AUBURN – To figure out what should be done with the scruffy, inefficient, even “smelly” Edward Little High School building, the School Committee has authorized the school department to hire an architect.

The architect will study the 1961 building and recommend whether it should it be renovated, or torn down and a new building built.

The architect would also answer another big question: How much?

A new or improved high school would depend on local tax dollars since state school construction money won’t be available for several years, Superintendent Tom Morrill told the committee Wednesday.

Once the state again starts accepting applications for construction money, there’s no guarantee Auburn would get any. Prior efforts at state funding have not been successful.

Before a new school is built, taxpayers would have to approve the project several times: in a straw poll, then a non-binding referendum, finally in a binding referendum.

While costs aren’t known, a report given last fall by architect Stephen Blatt projected renovating would cost $24 million to $26 million, and a new high school could cost $52 million. Blatt, who has ties to Auburn, did not charge for his report.

What’s needed now is a more thorough, needs-specific study, Morrill said. Business manager Jude Cyr estimated it will cost $30,000 to $50,000 for an architect’s study, and bids will be sought.

Last month, Edward Little received continuing accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. However, NEASC placed the school on a warning because of deficient facilities.

Even without financial help from the state, school board members agreed something needs to be done to give Auburn a decent high school.

“It’s a mess,” said committee member Bonnie Hayes. “It smells in the building. There’s not a cafeteria. There’s a big rock next to it. The walls (on the lower level) are buckling in the corridor. It’s truly a mess.”

Walls and ceilings need paint. Carpets are worn. In some places floors are missing tiles. The school is crowded, even though it was built for 1,500 students and now holds 1,100. State and federal mandates passed since the school was built mean more programs must be offered. Rooms for special education, chorus, art, computer skills, English language learners and a health center have reduced space.

There’s no auditorium. The cafeteria is in what used to be a basement storage area and isn’t equipped for a hot-lunch program. The building was built when heating oil was cheap. There’s little if any insulation.

The heating system is inefficient. Some rooms are too cold, some too hot. “At the very least we need to keep it safe,” Hayes said. “At the most we need reconstruction.”

Something drastic needs to be done, agreed member Larry Pelletier. “The community knows it.”

Member Francois Bussiere questioned whether it was worth investing any money to renovate the existing building.

Officials said the steel frame may still be good, but the architect’s study would confirm whether the frame is worth keeping.

The committee reviewed a plan that showed if approved by voters, Auburn could have a new high school by 2011.

“It isn’t anything we’ll get done today and do tomorrow,” Cyr said.

The school committee will hold several more workshops, and in September present plans to the Auburn City Council.

After that, a building committee working with the architect would begin a campaign to provide information about high school suggestions to the public.

“We’d involve a host of people to do frequent presentations to different forums to provide information,” Morrill said. “The intent is to get people informed, and to receive feedback.”

A non-binding referendum may be sent to voters in May when the school budget is acted upon. A yes vote could bring a binding referendum in November 2009.

If approved, a design team would be created. There’d be more presentations. Whenever the state accepts applications for school construction funding, Auburn would apply.

That timeline is an estimate. “It’s all subject to how quickly the committee wants to move,” Morrill said. “We want to be very thoughtful in the whole process.”