The Conneaut School District is looking to hire an architect to assist in plans whenever the district attempts to complete various projects as state laws under building code requirements demand various drawings, cost estimates, and more.

A first project, when the architect is appointed, is a requirement that football bleachers be brought up to the latest codes.

As reported in these pages some months ago, the bleachers at the three football fields in the district - Conneaut Lake, Conneaut Valley, and Linesville - do not meet current codes for safety regulations and handicap rules.

While no deadline has yet been given to replace the bleachers which have room for people to fall through and do not have designated handicapped seating areas as one sees in the school gyms, it is thought that insurance coverage will come into play and could be withdrawn. No one wants to see a costly lawsuit either.

The school district began to gather cost estimates for bleacher replacement with plans to use some leftover construction money to cover cost. Building code officials have told the district that to comply with regulations, the new bleachers must be more closed in along the footboards. Also required is nearby rest rooms, sidewalks from parking lots to bleachers to allow handicapped persons easy access to the bleachers and also seating in the bleachers for the handicapped.

Cost estimates have skyrocketed with such requirements along with the requirement to have drawings, etc., submitted to the state and others when the project goes forward.

One question that has been raised at the school board level is - is it more cost effective to have one football playing area that would meet requirements or how much money does the district spend to bring all three football fields up to code.

The plan is to have the architect selected put together the plans and potential costs of the 3 football field plan or a one football field plan to be shared by the three Conneaut Schools.

The plan, once plans and costs are all together, is to call a public meeting, share the plans, locations, costs, and gather public input prior to a final decision being made.