The Mt. Lebanon school board last night approved schematic drawings for what is now a $115 million high school renovation project.

Until last night, the board had talked about keeping the project at $110 million, which was earlier targeted as the district's borrowing limit. But more updated figures have increased the borrowing threshold to about $115.5 million, said Finance Director Jan Klein.

As a result, the majority of the board voted to include two additional lanes for the pool -- bringing the total to eight lanes -- and add a third gym to the renovation project.

Board President Alan Silhol warned, however, that the final design for the project is months away and that further additions or reductions could be made as the board continues to take public comment.

Mr. Silhol said it would likely be a year before any work would start at the high school.

The vote to approve the plans was 7-2 with school directors James Fraasch and Mark Hart voting no.

Mr. Fraasch said he is opposed to the scope of the project. Mr. Hart, who also has expressed concerns about the scope of the project, said last night that he was in favor of approving the schematics, but opposed to the last-minute additions of the extra pool lanes and the third gym.

A number of residents at last night's meeting urged the board to add a third gym to the renovation plans. The current high school holds three gyms but the renovation plan, until last night, called for two gyms.

The board's approval means that the district architects Celli-Flynn Brennan can take the plans to Harrisburg to seek initial approvals by the state Department of Education.