One by one, members of the school and church expressed their concerns about the impact of the school's poor condition on the students' education. Members also stated their enthusiasm for the proposed addition of school and church facilities, including a performing arts center, a three-story administration office building, a two-story classroom building, clergy offices and a bell tower.

The project will eliminate all existing buildings except for the 11,446-square-foot sanctuary. The new building construction will total approximately 72,705 square feet.

After lengthy discussion, commissioners Jill Hunter, Erna Jackman, Lisa Kurasch, Rutchi Zutshi and Mike Garakani voted to accept the revised design proposal on the conditions that clerestory windows be installed on the second story of the north classroom building, the proposed 54-foot bell tower be eliminated and all classroom ceiling heights be increased from the state minimum of 8 feet to 9 to enhance the students' learning experience.

"The school's current facilities are outdated and inadequate," said Tim Sparks, who is a parent of three children attending the school. "The classes are too small. The poor condition of the building threatens the long-term health and well-being of the school."

Hugh Wright, who has been a member of the church since 1974, said he completely supports the church's plan. He said that Saratoga has always been a spiritual community and a safe place and that the church's expansion will add to this aspect.

Amidst the support, the residents heard from neighbors opposing the project. Though few showed up to voice their opinions, those that spoke said they were concerned with issues regarding traffic and noise.

"The church has been a good neighbor," said Annette Peterson, who lives directly adjacent to the church. "But times have changed."

Peterson said that traffic in her area is becoming overwhelming and fears it will increase due to people who will use the school's amenities, such as the performing arts center. She said that in previous years she's had to give up 10 feet of her yard property to accommodate a sidewalk for students to use. In addition, the city put a stoplight next to her driveway, which prevents her from making a right turn.

"We are almost frozen in our home because we cannot get out of our property," she said.

Peterson added that she is against having a bell tower at the school because she does not like the idea of being awoken early in the morning by the sound of bells.

Harry Luoh, a resident who lives within 15 feet of the proposed location for the performing arts center, said he would prefer to have the facility in the middle of the campus to alleviate the volume of noise coming from special events that will be held at the center. Though he said he salutes the school's efforts to run a good institution, he questions the need to have a bell tower.

"You can have a good school without a bell tower," he said.

In response to these concerns regarding the bell, David Moyles said that these bells would resonate in the tradition of the community.

"To hear the sound of bells is to hear the very life of the community," he said. "It means that the community is alive."

Kurasch and Garakani said they had to see from the perspective of all of the neighbors, including those who oppose the project, and disapproved of the bell tower.

"We have to be good to our neighbors," said Garakani. However, he proposed that story poles be placed at the proposed location of the bell tower to give residents a more accurate perspective of it.

Hunter commended the school for its work and said she is 100 percent in support of the project. She said that children should be the main concern and that the students would greatly benefit from the project.

"The common sense of the community is more important than the individual neighbors," said Hunter. "The sound of children is the happiest sound to me."

Jackman said she is glad that the school is making these improvements. "It's time," she said. "These facilities are inferior to the standards of public schools."

St. Andrew's Parish and School is located along Saratoga Avenue and is across from the new library. It was built more than 40 years ago.