The Davis school board balked on Thursday night at the prospect of a new roof for Davis High School’s aging MultiPurpose Room.

Two trustees indicated that they’d rather see the old building demolished, and a third trustee expressed frustration with the “emergency” process initiated in October 2010 when toxic mold was found in the roof area of the building. The MPR issue will now carry over to a school board meeting in April.

The MPR was built in the 1960s, and has experienced roof leaks for decades. But it is also one of the few large rooms on the Davis High campus, capable of hosting meetings, lunchtime meals and indoor workouts for athletes.

The discussion began when Mike Adell, director of facilities, outlined the school district’s discussions with the state’s Office of Public School Construction, and  Division of State Architect, with the goal of qualifying the MPR roof repair project for state hardship funding. Those discussions have been inconclusive thusfar.

Adell outlined two alternatives:

* A $1.3 million option that would include a new MPR roof; new interior finishes, flooring, and paint; new lighting, a new fire alarm system and possibly a new heating and air conditioning system.

* A more basic fix involving a new roof, and repairs to the building’s existing heating and air conditioning system, which Adell described as “a dinosaur, with old pneumatic controls.” Under this lower-cost option, “we would work with what we have now,” Adell said. This option would cost just under $800,000.

Adell stressed that state government would determine how many aspects of the project could be funded on an emergency basis (under either option), with the state providing 60 percent of the “emergency” needs, and the Davis school district putting up the remaining 40 percent.

Adell added that a new MPR building would cost around $9 million to $10 million, far beyond the current balance in the district’s facilities budget.

Trustee Richard Harris was quick to raise concerns. “In October 2010, we declared an emergency … This is the most convoluted, slow, screwed-up process,” Harris said.

Adell replied that “the more I’ve investigated (the building’s problems), the more (problems) I’ve found.”

Harris suggested the options outlined by Adell amounted to “a lot of lipstick on the pig” and added that “it feels like we spent a year waiting for the state” to decide whether to authorize hardship funds.

Harris asked about the possibility of solar panels on the new MPR roof, adding “This is the only new construction in our school district since the new high school stadium three years ago. Maybe we should think ahead.”

Trustee Tim Taylor suggested that putting a new roof on the old MPR was “shooting way low. I can’t support either of these options. And I realize that shooting high probably creates a two-year hiatus. I’m OK with that result.”

Taylor termed the aging MPR “a junk building” that is “old, outdated, and frankly (a) fairly unusable piece of space — 10 years ago.”

“I would rather see (the old MPR) demolished and have picnic tables and basketball courts,” Taylor said.

Taylor said it was time to evaluate sale of the district’s real estate assets, presumably alluding to the 8-acre Grande Avenue property (already approved by city government for around 40 homes).

School board president Susan Lovenburg said “I’m in favor of demolishing (the MPR),” and added that she is “very, very ready to have the real estate conversation. I don’t want (the unused property) to sit there any longer.” Lovenburg added that she feels the school board has been “exceedingly indecisive, and blaming the state” thusfar.

Trustee Gina Daleiden didn’t exactly contradict the remarks by Harris, Taylor and Lovenburg, but said flatly that “I’m not going to vote tonight to demolish (the old MPR)” without hearing from Davis High parents, students and administrators.

Adell advised that “if we wait two weeks (before the school board makes a decision), we will start the work in August, and get it done in November … but we might have a monsoon in October,” delaying completion of the project.

And Associate Superintendent Bruce Colby advised that the school board could “spend $400,000 to $500,000 and have an empty piece of land (where the old MPR had stood), or spend $400,000 to $500,000 (of district funds, plus a larger amount of state hardship money) and have a building we could use for a few more years.”

Given the lack of action by the school board on Thursday night, the matter will now come back to the school board agenda in early April — presumably with comment from stakeholder groups at Davis High School.

— Reach Jeff Hudson at (530) 747-8055 or [email protected]

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