SPANISH FORK — When the Nebo District Board of Education meets to talk about such issues as boundary changes and budget allocations, it's standing-room only for folks who want to listen to the discussion.
Sixty chairs are in the audience area and there isn't a lot of room to stand.
So, when parents show up to voice support or concern over programs or policies, people take places in halls and lean on doorframes to see and hear action in the board room.
But it's not just the board's chambers that needs some elbow room at district headquarters. Cubicles in the basement level are tightly packed, and it's so cramped in the information-technology department that bosses send computer programmers into schools to have peace and quiet while they are working.
To figure out solutions to the space problems, Nebo's school board on Wednesday hired a firm to study the building at 350 S. Main. Kevin Madson and Associates of Provo will complete the study for the district.
"If you've walked around the district offices recently, you'll see every nook and cranny (is filled)," said school board member Randy Boothe.
The architect will also study possibilities for the two-story building now used to house Landmark High School. The building is immediately west of district offices.
The remodeling projects will start in spring 2008, said Steve Maughan, director of operations for the 25,000-student school district.
Landmark, the district's alternative high school, has grown to about 250 students, district spokeswoman Lana Hiskey said. On Wednesday, ground was broken for a new Landmark High three blocks to the south. It should be finished by fall 2008.
District officials have not said what they intend to do with the 1934 building where Landmark classes are now held.
However, they've discussed "getting something else built so we can move out of here when" the district headquarters gets remodeled, said Tracy Olsen, the district's business administrator.
That building will likely be on the same property as district headquarters, possibly in between district headquarters and the current Landmark High, Olsen said.
Olsen is budgeting $3 million for the remodeling of the two buildings.
The money will come from the district's capital outlay budget, Olsen said, for the 2008-2009 fiscal year.
About 90 people work in the district headquarters, which is about 16,000 square feet. The Landmark building is about 12,300 square feet.
The public will benefit from a remodeling of the district offices, Nebo Education Association President Jeff Alexander said.
"We really do need a bigger board room, so when people give public input there's more room," said Alexander.
E-mail: lhancock@desnews.com