VERNON TOWNSHIP — With the first phase of a six-elementary-school renovation project already over budget and four more schools to go, Crawford Central School District is getting downright creative at shaving expenses.

During a three-hour work session Wednesday, the school board proposed investigating the possibility of asking the city to extend Walnut Street’s existing one-way traffic pattern all the way to the school which would eliminate the need for a $225,000 pull-off area for buses.

The proposition came from Asuman Baskan who made the suggestion after Dave Dickson, supervisor of buildings and grounds and transportation expressed his concern at the board’s desire to strike construction of the pull-off from East End Elementary School renovation plans.

“There were no busing issues 89 years ago when the school was built,” Dickson said. “And while it’s a high-ticket item, from a transportation and safety perspective, I think it’s pretty important.”

Baskan suggested talking to city officials to see if the one-way traffic pattern on Walnut Street could be extended up another block to encompass the stretch of the road in front of the school.

“If it were done that way, do you think your safety concerns would be improved?” she asked Dickson.

Dickson said it would help alleviate the problem, and Superintendent Mike Dolecki agreed. Dolecki then suggested to begin the request by approaching the City of Meadville Streetscape Review Committee during their special work session meeting today.

Other cost-cutting measures at East End included ditching the $150,000 option of making improvements to an adjacent property that the district is still consider acquiring for $100,000 so that it can expand the school’s exceptionally small playground.

An additional $170,000 could be saved off the school’s $7 million price tag by using jumbo brick in lieu of modular ones; by reusing stage curtains and light fixtures; and by reconfiguring initial plans for the heating and ventilation system.

Likewise the district hopes to save money from Cochranton Elementary School’s $9 million project. There, architects and the construction management firm hope to also use jumbo brick, change the scope of the window replacements and also reuse the existing fascia panels on the building, which, together, would knock off $127,253 from the estimate.

Board members also agreed that they would resolve to take out the pursuit of certifications by contractors in using Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design products. Originally the district had hoped to qualify for grants by using LEED-certified products installed by contractors who were qualified to install and certify them, but due to the costs of the paperwork associated with it, board members nixed the line items from both schools, saving the district $276,000. The district will still use many LEED-certified products, such as paints and flooring materials that are low in volatile organic compounds which can produce emissions that are irritating. It will not, however, be able to apply for grants.

Construction Manager John Hays of Thomas and Williamson said they are still designing both schools to be green, however, and they will still feature the majority of the energy-efficient products that will save on utility expenses, just like measures taken at First District and Second District elementary schools.

According to Hays there is a possibility in the future that Crawford Central could qualify for other grants for existing “green schools” in the future, however.

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