Denton school board members approved the “guaranteed maximum price” for elementary school No. 21, to be built in the Cross Oaks Ranch development, in a midday meeting Tuesday.

Board members approved $16,361,480 to construct the facility, more than $10,000 under the amount projected for the school. With the board’s approval, construction will start immediately on the school along the U.S. Highway 380 Corridor. It is expected to be complete by August 2010.

Board Vice President Mia Price, who filled in for President Jim Alexander, who was out of town Tuesday, said the board is always pleased when it can approve costs that come in under budget.

To cut costs, the school will be the first project to be redesigned from the district’s elementary prototype, which has been the district standard since 1996, according to board documents.

The campus was approved in a 2007 bond referendum. It will be the first to use a geothermal mechanical system, day lighting and other environmental features. The price of the campus includes heat pumps, an irrigation water well, music cabinets, and stone accents on the building exterior.

The school board also approved a proposal for exterior and interior cameras to be added at some district campuses and granted approval for Ron Arrington, a district early childhood official, to apply for a grant of one-time funding for the Head Start program at the Ann Windle School for Young Children.

Arrington will apply for $547,096 through the Region VI Head Start office in Dallas to be used for expanding the campus library and parent training room and adding magnetic door locks. Funding will also be used for playground equipment, pre-kindergarten and math curriculum, computers, tricycles and library books.

BRITNEY TABOR can be reached at 940-566-6876. Her e-mail address is btabor@dentonrc.com .