The deadline for contractors to submit bids for the proposed Lehighton Area School District elementary center was extended until Aug. 9.

Superintendent Jonathan Cleaver said during a pre-bid meeting, contractors asked for more time to put a package together.The bid opening was originally scheduled for Wednesday."With the bid period running over the July 4 holiday, there were a lot of vacations and things like that so we wanted to offer that extension," Cleaver said. "It's in line with what we did for the stadium project and renovations at our middle and high schools."The elementary center would be built adjacent to the high school and house all K-5 students in Lehighton, while four existing elementary schools would be closed. The district said it would look to lease or sell those buildings.Estimated to cost $32.5 million, the building, would be set up with two main wings, one for the K-2 primary classrooms and another for the 3-5 elementary classrooms.Core areas would be centrally located.According to the bid advertisement, the scope of the project is a "two-story elementary school, including related site, HVAC, plumbing, sprinkler, electrical, electronic safety and security, and data/telecommunications work."Bids will be opened at 1 p.m. at the district administration building.