Palmerton Area School District could give the green light to a $21 million districtwide renovation project later this month.

The public was able to view the plans Tuesday, with an overview of the entire proposed facilities project, from the details of the project to the financing.Only a handful of residents attended the workshop, which included representatives from KCBA Architects, Public Financial Management, and Barry Isett & Associates on hand to review the project.The proposal calls for a $13 million junior high school expansion that would create a cafeteria and kitchen solely for the junior high.Currently, the district runs grades seven through 12 lunches in its high school cafeteria. The district's options are limited for scheduling lunches and classes.Creation of a new multiuse media center and television studio, new computer space, a new high school gym floor and a series of offices are also listed in the project.The project would install chillers and replace unit vent heaters at the high school, Towamensing Elementary School, and S.S. Palmer Elementary, and calls for safety and security improvements districtwide.A state-of-the-art multipurpose turf field would cost $2.3 million, and be located at the current football field and track site at the high school stadium. A set of visitors' bleachers would be added.Michael Kelly, an architect with KCBA Architects of Hatfield, discussed the anticipated timeline for the project, which he said would follow an "aggressive schedule."He said the design phase (building and site) would take place from August through October, with construction documents drawn and land development from November through June 2016.Contracts would be bid between July-August 2016. Construction would be from September 2016 through August 2017.The completed project would be ready by August 2017, Kelly said.Resident Thomasine Falcone said the security improvements appeared to be first-rate."I think the security upgrades are long, long overdue," Falcone said. "I think it's very impressive."Stadium improvementsThe state-of-the-art multipurpose field would be for the entire community.Director Sherry Haas noted the widespread usage of the current field."It's not just the football team," Haas said. "Our entire community uses it."Director Charles Gildner said he was impressed with the project as well."Everything in this project is needed and will serve the district well," Gildner said.Board President Tammy Recker said a motion to move forward with the project will be on the agenda for the board's next meeting at 6:30 p.m. July 21.Director Barry Scherer then weighed in on the situation."I'm not opposed to the project; it's long overdue," Scherer said. "My only concern is the financing end, the length of term."Scherer added, "I don't think in this day and age we can afford to give up a half a mill every year.""That half mill is another half mill that we would have to put on the taxpayers," he said. "I think it's more important not to have that half mill put on for that (reason)."Joe Faenza, district director of facilities, said the number of facility use requests has spiked over the past several years."This would be another huge asset to the public," Faenza said.Superintendent Scot Engler said the project could be done within the district's existing debt service of $1.6 million per year.