LEBANON - Lebanon High School's auditorium is preparing for a second makeover.

The auditorium received a facelift two years ago, receiving 550 new seats, carpeting and rigging as part of a voter-approved bond measure.

Now more structural work is planned, using about $150,000 in remaining bond funds, Superintendent Jim Robinson said.

The earlier work left the rear of the auditorium vacant to allow for future remodeling. On Tuesday, Robinson recommended to the Lebanon School Board the bond money be spent to create rooms on either side of the central sections of seats, and to place a sound booth in between them.

High school staff members will design the area, depending on whether they need the space for classrooms, prop storage, rehearsals or changing areas, Robinson said.

Bond work at the high school was contracted to be done for a guaranteed maximum price of about $12 million. Board members voted unanimously Tuesday to raise the GMP by $250,000; $150,000 for the theater and the rest on smaller projects, such as window replacements and vents in the chemistry rooms.

The district has completed all the projects listed in the original $49.8 million measure, which voters approved in 2000, but still has about $550,000 in savings or interest left over.

No decisions have been made on the $300,000 remaining after the high school work, Robinson said, although some items have been discussed.

In other business Tuesday, the board:

• Voted unanimously to ratify a new three-year contract between the school district and its teachers.

Teachers voted Thursday to ratify the contract, which gives them a step and a cost of living increase each year. The insurance cap will increase $85 over the three -ear contract.

Both sides called the process "extremely smooth" and complimented one another on their willingness to work together to find common ground.

• Held a heated debate on how to properly call an executive, or closed, session.

District policy states an executive session may be convened "upon request of three board members or by common consent of the Board" for reasons allowed under the law.

Board members Josh Wineteer and Rick Alexander contend Chairwoman Sherrie Sprenger has been violating the policy by not asking for their consent before scheduling one.

Sprenger responded that when she and the superintendent put together the agenda, they schedule sessions as necessary, particularly if the district needs to consult with its attorney. Board members receive their agendas, she said, and if they do not object to the listing, she takes that as consent.

Sprenger said it's her understanding such sessions always have been scheduled that way. "The practice hasn't changed," she said.