The public comment portion of Lehighton Area School District board meetings often includes opposition to construction of a new K-5 elementary center near the high school.

A segment of taxpayers have expressed their desire to see the board vote to repair four existing elementary schools in lieu of bringing students under one roof.As with any divisive issue, comments are sometimes heated, but this week two residents questioned how behavior at the board meetings, and on social media, are affecting students.Mike Lusch, a lifelong resident of Mahoning Township and 18-year teacher in Lehighton School District, said no matter where one stands on the elementary center, or other building projects, adults are supposed to be role models for students, something he doesn't always see happening."You can have a difference of opinion on something and still respect one another and treat others with dignity and respect," Lusch said during the most recent board meeting."We should not let emotions dictate how we act. We're role models. Let's show everyone in the community we can act in a way that is appropriate."Neither Lusch nor former school board President David Krause,who spoke later, referenced aspecific incident or social media comment.Like Lusch, Krause said everyone has a right to be heard, but it can be done with the proper decorum."Bullying sends the wrong message to our children," Krause said, "especially when we have so many anti-bullying programs to combat that type of behavior."Krause said he does support the elementary center moving forward, a process, which he said has been seven or eight years in the making."I feel it's an opportunity to provide students with a facility that will enhance education and safety," he said. "Of course, you have to do that with due diligence on your spending."District officials project the cost of the elementary center to be a maximum of $35 million, according to paperwork submitted to the state for the Act 34 process. Taxpayers opposing the project feel that is on the low side.Earlier in Monday's meeting, Frank Tamburri again asked the board to consider putting the elementary center issue up for a voter referendum."If the community would vote and say they want it, I'd be right behind it," he said. "If it was clean and cut and dry, let people vote. I'm not against the project, I'm against deception to the community."Superintendent Jonathan Cleaver said he hopes the district will be able to give a presentation in April regarding the cost estimate with alternates for the elementary center.In the meantime, Lusch just wants to see respectful comments, no matter someone's stance on the school."Let's treat each other like human beings," he said. "If we had a student that acted the way some people do in the audience, there would be repercussions."