With three building projects set to kick off this year, it's a busy time for Lehighton School District.

Renovation projects at the middle and high schools were put out for bid this month. A bid opening is scheduled for July 7 at 2 p.m. in the administration building.Lehighton plans to award three contracts including general, plumbing and electrical construction.Because both schools are part of energy savings, or ESCO, projects, Maryland-Pennsylvania Trane will choose the mechanical contractor and guarantee there will be no change orders, or added costs, for that part of the job."Trane is bringing in six contractors who may bid on the HVAC part of the projects for a walk-through," said Joe Hauser, Lehighton building and grounds director.Walk-throughs for contractors who might bid on other parts of the work at either school are scheduled for today and June 30.New heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems are the focal point of both projects.Renovations at the middle school are estimated to cost $10.92 million plus any alternates the board would choose.Beyond the mechanical system overhaul, the project includes a roof replacement, a secured building entrance, and exterior window and door replacement, among other improvements.Work at the high school is projected at $9.4 million and also includes exterior facade improvements, a secure entrance, plumbing electrical upgrades and lighting upgrades. Alternates include an auditorium acoustical treatment, a metal roof replacement, snow guard replacement for the roof, selective flooring replacement, and a wrestling and weight room in the auxiliary gym."We're still going through and dealing with some issues as far as the logistics go," Lehighton Superintendent Jonathan Cleaver said. "For example, we're still planning to use the modular at the back of the building during renovations, but there are no bathrooms back there so we can't cut off access to the building. We might look at a temporary walk-through area to the building or some other solution."According to Cleaver, middle school office staff will move to Shull-David Elementary School for the summer and will then be in a temporary facility when students come back in late August."We're using the office area for three temporary classrooms," Cleaver said.Sargent Enterprises of Jim Thorpe is finishing up asbestos removal at the middle school. The auditorium is the last part of the building scheduled for work.Lehighton's maintenance team prepared for that by removing just over 800 seats from the room."They'll be stored in two or three tractor-trailers," Cleaver said. "We have to keep them because the auditorium is an alternate that the board may or may not approve as part of the renovation. If they don't approve it, we'll have to put the seats back."Stadium projectLast month, the school board narrowly approved a $6.3 million project that includes an artificial turf field, 62-foot by 260-foot field house, grandstands, press box, new lighting system and a 119-spot paved parking lot among other improvements.The facility will be located between the district administration building and high school, off Indian Lane.Superintendent Jonathan Cleaver said action will pick up at the site as CMG of Easton, the lowest bidder for the general construction contract at $5.229 million with around $40,000 in alternates, begins work."You'll see an 8-foot fence around the perimeter of the stadium and it will become an official construction site, meaning nobody will be allowed there without permission," Cleaver said. "The contractor is planning to put time lapse cameras up not only so the public can track the project, but also for security purposes."District officials confirmed Thursday the track is now closed to the public.CMG of Easton and project engineer Barry Isett and Associates have several ties to the Lehighton community.Rob Sarnowski, project manager for Barry Isett, is a Lehighton resident, while Jason Pezzuti, CMG of Easton president, is a 1991 Lehighton graduate.