The embattled Tisbury School renovation and addition project took another step forward this week when work began to gut the school gym.

Whether or not Tisbury voters approve an additional $26 million borrowing request for Tisbury School construction, on top of $55 million already authorized, the building must be vacated later this year once modular classrooms are ready, school committee chair Amy Houghton said.

If approved by voters this fall, the additional $26 million in borrowing would, combined with the initial $55 million, push property taxes up by roughly 15 1/2 per cent for the 30-year life of the bonds.

With the Tisbury School gym scheduled for demolition in August, school and town officials are looking for alternative places to hold a special town meeting this fall.

The Tisbury School project is an estimated $10 million over budget, forcing the school building committee to throttle back plans.

Contractors are moving in for the two-year, $53 million renovation and addition at the Tisbury School.

Tisbury School and Vineyard Montessori are using bottled water as they investigate elevated lead levels found in routine state testing.

The town of Tisbury is partnering with a regional council in Texas to lease modular classrooms for use while the Tisbury School building project is under way.

The school building committee has ranked its top three candidates for the role of construction manager at risk, naming W.T. Rich of Newton as first choice.