HOBART | The Plan Commission will review site plans for renovation of the current Hobart High School, 36 E. Eighth St., during its meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday.

At its meeting Aug. 7, the Hobart School Board approved plans to renovate the high school for use as the district's middle school.

The $11 million project will include upgrading science rooms and athletic areas, giving the building a different exterior look and addressing bus safety issues.

Project managers for the school have said renovations will be completed by August, in time for the start of the 2009-10 school year.

The renovation is part of the district's $62.8 million building plan, which also includes construction of the new high school set to open in January.

Renovation of the current high school is scheduled to begin at the same time, according to school officials.

Ownership of the current middle school, once vacated, will be transferred to the city.

Mayor Brian Snedecor has said he has no intention of going forward with the plans of former Mayor Linda Buzinec to spend about $20 million to renovate the middle school for use as city offices.

Instead, he has said he will scale down those plans because of tough economic times.

He and the city engineer still are working with RQAW Consulting Engineers & Architects of Indianapolis to develop a plan. Once that plan is ready, it will be presented to the City Council and the Board of Works for input from members, Snedecor said.