WARSAW — The Warsaw Community School Board on Monday officially recommended combining Edgewood and Lakeview middle schools. 

The board also held the first of two public hearings on the extensive, multi-year project and recapped the financial plan. 

The district's chief financial officer, Stephen Boyer, said the current preliminary cost of renovations for both schools, in today's dollars, is $108 million. Since it's a multi-year project, the estimated cost is approximately $119 million, the Times-Union reported.

Boyer said the district is not adding debt and that the project's financing will be aligned with debt already scheduled for retirement. 

The renovations at Lakeview and Edgewood will include the renovation of Lakeview and a partial renovation of Edgewood to make room for Gateway and Warsaw Area Career Center programs.

Other aspects involve upgrades to the HVAC and electrical systems, Boyer said.

Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert has said repeatedly that they have no plans to seek a referendum to help cover the cost.

The post Merger of two Warsaw middle schools could cost $119 million appeared first on News Now Warsaw.