Lake Park, IA (KICD) — The Harris Lake Park school board got estimates on two potential building projects last night. The Superintendent, board, and even architect Matt Basye himself were somewhat surprised that new construction seems to be cheaper than renovating the 1976 building current used as an elementary school. Basye’s best guess is that bringing the existing building up to code, replacing mechanicals, and trying to make it more energy efficient could run 18 and a half million dollars.

Adding an elementary building to the current middle and high school in Lake Park would be about 17 million.

And Basye says a new building would continue to save the district money long-term.

The Harris Lake Park school board is mulling a bond issue in the fall and might choose one of the options at its March meeting.