SOME OF the best laid plans can go awry.

Need proof?

Look no further than Monroe County. The Switzerland of Ohio School District is in the midst of an $80 million plus construction project. The massive undertaking was made possible by voter approval of a 2009 levy which resulted in the district securing state funding for the work.

It was a good deal as the project would encompass buildings throughout the expansive district with the state picking up all but 37 percent of the work.

However, a crack has developed in the construction plans. It appears to be one that will not be easily resolved.

The original blueprints called for River High School to undergo some $11.6 million in renovations. Meanwhile, another $11.5 million was allocated for the construction of an adjacent but separate Hannibal/Sardis Elementary. The combined package totaled $23.2 million.

Unfortunately, due to cost overages, the price tag has inflated to $24.2 million. That extra $1 million poses a threat to making the project a reality as initially proposed, as the district would be responsible for $404,000 of that amount.

During a meeting Tuesday with project architects, state officials, district board members and more than 100 residents, some alternative options were presented. They included making the new elementary building an addition to the existing high school or constructing a new K-12 building at the current site.

Either proposal would likely yield the savings needed to curb the cost of the overages.

However, the changes were not well received to the majority of residents in attendance. We agree with their dissent.

The voters’ support of the levy was based on River High School renovations and the construction of a separate elementary school. Adding salt to their wounds is that cost overages at Woodsfield and Beallsville projects were covered.

Another meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 19. An answer to the $64,000 question of what construction route will be pursued is expected at that time. Hopefully, a million dollar answer will be put forth as the students and staff at River High and Hannibal/Sardis Elementary are deserving of the building projects that they were originally promised.

Anything less and the voters of the district were misled and the passage of the levy is tainted.