Aging public schools and facilities in Vicksburg and Warren County would cost more than $70 million, a Jackson architectural firm said Thursday in reporting its results of an evaluation ordered by the Vicksburg Warren School District Board of Trustees.

The most costly areas of need, school board members were told Thursday night, would be bringing the district’s facilities back into compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act, replacing aging air-conditioning and electrical systems, testing for asbestos, upgrading athletic facilities, replacing outdated technology, reroofing, renovating restrooms and improving vehicle and pedestrian access.

Making necessary changes at Grove Street School would be the most costly across the district with about $9.5 million in renovations suggested. Warren Central and Vicksburg high schools were next, with about $8.7 million suggested for each.

Sherman Avenue had the fewest renovations suggested, with $1.4 million proposed to address restroom renovations and window glazings.

The VWSD’s 2012-2013 budget is $26.2 million, and Financial Director Dale McClung said about $8 million is allotted for maintenance and operations.

Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Swinford said Thursday’s presentation is the first step for the district.

“We don’t have a plan currently to replace the HVAC or reroof or fix the air conditioning,” Swinford said. “We need to try to have a plan of how to address it and which items are the most urgent. This just helps us prioritize so we can figure out what we need to look at first.”

Richard McNeel is president of JBHM Architects of Jackson, which performed the evaluation. He addressed the board Thursday night and said the work can be staggered according to necessity.

He said becoming ADA-compliant would be non-negotiable for the district.

“This is just fixing the stuff that needs to be fixed,” McNeel said. “We’ve got some early recommendations here, so now we have to figure out where to go from here.”

McNeel emphasized the role the district’s facilities play in economic development. He referenced several engineering firms and companies that moved to the Golden Triangle region in eastern Mississippi.

“When those businesses came from Europe and Tel Aviv, to invest money, the first thing they asked wanted to see was the schools, because that’s where their workers’ children would be going.”

He then proposed that the board set up a workshop to work with JBHM to begin addressing the needs. The board voted unanimously for such a workshop, but no date was set. Swinford said she expects it to be before the next board meeting, Nov. 29.

“We have a lot of needs we have to address with the facilities,” District 1 Trustee and Board President Bryan Pratt said. “We’re going to take a look at how we can prioritize our needs and make sure that we address any issue to ensure we’re providing a safe and appropriate learning environment.”

Pratt said the workshop would give the board an idea of how much money needs to be allotted for the most urgent concerns.

According to JBHM’s report, suggested renovation expenditures include:

• $7.9 million at Beechwood Elementary

• $3.9 million to $4.2 million at Bowmar Avenue

• $2.3 million to $2.6 million at Bovina Elementary

• $1.4 million to $1.7 million at Dana Road Elementary

• $9.5 million to $9.7 million at Grove Street School

• $4.4 million to $4.8 million at Redwood Elementary

• $1.4 million to $1.6 million at Sherman Avenue Elementary

• $2.6 million at South Park Elementary

• $8.5 million to $8.8 million at Vicksburg High School

• $5.2 million to $5.3 million at Vicksburg Junior High School

• $8.7 million to $8.9 million at Warren Central

• $5.2 million to $5.3 million at Warren Central Junior High

• $3.7 million to $3.9 at Warrenton Elementary

• $4.8 million to $5.6 million at the Professional Development Center

• $6 million to $6.5 million at the Early Childhood Center

• $600,000 to $900,000 for track and athletic restroom renovations