Palmerton Area School District is looking at the potential creation of a junior high school cafeteria.

Superintendent Scot Engler said administators met with Barry Isett & Associates of Allentown about a feasibility study.At present, the district runs grades seven through 12 lunches in its high school cafeteria, as the junior high does not have its own cafeteria.That, Engler said, limits the district's options because of scheduling. A feasibility study was required to add a cafeteria to the junior high school.Engler previously said the primary benefits to adding a cafeteria at the junior high are that it would allow the high school to consider other scheduling options, and ensure that the junior high would no longer be reliant on the high school to use its cafeteria.Part of the study is to determine the location of the cafeteria, Engler said.However, Engler said no cost has yet to be determined for the study, which is underway."At this point in regards to the feasibility study for the junior high school cafeteria, they're moving forward with what that will encompass," Engler said."And when they have a proposal, it will go before the board for approval."The potential creation of a junior high school cafeteria is part of the district's long-range facilities plan.In November the board approved the transfer of $3 million from the district's general fund to its capital reserve fund.That action came after Engler reviewed the facilities and future district plans with school directors at a board workshop session held earlier that month.At that time he said the list of improvements were conceived through input from the community, faculty, administration, school board and the students.Engler said the process for the study for the potential junior high school cafeteria is similar to the districtwide heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.In November the board approved an HVAC study to be conducted by Barry Isett & Associates, at a cost of $7,400.Engler said the money for that study would come out of the district director of facilities budget.Based on the input from the district's capital adviser, Engler noted at that time that interest rates were at a point where the district could recognize savings by refinancing its 2010 A bond.