North Stonington - In an effort to build consensus and community support for a new school building plan, town and school officials on Thursday night discussed the priorities that should be included in an eventual plan.

Members of the selectmen, education and finance boards told facilitator Nick Caruso from the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education what their top priorities are based on a list devised by school board member Bob Carlson, who extracted them from the previously defeated plans.

The meeting was the second in a series of sessions by the officials to develop a proposal that will be acceptable to taxpayers.

"My challenge is to help you come to a consensus about what has to happen and that, when you bring a project forward, you can support it and get the support of the community," Caruso said.

He told the group that everyone agrees work needs to be done in the schools but there have been questions about the affordability, size and depth of the project. Last year, taxpayers twice defeated a referendum asking them to approve projects of $47 million and $40 million, in part because Caruso said there was not agreement among the three boards.

In the area of safety, Carlson said possible priorities include PCB and asbestos removal in the middle and high schools, and discontinuing or modifying the use of the tunnel under Route 2. Elementary safety items include moving the administration office to the front foyer, moving the computer room to the first floor so preschool and kindergarten students do not have to be on the second floor, discontinue the use of the multipurpose room for physical education in part because of the slippery floor and improving the pick up and drop off traffic pattern.

In the area of maintenance and energy, priorities include fixing roofs, repointing brick, upgrading plumbing and electrical service, updating buildings to meet fire, handicapped and safety codes, replacing windows and insulation at the middle and high schools, and girls locker room upgrades in the gymatorium.

Educational upgrades include new science and biology labs, relocating band, music and chorus rooms and addressing multiple lunch periods at the middle and high schools. Technology upgrades and additional space needs at all the schools, as well as moving the sixth grade back to the elementary school, are among other priorities.

Board members said securing the tunnel and removing PCB and asbestos, as well as relocating the elementary administration office are top safety priorities.

In area of maintenance and energy, officials listed code upgrades, new windows, roof repairs and updated plumbing and electrical systems; while new science labs and moving the sixth grade to the elementary school are their top educational priorities.

Superintendent of Schools Peter Nero said many code upgrades would be required with any project because the schools do not meet current codes. He and other officials said many of the items are interrelated. For example, if windows are to be replace then asbestos abatement would have to occur. "It's a domino effect," he said.

The officials also debated what size project voters would approve, if it is enough to get the work done and why it has failed in the past. The project would be eligible for 46 percent state reimbursement.

Caruso said there is "ability to pay" and "willingness to pay." He said it is important to communicate to the public why the project is needed and what happens if it's not done.

j.wojtas@theday.com

Twitter: @joewojtas