The Buffalo School Board has decided to hire a local architectural firm to do a feasibility study and preliminary design for the proposed Medical Campus HighSchool.

But there is still some confusion as to whether that school will open in time for the 2014-15 school year as originally planned.

Board member John Licata, who last year introduced the idea of creating the school, said that without building aid from the state Education Department, it would cost the district about $6 million to make upgrades to the vacant School 8 building at Masten Avenue and East Utica Street. The state already has informed the district it will not get building aid for School 8.

Thats a pretty high price tag for us, Licata said.

Given that, there was no reason to move forward with the feasibility study,Licata said.

The study, to be done by Young & Wright Architectural on Seneca Street,would determine if the program could be properly housed atSchool 8and the potential costs associated with running it.

Licatasuggested the $49,762 contractfor the studybe withdrawn because it was unlikely the school would open by fall.

My feeling was to pull it and not spend the money, he said. Pull the feasibility study while were still trying to figure out funding.

That would alsogive school officials more time to plan.

But Superintendent Pamela C. Brown refused to withdraw the contract, saying school officials need to have further discussion as to whether School 8 will be used for the program.

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Architect hired to do feasibility study for proposed Medical Campus High School