Coaldale Councilwoman Claire Remington proposed the borough pull out of the Panther Valley School District and join the Tamaqua Area School District.

Remington contended Coaldale was not being well-served by Panther Valley and claimed the town was "being shortchanged" in district matters.The proposal came at the time when the board began efforts to elect its directors on an at-large basis, as opposed to the geographical basis in which Coaldale had two elected directors.Coaldale officials argued at the time that with only 1,100 registered voters, the town would have little chance of getting people from the community elected in the district that also includes Lansford, Nesquehoning and Summit Hill.