A $3 million price tag for a new swimming facility was more than enough Tuesday for a school board committee to suggest a land swap with Limestone College.

Limestone College has not charged the Gaffney High swim team to practice and hold swim meets at the YMCA since the swimming program started in August of 2000. In exchange, superintendent Dr. Bill James said the school district has allowed Limestone to use a soccer practice field on the district's Limestone Learning Center property.

Limestone College officials have expressed an interest in recent years in buying the Limestone Learning Center. The district will move into a new home for its adult education and alternative schools this summer.

A recent study found it would cost the school district an estimated $3 million to build its own Olympic swimming pool facility. In comparison, James said the district spent just $5,000 when the school board started the swimming program.

The school board's building committee recommended Tuesday the district approach Limestone College about a possible land swap.

Under this scenario, school board chairman Donnie Lee Smith suggested the district could trade Limestone Learning Center for continued use of the YMCA swimming facility.

"If the district wanted to build its own swimming facility, we are looking at $3 million so it would be a good swap for the taxpayers," Smith said.

The building committee will ask the school board to authorize negotiations with Limestone College at the Jan. 28 school board meeting.

Limestone Learning Center was one of several school properties discussed by committee members.

School trustees decided not to purchase sixth-tenths of an acre of property across from the old Blacksburg High gym. A Blacksburg property owner had offered the property to the district for $57,000.

School trustees declined to purchase the property, citing the district's lack of need for the property.

In an unrelated matter, Smith noted there are currently only three bathroom stalls in the women's restroom at the new $1 million Blacksburg High athletic field house.

Smith requested the district administration get an estimate on the cost of renovating the original women's restroom area at the Blacksburg High football stadium. The proposed project would involve installing new tile, commodes and privacy dividers so there are additional restroom facilities for females.

The bathroom project will be discussed further at the next board meeting.