Construction of state-of-the-art athletics and academic facilities at Lawrence’s two high schools would cost $25.7 million, consultants said Monday.

The bulk of that work  $20.5 million  would be at Lawrence High School, said John Fuller of DLR Group’s office in Overland Park. Free State High School, which opened in 1997, could benefit from $5.2 million in upgrades, he said.

That price tag and implications of building two football, baseball, track and softball fields, an array of other sports venues, as well as a long list of academic areas led the board to dismiss the idea without debate. Expansion of sports facilities at LHS, which is surrounded by residential areas, would consume seven city blocks.

“The board is not interested in acquiring homes around the high school for athletics,” said Scott Morgan, board president.

The board directed DLR Group to concentrate on a plan that would expand sharing of sports facilities by the high schools as well as an alternative that would allow for construction of a central athletic complex.

Planning for academic improvements for English, art, business, science and technology classes at the high schools will proceed.

DLR Group previously estimated the cost of putting the district’s other schools in perfect working order at $91.2 million. That includes $57.8 million for 18 elementary schools and $33.4 million for four junior highs.

At the consultants’ request, the board affirmed its goal that all elementary schools in the district be at least two-section buildings. That means each should have sufficient enrollment for a minimum of two classes of all grade levels.

At a recent public forum, members of the public said it would be a mistake for the board to close one-section schools or expand these low-enrollment buildings to two-section schools.

A majority of the board  Sue Morgan, Leni Salkind, Mary Loveland and Scott Morgan  reiterated support for the two-section model. Larger schools would make it easier to provide educational services to students and allow more efficient use of district resources, they said.

“What will be created will be better,” Salkind said.

The board asked DLR Group to develop cost estimates for reorganizing the district’s alternative high school to include ninth-graders and permit introduction of vocational-education programs.

DLR Group returns to the district Sept. 18 to present firm recommendations for addressing elementary school problems. Proposals will include consolidation of schools and pairing schools in K-3 and 4-6 units.