SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — Slippery Rock School Board members Monday night continued discussing security projects at the high school, but did not vote on any project.

In March, HHSDR Architects of Sharon and Pittsburgh presented two options for increasing security at the school.

The first option, estimated at $2 million, would feature five access doors with card readers and electronic latches. The main office, including a new entrance and security vestibule, would be moved to where the fitness center is and a new fitness center would be built near the gymnasium.

The second option, estimated to cost $1.67 million, would have six doors with card readers and electronic latches and a new, 3,089-square-foot office with a security vestibule built near the auditorium.

Superintendent Kathy Nogay said she liked the second option.

Board member Mark Taylor asked if it would be worth looking at a scaled-back version of the project, with just a modified entrance and a security guard at the door.

Board member Polly Shaw said there is no point in doing the project without moving the office. She said the office is too far away from the door, and that it needs to be at the front of the building.

Taylor said that he agreed with Shaw, but he said the district could institute a policy change stating that any visitor would need to be escorted to the office from the front door.

Board member Diana Wolak said maybe the district could look into the cost of putting armed guards in the building until the renovations are done.

Taylor said he was not comfortable with armed guards. Board President Michael Scheer said he was “torn” on the issue.

Wolak said perhaps the board could look into how much it would cost for added security personnel before deciding on renovations.

Board member Mark Mraz said he has seen schools that have a security kiosk at the front door as well as metal detectors. Visitors hand a guard their driver’s license and get a pass in return.

In November, district residents voted against a referendum for the district to take on $38.5 million in debt to renovate the high school and Moraine Elementary School. That would have increased property taxes.

Scheer said that he does not see residents voting to increase their taxes for such a project so any full building renovation would have to be done in pieces. He said that upgrading security would be a good start.

Board Vice President Ken Speer said that the board should look at a long-range plan for renovations. If the building is going to be renovated in pieces, the board should consider what the final result will look like, he said.

“I think we need to look at the endgame before we look at the first step,” Speer said.

Scheer said if the board approved a design now, the project would not be done for the 2014-2015 school years. So, he said that board members could take some time to consider different options.

The board in May approved security upgrades at the two elementary schools and middle school, but delayed action on the high school.