AUBURN — City  councilors like the idea of including high school athletic field needs in an overall study of recreation needs.

Schools Superintendent Katie Grondin said the study would be a valuable tool for school officials planning for a new high school.

“It’s excellent,” she said. “It helps inform our steering committee on the overall needs of the community. We need that anyway, so this helps.”

Councilors were scheduled to discuss if they were willing to share some of the costs of hiring consultants to help plan for the new school.

Councilors, School Committee members and Auburn residents have been meeting regularly since September to find a way to replace the aging Edward Little High School.

The school’s accreditation is at risk, largely because of issues such as outdated electrical and heating systems, not enough room for classrooms and no auditorium, inadequate kitchen and cafeteria and a lack of insulation.

Edward Little has not placed high enough on the state’s school construction list to receive funding, which could mean local taxpayers would be asked to pay for it. Previous studies have said a new school could cost $61 million.

City Manager Clinton Deschene said the steering group has about $227,000 in reserve to help pay for that planning.

“There were some comments from councilors about ways the city could be involved in looking at the fields at the school and how that fits into the community,” Deschene said. “So I took that a bit further.”

Councilors have been talking about cataloging the city’s current recreation infrastructure — including parks, ball fields, tennis courts and playgrounds. Next, they’d find out what the community wants and decide how to pay for them.

It makes sense to include the high school fields in that.

Councilor Mary Lafontaine said other community groups, such as the YMCA, should also be included in the study.