The school board Tuesday approved a $20,920 asbestos removal bid, and a $5,920 bill to remove an underground oil storage tank at the site. The work is required by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency before the building can be converted or demolished.

District administrators will meet with architects and engineers Monday to finalize construction drawings, and put the project out to bid, athletic director Bob Swanson said.

Renovation of the 11,000-square-foot main building and a 30-by-60-foot two- story attached classroom structure should be done by the end of the first semester next year, high school principal Dawn Snyder said.

The center will have an open fitness area, weight room, an aerobic and cardiovascular exercise area, locker rooms and storage and office space.

The center will be available to all students, not just the school's athletes, Ms. Snyder said.

In other action the board approved:

-- Hiring Thomas Sigel as a high school counselor and head basketball coach, and giving him a $44,418 salary and $6,128 coaching stipend.

-- Hiking next school year's lunch and breakfast prices. Lunch will cost $1.35 at the elementary level, $1.45 at middle school and $1.65 at high school -- a 20-cent increase compared to this year. Breakfast will increase by 20 cents at elementary schools, to 90 cents per meal, with middle and high school students paying 15 cents more, $1 per meal. The first price hike in four years is expected to raise about $37,000 to offset higher food and preparation costs.