ATTLEBORO - A $250,000 loan order that will pave the way for the design of a new roof for the high school was approved by the city council on an 11-0 vote.

While Mayor Kevin Dumas does not intend to borrow the money, a commitment to borrow money was needed to qualify for the approximately 57 percent reimbursement from the state's School Building Authority program, he said.

With the commitment in hand, the city can hire a consultant to do a feasibility study to determine what needs to be done and how much it will cost to replace the almost 6 acres of roof at the school on Rathbun Willard Drive.

Dumas plans to pay for the preliminary work out of the city's $1.8 million stabilization account and then redeposit the cash when the city's reimbursement comes in from the state. The move will save the city borrowing costs, the mayor said.

As a result, it will cost he city about $105,000 out of pocket to get the job underway. The roof replacement could cost as much as $7 million. The city would have to borrow to pay for 43 percent of that amount or about $3 million.

While school officials have been hoping for a renovation or replacement of the more than 40-year-old school, the badly leaking roof is all that can be afforded at this time, the mayor said.