Manheim Township School Board will hear a report tonight on what would be involved with expanding Bucher Elementary School.

The school board hired civil engineering firm Rettew Associates to conduct the risk assessment report.

The report looks into details such as whether the school location could support additional traffic, and if the building's infrastructure could support more students.

"We want to determine whether its cost beneficial to expand on the property," said district director of operations and planning Joe Kurjiaka.

District officials will present findings to the school board at 7:30. The workshop will be held in the cafeteria at Neff 6 Elementary School on School Road.

It's too early in the process to determine accurate costs for such a project, Kurjiaka said.

He declined to share the findings of the report before the board hears them first.

Superintendent Kevin Singer was in a meeting this morning and could not be reached for comment.

Last fall, the school board voted to approve moving forward with some sort of construction project at Bucher.

It's needed.

It's outdated and the district needs more space. An enrollment study has predicted that by 2015, the district will see 1,124 more students.

"We need to do something because it's at that time in its life cycle, where its systems need to be upgraded," Kurjiaka said. "We are growing, and we want to try and get ahead and have the facilities there before the students arrive."

Bucher, at 450 Candlewyck Road, west of Fruitville Pike, was built in the early 1970s, and has about 48,000 square feet. It houses about 300 students.

This project could expand Bucher to hold up to 600 kids.

The school also needs upgrades to the HVAC, electrical, plumbing, windows, roof and overall technology, along with new carpeting, school officials said.

It also doesn't comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Kurjiaka said. The school has four levels and needs better access for parents and students with disabilities.

During the process, district officials are studying how they could house students during a construction project, Kurjiaka said.

Last fall, a Manheim Township School District's facilities committee recommended work at Bucher, building a new fifth-and-sixth-grade school and renovating Manheim Township Middle.

In related business, also tonight, school officials will discuss a possible location for a new building for fifth and sixth graders.

In other business, the board will vote to accept its preliminary 2007-08 budget of $65.1 million.

The budget calls for a 3.4 percent tax increase, which would raise the millage rate a half-mill, to 15.23 mills.

A homeowner whose property is assessed at $175,000 would pay an additional $88 a year.

The board has to approve a final budget by June 30.

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