Palmerton Area School District will have a building survey done for its heating, ventilation and air conditioning project.

On an 8-0 measure, the school board on Tuesday approved the authorization for services from Barry Isett & Associates for a building survey for its HVAC project, at a cost not to exceed $5,000. Director Susan Debski was absent.That decision comes after the board last month on an 8-1 measure gave its consent to move forward with a $21 million renovation project, complete with a junior high cafeteria, turf field and stadium improvements.At that time, the board approved giving the go-ahead to authorize the projects and to engage Barry Isett & Associates as prime professional for design, bid phase and construction phase services.Also at that time, the board unanimously agreed to authorize administration to work with Public Financial Management as independent financial adviser in conjunction with the project.In a related matter, business manager Matt Sawarynski on Tuesday announced that the board plans to discuss financing options for the project next month.The renovation project will remodel facilities districtwide, meaning every building throughout the district will receive upgrades.It will consist of a $13 million junior high school expansion that will create a cafeteria and kitchen solely for the junior high.Currently, the district runs grades seven through 12 lunches in its high school cafeteria, which has limited options 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 other components of the project.The project will also 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 will cost $2.3 million, and be located at the current football field and track site at the high school stadium.Visitors' bleachers will be added.Security improvements are included, but Superintendent Scot Engler would not release the specifics or the cost of the improvements.Engler said the project could be done within the district's existing debt service of $1.7 million per year.Michael Kelly, an architect with KCBA Architects of Hatfield, said last month that the project will follow an aggressive schedule, with the design phase finished by October, and construction documents drawn and land development by June 2016.Contracts would be bid between July-August 2016. Construction would be from September 2016 through August 2017.