First came the decision to proceed with a proposal for a new elementary center.

Then came the approval to move forward with the sports stadium.As a result, Lehighton Area School District finds itself caught in the cross hairs of the public's perception.On one side are those who support the projects wholeheartedly.And on the other are those who are against one or both concepts.Even the board of school directors have found themselves at odds from a philosophical standpoint.As a taxpayer in the district, as well as a graduate of LAHS, I can see both sides.Clearly, the district sees it as an opportunity to provide the best facilities it can for the students.However, any time money of such significance is involved, it's bound to cause a stir among taxpayers.After all, building projects of such magnitude do not come with a cheap price tag.Last month, the board agreed to proceed with the design bid for its proposed elementary center.The new 140,000-square-foot K-2 primary and 3-5 elementary center would replace four aging facilities.The board agreed to accept the $2 million grant from the Department of Community and Economic Development through the state's Alternate and Clean Energy Program, to be used for energy savings at the proposed center.In addition, new low-flow water fixtures will save the district 30 percent of the annual water usage at the building.Construction of a new elementary center would place students in grades K-5 in one building and close each of the district's four existing elementary schools.The district has been faced with a decision to either renovate its four elementary school buildings, all built in the 1950s, or replace them with a new elementary center.District officials say costs for either scenario are projected to be about the same at about $32.5 million.In early April, the board voted to move fifth-grade students back to the elementary level. Students in kindergarten through fifth grade will attend the elementary schools or proposed elementary center. Students in grades six through eight will attend the middle school; and the high school will still serve students in grades nine through 12.In addition, the district is looking at $10.7 million to renovate the middle school, along with $9.3 million to renovate the high school. That brings the total projected building costs throughout the school district to $52.5 million.Several weeks ago, the district received permission to move forward with a proposed $5 million sports stadium, which would be built between the high school and the administration office, near the existing field hockey and track site.The new stadium could take two to three years to complete and would replace the current football stadium at Beaver Run Road and Mahoning Street in Lehighton, which was constructed in 1939-40. The current stadium would remain.In November, the school board approved Barry Isett & Associates Inc. to complete designs for the proposed stadium at an estimated cost of $358,000. The building cost was estimated to be between $4.9 million and $5.6 million.Ultimately, there are always two sides to every argument.What's important is to find a common ground, and let the chips fall where they may.