And Sandy Creek would still

get its auditorium.

Board members had been accused

of playing politics and "favorites" by some in the community,

since the new Whitewater High will include an auditorium and Sandy Creek,

a 12-year-old school, has never had one.

That charge was denied by Greg

Powers.

"I want to go on the record

and state that an auditorium was never included in the original plans

for Whitewater, and when the bids came in so low we were able to include

an auditorium there and have $800,000 left over, that's why we put an

auditorium there," he said.

"I resent all these cards

and e-mails I received saying that Whitewater was getting an auditorium

before Sandy Creek," Powers continued. "We never intended to

give an auditorium to Whitewater, but both schools are getting one now

because of it."

Added Board Chairman Terri

Smith, "It seems kind of stupid to say you're not going to give one

school something even if you have the money for it and make them wait

because another school had to wait."

Superintendent John DeCotis,

acknowledging the larger number of Sandy Creek parents and students at

the meeting, commended the board for working so hard to find a way to

make facilities at all the schools more equitable.

"They have gone above

and beyond the call of duty to figure out a way to get an auditorium at

Sandy Creek," he said. "It has not been easy given current budget

constraints. This school has needed an auditorium for years, and this

board had the courage to find a way to do it."

Satterfield said that as soon

as the board signs off on the parking lot work, that portion of the project

could still get underway by summer.

Once the rest of the funding

picture falls into place, construction on both buildings could be started