School district will repair old school

Monday, July 27, 1998 | 9:08 a.m.

Trustees voted 6-1 to spend the money necessary to keep the school open, despite costly repairs needed.

Architect Tim Sweeney said the school built in the 1920s has more square footage than is needed and would cost more to operate and maintain than modulars.

He said it also may have to be retrofitted for earthquake safety.

"We're looking at over $2 million, depending on what the structural modifications are," Sweeney said.

But residents complained that portable classrooms just aren't the same as an established school.

They also complained that a portion of a 1986 bond issue was to have been used to fix the school.

Superintendent Leon Hensley said the first part of the bond issues was to build a gym at Battle Mountain High School, with a second portion earmarked for the Austin school.

But shortly after the gym was completed, a complaint was filed with the Nevada Tax Commission and Lander County officials, claiming that the school district had collected $400,000 more than the $2.3 million limit stated in the ballot question.

The tax was then discontinued.