What's inside the old Boynton Beach high school?

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. - Even though it's in the center of town, the old high school in Boynton Beach is one of South Florida's most mysterious buildings.

The general public hasn't been allowed inside since a small part of it was used in the mid 90s.

Boynton fourth grader Ruth Tima has long had scary suspicions about the old high school.

"That it's haunted... There's a lot of ghosts in it, and monsters," said Ruth.

Boynton Beach building mechanic Fabian Proano probably knows this building as well as anyone and has heard all the rumors.

"A lot of that stuff doesn't even make sense," said Proano.

But he still feels the history. Especially of what is called the gymotorium, a combination gym and auditorium on the second floor. The court was used until the 80s. You can still see the bleachers and hoops.

"I think about the people, how cheerful and how happy they were when they were spending their times," said Proano.

Today, there are holes in the floor, peeling lead paint and asbestos.

"Be careful here when you walk... they could give and you could land on the first floor," said Proano.

But the consulting firm hired to turn it into something people can use again sees the gym as the centerpiece, something to renovate for meeting space, a banquet hall for weddings, or perhaps a basketball court and theater, what it was made for 84 years ago.

"This was one of the original buildings," said Proano. "This is a challenge for anybody."

They expect rehab to cost between $2.5 and $3.2 million, much less than initial estimates of $8 million.

There are no firm plans yet.