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The $73,425,000 price tag would consist of 10 building projects, four more than voted down in January.

"Last time, we didn't add on to any buildings or address any maintenance needs in any existing buildings," Conner said.

The School Board will decide which projects to include in a possible May referendum after hearing feedback at 10 public forums, the first of which begin next week.

"What we'll do at the forums is try to explain our needs, some possible solutions and then get input from the public on those pieces, concerns they have, questions they have, suggestions they have. Then, that will help us determine which pieces to do and which pieces not to do. . . We'll lay out every piece in the forums."

Noblesville had Indiana's first special election for spending on school buildings. Voters shot down a $59.5 million project.

"I just think we have to communicate better," the superintendent said Tuesday. "We have to communicate more often. And we need to make sure we're interactively answering questions and addressing concerns all the way through the process."

Conner said, "In the work that we've done so far, we've been listening intently."

At a special meeting Tuesday, the School Board heard what voters' approval of the referendum would mean for the projected 2010 budget and its tax impact.

The building project would include increasing capacity and updating four existing elementaries:

> Hazel Dell Elementary, $2,625,000.