RENOVATION PRICE KEEPS INCREASING CRESCENTA VALLEY HIGH MODERNIZATION TO COST NEARLY DOUBLE ORIGINAL PROJECTIONS.

Byline: Jennifer Hamm Staff Writer

GLENDALE - Renovating Crescenta Valley High School is now expected to cost nearly $42 million, almost double what school officials had originally projected, school officials said Tuesday.

Glendale Unified School District board members say renovating and modernizing the La Crescenta campus will cost an extra $7.3 million, in addition to cost overruns already approved.

Pam Ellis, the only board member to oppose the increase, said she fears costs will only continue to increase.

``I think we're making a mistake because I think we're going to continue to see the costs rise,'' said Ellis.

Other board members said they were concerned about the new cost estimates, but would support approving a higher budget for the project.

``It's too bad that the costs keep going up,'' said Board President Lina Harper. ``But I do think this project should have a very high priority.''

The Crescenta Valley High School project is the district's largest renovation effort made possible when voters approved a $186 million bond measure in 1997.

The school district had originally estimated that the project would cost $22 million. But by last fall, the budget for the renovations had grown to $34.5 million, most of which was earmarked to come from Measure K bond money.

The most recent increase in costs was attributed to several factors, outlined in a report presented Tuesday to the board. The new projected cost includes relocating administrative and counseling offices and completing third-floor classrooms in one of the new wings. Those pieces of the project, totaling nearly $2 million, were not included in the estimate approved last fall.

More detailed drawings and analysis of the renovation tacked on close to another $2 million, according to the report. There is also still nearly $1 million in funding shortages left over from last year.

The report included proposals to reduce the scope of the project by $4.2 million and offered suggestions of other funding sources for the same amount.

District officials plan to recommend that the school board approve the project at the new, higher cost.

Linda Evans, co-principal at Crescenta Valley High School, suggested $5.5 million in possible cuts to the project, including omitting 18 new classrooms and not relocating the front of the school.

``I think it is obvious that it would compromise the integrity of the project, but it is usable on a day-to-day educational level,'' said Evans of her proposed cuts.

The original project includes building a new gymnasium, two buildings that will hold 49 classrooms, a library media center and a computer lab. Later, existing electrical and water systems will be modernized.

The school is nearly three months into the 33-month renovation project.

In the coming weeks, school district officials will craft a plan that will accommodate the projected cost increases and ask the board to vote on it at its next meeting on March 7.

Approval will be critical for the school district to stay on schedule. If the next phase of the project is delayed, the costs will again rise, said Steve Hodgson, assistant superintendent of business services.