A proposed elementary center in the Lehighton Area School District has cleared its last hurdle.

By a unanimous measure, Lehighton Borough Council on Monday approved the preliminary/final plans for the center, along with the developer’s agreement with the district for the center.Council’s approval is pending the review of the borough solicitor and engineer, and came one week after the school board approved the agreement with the borough with regard to the construction of the center.District solicitor William Schwab told council the document is fairly standard and will allow for the start of construction before the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation issues a highway occupancy permit for the project.“We would like to get the building started before winter, and not lose anything for the kids,” Schwab said.The board previously awarded four prime contracts in the amount of $33.04 million for the construction of the center, which would be located adjacent to the high school and would house all K-5 students in the district.The building would be set up with the K-2 primary classrooms on one end of the building, and the 3-5 elementary classrooms on the other side.Core areas would be centrally located.Once the school is built, the district plans to close down its four existing elementary schools: Shull-David, Mahoning, Franklin and East Penn.