With a funding boost, Coupeville school officials can now see if some construction projects can move forward.

The school district will receive $2.056 million from the state toward construction projects, which is slightly less than anticipated.

Gary Goltz, district construction, said while the matching money was a little bit lower than estimated, it’s helpful nevertheless.

“We’re very pleased to be getting it,” Goltz said at last week’s school board meeting. The school district estimated matching money would be between $2.2 million and $2.4 million.

The extra money allows the school district to consider an auxiliary gym that will be built adjacent to the main gym across the street from the high school.

Superintendent Bill Myhr said discussions will start with the high school contractor, Castle Construction, about adding the auxiliary gym to the high school construction project.

Early estimates place the gym costs at $2.4 million. That could change once officials decide how construction inflation will further affect that project.

“We hope to have enough money to do the auxiliary gym,” Goltz said.

The district will have to continue using the gym in the old high school until a second one gets built. That would, in turn, delay demolition of the old school and installation of a plaza.

School officials had to delay several construction projects when higher-than-expected inflation caused the high school project costs to escalate millions of dollars over budget.

There are several high-priority projects the school district wants to complete. Those include installing a covered play area at Coupeville Elementary School, redesigning the elementary school entrance to improve security and finishing the Engle Field project, which would include a permanent baseball field and practice soccer field for athletic teams.

Meanwhile work on the new high school continues. The project is currently within budget and approximately one month ahead of schedule. It should be complete in time for the 2007-2008 school year.

The school board approved a change order during a recent meeting that increased costs by $93,000. The bulk of the money, $81,000, paid for the removal of soil that had clay and organic material in it, Goltz said. He added that the change order is covered by the contingency written into the project’s budget.

There are several aspects of the construction project that could affect people in the coming weeks. Workers will lay asphalt on Terry Road in August.

Workers also had to tear up the north half of the tennis courts at the high school to allow for the installation of a water and storm water line. Workers are trying to repair the tennis court. Goltz said it has to be done by Aug. 13 when the fall sports season starts.