SKANEATELES - The Skaneateles Central School District has begun the first steps in a major renovation project.

The first stages of Project 2007, an approximately $9.9 million dollar district wide renovation project that will include work on all three campuses in the district, began in the last few weeks with the first stage of work on converting the old bus garage into temporary classroom space for next fall's fourth grade class.

Students will attend class in the bus garage while workers renovate rooms at State Street Elementary.

The district, working with Bernier, Carr & Associates in creating plans and a design for Project 2007, has set a timeline that calls for work on the bus garage conversion process to be done with time to spare before the 2008-2009 school year begins.

With work on the bus garage already under way, this seems to be an attainable goal with time to allow for set up.

“Things are on or slightly ahead of schedule,” Superintendent Phil D'Angelo Jr. said.