CEDAR LAKE | The Hanover School Board drew a standing-room-only crowd Tuesday, with many in attendance again voicing their opposition to a planned middle school.

After 40 minutes of listening to the public, the board remained on track with what officials said will be a $29 million middle school at 141st and Parrish avenues.

The board unanimously approved a bond anticipation note not to exceed $3 million to be used to pave the way for the capital project bond. Officials said the middle school portion of the project has been reduced by about $5 million.

Brian Chermak, a 17-year-old senior and Student Council member, told the board the Student Council supports the new middle school.

"We can't be opposed to another school because we're the ones in the (crowded) hallways," he said.

Those who had led the opposition to the project, including Mark Stenger, Pat Kocot, Laurie Daugherty and Larry Suarez, spoke against the middle school as planned and urged consideration of other options.

Rose Kleine said buying property owned by Rex Bennett through a trust remains a possibility. That land, adjacent to the Hanover Central High School campus, was desired at one time, but could not be acquired at an acceptable price.

Superintendent Michael Livovich said the school system is locked into the site at 141st and Parrish avenues because Commissioner Cheryl Musgrave, of the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance, approved the middle school project for that location.

Livovich said the school district is working to complete a land swap with developer Todd Olthof. The district owns acreage at 125th Avenue and U.S. 41 that would be swapped for Olthof's land.