By HOLLY WAGNER

Herald-Whig Staff Writer

The Quincy School Board's Building Committee voted Friday to recommend a $1.6 million plan for resurfacing the parking lot at Quincy High School that would increase the number of parking spaces from 383 to 537.

The committee will also recommend that the board approve seeking grant funds to create a weight room for Quincy Junior High students.

The parking lot plan includes a cut-through lane in the lower lot for Baldwin Intermediate School buses as well as a small lot south of the gym and east of the current lot. The project falls under life-safety work, with the exception of the small lot that is estimated to cost $135,000.

The project answers several needs for the district.

The first is to improve safety. The city will apply Monday for a Safe Routes to Schools grant for $250,000 that would matched by the city. The funds would be used to align the lot entrance with 33rd Street, create a turn lane, eliminate parking on Maine and install sidewalks along the north side of Maine.

Enlarging the lot is "a key element" of that plan, City Planner Chuck Bevelheimer said.

He hopes to hear whether the grant is successful by June or July, which would push the project into summer 2010.

The second is to keep students from parking in area lots and neighborhoods. However, even the expanded lot will not be large enough to accommodate demand. Results of a recent survey of QHS students indicated demand at 581, which doesn't include the 116 students who park at Flinn Stadium.

The district had thought it could eliminate Flinn parking and the $40,000 annual expense of a shuttle.

Board member Carol Nichols suggested that owners of large lots in the area, like ShopKo, the movie theater and the bank, might be interested in renting spaces to students. Spaces at the high school rent annually for $40 and for $30 at Flinn.

Assistant Junior High Principal Jody Steinke and PE teacher Theresa Mapes asked for board permission to pursue a Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation grant toward a new weight room. It would be similar to one at the high school which has been installed in a free-standing Morton building, Mapes said.

The grant award could range between $5,000 and $25,000. Steinke said he would create a plan to accommodate either end of the range, and will apply for additional grants as well.

A new weight room would relieve unsafe overcrowding in QJHS's current facility, Mapes said.

-- hwagner@whig.com/221-3374