AUBURN - The Auburn Enlarged City School District Board of Education Long Range Planning Committee further solidified its view on what school improvements and upgrades are necessary and may be incorporated into a future capital project.

Committee Chair Sam Giangreco, member Karol Soules, Superintendent J.D. Pabis and Superintendent for Buildings and Grounds Larry Garuccio crossed off a bunch of items needing improvement and upgrades from a list of immediate priorities during a meeting Thursday, citing the economy as a reason why the district has to practice frugality.

“Because of the situation with the whole country and the world, we are just going to live with what we've got and do the things we absolutely need,” Giangreco said, “especially things that deal with safety. But education is first and foremost ...”

On Wednesday, Giangreco, Soules, board member David Lansford, Garuccio, Assistant Superintendent for Personnel Jeff Pirozzolo and a reporter from The Citizen toured a number of district buildings, scrutinizing items that could be added to a future project.

During the meeting, Giangreco and Soules agreed that while some work to carpets, gymnasium floors and classroom tiles would improve the aesthetics of the school buildings, it was not vital to the day-to-day operations of them. Nearly all of the items agreed upon dealt exclusively with infrastructure, from exterior windows and doors to air ventilators and hot water tanks.

The committee pressed the importance of continuing upgrades to technology infrastructure, such as improving the telephone system and installing overhead projectors in every classroom. Such upgrades are already in the works, embedded within the 2006 capital project.

“Technology in all the buildings has got to stay, as we've said in previous meetings,” Giangreco said. “That really affects (students') academics.”

Committee member Michael Stearns was not present at the meeting.

The committee is scrutinizing the five-year capital improvement plan and considering a future capital project six months after putting its near $15.7 million capital project on hold, after voters first defeated the proposed 2008-09 school budget in May.

The board intended to put before voters in June a five-year project dealing with school infrastructure, energy efficiency and technology, and renovations to Holland Stadium, including the installation of synthetic turf.

While the committee ultimately decided that extensive renovations to Holland Stadium and the installation of turf was not possible at this time, it affirmed Thursday that work must be done to repair the concrete crumbling inside the stadium on the East Middle School campus.

“We're not trying to neglect the stadium,” Giangreco said of other enhancements, “but education comes first.”