The Wentzville School District's Board of Education on Thursday took significant steps in making the district's third high school a reality when it determined the general style and color scheme for the building.

The board opted for a barrel vaulted entry canopy and a green color scheme. 

Board members also gave a green light to Hoener Associates Inc. to proceed with construction documents. That means the company can begin submitting elevations to O'Fallon's planning and zoning committee and advertise for potential bidders.

If all goes to plan, the board will award construction contracts in June, start building construction in July and have the entire project completed by December 2013.

The school will be built on an 80-acre plot of land off of Sommers Road and will accommodate at least 1,600 students when at capacity. The land was purchased in July 2011 for $5.9 million and was funded primarily with revenue from Proposition A, which passed in 2008.

In January, the board voted to override O'Fallon's rejection of a permit for the new high school.

Hoener representatives also presented the board with several alternatives and future additions to the plan, including a weight room, choir room, auditorium and second gymnasium.

The next step in the process is to submit the elevations to the City of O'Fallon's planning and zoning commission, which could be done as early as today and be presented to that commission at its March 1 or April 5 meeting.

The rest of the timeline is as follows (dates contingent on weather, grading packages and receipt of permits):