A new gymnasium at Brantley School is one step closer to fruition after Superintendent Randy Wilkes presented a topographic sketch to the board on Thursday.

The proposed cost of the project is more than $2 million.

In February, the board discussed a number a facility upgrades, including the possibility of major work at Brantley and Highland Home.

One of the major discussions was the need for a new gym at Brantley as concerns had been raised about the capacity of the gym, which is filled to capacity several times a year.

At the February meeting, Neil Hughes with McKee and Associates told the board it would be difficult to renovate the current gym to add more seating because it would mean changing the way the roof is supported and losing the stage.

Since then, surveyor Jeff Bush has surveyed the area between the high school building, lunchroom and field house at the school, and McKee and Associates has placed a rendition of what a gym would look like, Wilkes said.

The new gymnasium would have seating capacity of 700 and would be two-sided. Wilkes said there has also been discussion about adding an additional 30 feet to use for a petition, classroom or one large open space.

In other business, the board:

• heard from Wilkes that the system attended a Mega Conference, where teachers from all grade levels and schools highlighted the system’s implementation of college and career ready standards.

• heard from Wilkes that former Brantley standout Taylor Driggers was representing the system at the North-South All-Stars Week in football; Brantley basketball players Raven Davis, Peyton Hill and Wesley Person, and Luverne basketball player DeAnthony Rutledge. Brantley coach Andrew Kilcrease coached the girls.

• approved an amendment to the code of conduct adding an electronic acceptable use policy.

• accepted the resignations of Annette Chandler, a 37-year veteran teacher of the system, and Elizabeth Huggins, teacher at Highland Home.

• approved the transfer of Joseph Suber from LHS teacher to alternative school.

• approved employment for Pam Cook as lunchroom manager at Luverne High School; Thomas Elliott, history teacher at LHS; Gary Coleman, assistant principal at HHS; Kenyon Berry, teacher at HHS and Cassie Newman, teacher at HHS.