If local school or city officials have concerns about the inspections being done on construction projects funded by a $92.5 million bond issue, it’s not too late to take corrective action.

According to the Lawrence school district’s website, construction is ongoing at a number of schools, and work at six local elementary schools isn’t scheduled to begin until January 2016.

After a youngster was injured at New York School last month, concerns were raised about the absence of independent safety inspections at school construction sites. In an attempt to save money on the bond-funded projects, the school district decided to bypass the city’s normal inspection process. Instead, it worked with county and private inspectors to provide some inspection services and gave responsibility for maintaining safety at the site to the contractors themselves.

School officials arrived at that decision because city officials didn’t want to waive an estimated $285,000 in inspection fees. With the benefit of hindsight, both city and school officials may want to revisit those decisions.

As the Journal-World has reported, it’s not unheard of for the city to waive inspection fees, especially for projects, like Rock Chalk Park, affordable housing units and Lawrence Memorial Hospital, that benefit the public. If the city isn’t willing to waive the inspection fees for the school projects, perhaps city and school officials can compromise on a reduced rate. As previously noted in this space, the fees are basically a matter of moving local taxpayer money from one pocket to another.

Maybe school officials are satisfied with the inspection system that’s in place, but there are indications that it may not measure up to the standards set by city inspectors. It’s important that public school buildings meet the highest safety and structural requirements. With that in mind, it might be worthwhile for city and school officials to sit down and talk about whether there’s a better way to make sure those standards are met on the remaining school projects.