A Lehighton man said he is hoping to rally opposition to the potential construction of a new high school.

David Bradley attended a meeting of the Lehighton 9/12 Project last night and said a major decision on the project will occur during a meeting involving the Lehighton Area School Board at 7 p.m. today in the high school auditorium.He told the 9/12 Project members, during a meeting held at Penn's Peak in Jim Thorpe, that the plan is to construct a new high school and move students from the existing Middle School into the existing high school. The project, he said, has a price tag of $35 million."The build new plan has the taxpayer on the hook for $35 million, yet it only solves a $12,719,000 project," Bradley said.He said he opposes the project because taxpayers can't afford it."Most school districts have a large industry base," he said. "In this district, it is about seniors, the poverty stricken, and the working families."He added, "Basically, after $35 million is spent, not one cent goes to educating our children."Bradley said he feels the board wants to act on the matter before Jan. 1.He explained, "Starting next year, Act 25 of 2011 requires voters to vote on property tax increases after the local inflationary index except under three exceptions: if the state reduces aid for special education expenditures to school districts, school employee pension contributions, and grandfathered or electoral debt."