The final cost of Lehighton Area School District's proposed elementary center may come down to a choice of windows.

During a workshop Monday night, the board reviewed bids opened last week and a number of alternates that will impact the project's bottom line.Based on discussion at the meeting, the cost of the general construction, plumbing, electrical and heating, ventilation and air conditioning contracts will total between $32.61 million and $33.04 million, if the board accepts the recommendations of the administration.A furniture contract will be separate and likely awarded at a later date.According to Superintendent Jonathan Cleaver and Karl Kauffman, project manager with Quandel Construction, three options exist for windows in the two-story building; all aluminum, all wood or a hybrid of the two."There is a benefit of wood when it comes to heating and cooling, while aluminum is less labor intensive, and that is reflected in the cost," Cleaver said. "I will say that when we toured other schools, those classrooms that had the wood really stood out. It creates a very inviting feel."All wood windows would cost the district around $434,000 more than aluminum, but either way Lehighton remains within budget on the project, according to business manager Brian Feick.Also, choosing aluminum would make Boyle Construction the low bidder for the general construction contract, while choosing wood would likely give the contract to Lobar Inc., which is already working on middle and high school renovations in the district."From the beginning, I've felt the classrooms should be aesthetically pleasing and inviting," said board President Gloria Bowman speaking in favor of wood windows. "The one thing I didn't want was an industrial look."Fellow board member Steve Holland said he was in favor of "the best that we can afford."Other low bidders include JBM Mechanical for HVAC, Jay R. Reynolds for plumbing and Philips Brothers for electrical.Alternates to the base bid recommended by the administration and Quandel include:• Vinyl composition tile flooring instead of BCT and linoleum, which would save $250,000• Tile carpeting by Mannington instead of Patcraft, which would save $13,000• Corian sink countertops instead of Caeserstone, which would save $154,000• Adding rigging, curtains and projection screens at the stage, which would add $49,700• Going without upholstered seats in the large group instruction rooms, which would save $4,300• Adding outdoor play sets by Playworld Systems, which would add $165,000• Adding a masonry plaque display wall adjacent to the flagpole, which would add $55,800• Adding performance lighting for the stage, which would add $83,000• Using metal-clad cable instead of wire and conduit, which would save $48,000.Cleaver said the board would vote on contracts for the project at its regular board meeting on Monday night."You never know with the bid market, but they were right around where we thought they would be," he said. "This is the culmination of all the design committee meetings and discussion. Everything we talked about is in this package from the wall fixtures to terrazzo in the lobby to the outdoor basketball hoops. It's all-encompassing."