The Bismarck School Board were still sharpening their pencils Monday night, trying to further trim the cost for the Rita Murphy and Robert Miller elementary schools building and remodeling projects.

Originally the board had estimated the projects would cost $4.6 million, but after meeting with REH William D. Ellig-Architect from Bismarck, the official architect for the project, they discovered their wish list came to $7 million. After cutting back, their current budget is $6,341,709, and they are still trying to get the final cost down to $6 million.

Projects that are included in the set proposal are additional rooms at Miller and remodeling of a bathroom for the staff. At Murphy, a second level will be added for more classrooms, and a new computer and library room also will be built. The estimated costs for those projects is $4,965,596.

Alternative projects are estimated at $1,376,113. These projects include a cafeteria and school remodeling at Miller; and at Murphy, a cafeteria, music room, kitchen remodeling and air conditioning for the kindergarten and first-grade section.

To decrease the amount of the alternative projects, the board is considering holding off on the air conditioning and financing it through the enhancement budget as is done with all of the other air conditioning projects. Also the board and the architect will look at the possibility of moving classes around to create a larger music room at Murphy. If the board changes these two alternative projects, they could save $247,851.

"These are estimates only," said architect William Ellig. "The bids will let us know what is happening."

Board members were hoping to start the 11-month projects this September, but Ellig said the bids won't come in until October.

Ellig said construction will still begin this fall, but the late start would push back the finish date to the end of 2006.

Three parents from the two elementary schools addressed the board about their concerns on the possibility of cuts to the alternative projects.

Alvina Reichert, of Bismarck, has three children ages 19, 15 and 12, and has had all three of them schooled in the portable classrooms at Robert Miller Elementary.

"As a parent this is frustrating," Reichert said. "This should have been addressed earlier. Now enrollment is exploding and building costs are exploding and we are really being pared down."

Other than the portables, Reichert was concerned about the crowded gym space and cafeteria. She noted the lengthy amount of time it takes students to get through the lunch line and the little amount of time they have to eat.

After listening to the parents and the discussion about the projects' budget, board member Dan Kuntz said, some of the alternative projects might have to wait.

He reminded the board there are, "critical educational needs that need to be addressed beyond these two schools … and the board has to keep those schools in mind too."

An earlier plan at Rita Murphy included the creation of two multipurpose classrooms. The board is now looking at changing that into more classroom space and converting some old classrooms into the new music room.

"An extra $150,000 is not going to stop me from supporting these multipurpose rooms," said Parrell Grossman, board member. "We only get one chance to do this right."

The board is waiting for the final bids to come in October before they make a final decision on the design plan and budget.

Board members also elected Aurna Seth as the school board president and Paul Govig as the board's vice president. Seth has been on the board for four years, and Govig for two years.

In other business:

3 The board approved budget enhancements for $625,334 to fund the Read Right Programs, textbooks, additional drama opportunities, instrument replacement and repair, staff development resources, curriculum mapping facilitators and resource officers.

3 After receiving bids, the board accepted the bid for $44,944 from Northern Improvement to resurface the northeast corner of the parking lot on the east side of Century High School.

(Reach reporter Kayla Cogdill at 250-8521 or kaylacogdill@bismarcktribune.net.)