One key piece to the Lehighton building puzzle remains unanswered will the district receive reimbursements from the state for the building projects?

According to Superintendent Jonathan J. Cleaver, Lehighton Area School Board authorized EI Associates architectural firm to submit updated Planning and Construction Workbook paperwork to the Pennsylvania Department of Education on Sept. 13, 2012, ahead of a moratorium that went into effect Oct. 1 of that year.This paperwork was submitted for elementary renovations, so funding might not be transferred if the school board decide to build the elementary center.The board would have to submit updated paperwork.The paperwork submitted at that time sought maximum eligible reimbursements of $1,855,600 for East Penn $3,197,900 for Franklin Elementary School; $2,177,000 for Mahoning Elementary School; $2,921,500 for Shull-David Elementary School; $7,258,300 for Lehighton Area Middle School; and $6,881,200 for Lehighton Area High School.These changes could mean a loss of $10,152,000 to the district over a 20-year period.According to school board President Gloria Bowman, the school board will vote on whether or not to seek a waiver from the commonwealth of Pennsylvania to update the state paperwork in order for the district to possibly receive full reimbursement."Since our costs remain the same, we would request the same PlanCon reimbursement," Cleaver said.