The Gloucester County Board of Supervisors made it pretty clear Tuesday night that it will not allocate additional money toward the new Page Middle School project during its meeting in the colonial courthouse.

After a lengthy discussion between the board, Gloucester School Superintendent Ben Kiser and principal architect Duane Harver, the board voted by a 5-2 margin to go forward with the planned design, staying within the $26 million already allocated for the school. The resolution also included language encouraging the school board to include the ability to use the school as an emergency shelter, if money in the construction budget is available to do so.

Supervisors Ashley Chriscoe (at-large) and Chris Hutson (Gloucester Point) voted against the motion.

Page Middle School was severely damaged in an April 2011 tornado and the new school is going to be built across Route 17 from the old school site adjacent to T.C. Walker Road.

During a Sept. 18 joint meeting, the issue came up about the lack of a full-size gymnasium and auditorium in the design of the school. Some supervisors said they had heard from residents who felt that if a school were going to be built, it should include a full-size, competitive gym.

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