COLUMBUS - A petition challenging the Absarokee Elementary School Boards declaration of the Sandstone Building as surplus property is headed to district court, Board Chair Gary Gates confirmed Tuesday. A court date has not yet b een determined.We are under current litigation so we cant talk to anything specific on this at this time, Gates told community members who raised questions about the Sandstone at Mondays meeting. Once litigation is over then we can talk about these things.The board did answer one question from the February meeting, reports the Stillwater County News. Gates disclosed that the cost to obtain the renovation estimate from Hulteng CCI, Inc. was $2,132. That estimate, presented Jan. 15, put probable renovation costs at approximately $1.3 million.Community members at the February meeting had also asked for demolition cost estimates, which the board has not yet obtained.Mary Anna Espeland asked Monday whether the board would answer the other questions from the February meeting. Gates indicated that with litigation pending, the board cannot discuss Sandstone-related matters.RELATED Q2 COVERAGE: Save the Sandstone: Group of Absarokee women working to preserve historic buildingSchool safety concerns raisedBoard members Carolyn Hutson and Josh Royce raised urgent concerns about school preparedness during lockdown situations following a recent precautionary lockdown that occurred while elementary students were at recess.Hutson said the timing brought safety issues to light, particularly regarding students limited access to the building during an emergency.As a parent and a husband I have a huge, huge, huge issue with what we have going on there, Royce added, noting students had only a 10- to 15-foot walkway to get back to safety. We dont want to take anything like that lightly.Huston requested either a special meeting or an agenda item to discuss school safety concerns at both the elementary and high school levels, including what procedures would be in place if a lockdown occurred during lunch periods when high school students are dispersed.Other businessThe board approved a non-voted levy increase for tuition payments and discussed fence construction around the Cobblestone building and high school roof repairs. ...read more read less