Months of discussion culminated Monday night with the Lehighton Area School District approving $25.7 million worth of work at its middle and high schools.

Both projects center on heating, ventilation and air conditioning improvements.Lehighton tabbed the McClure Company to install a four-pipe central heat pump system in the schools for $7.72 million.Because it’s an energy savings, or ESCO, project, McClure is guaranteeing the district over $80,000 per year in utility savings.It also guarantees that any change orders during the installation are not the financial responsibility of the district.In accordance with bids received in late July, Lehighton awarded the general construction contract to Lobar Inc. for $13.11 million, plumbing contract to Jay R. Reynolds for $1.05 million and electrical contract to Albarell Electric for $2.26 million.Several alternates to the project were also voted on Monday.The measures approved by the board included:• Renovations to the high school administration and guidance areas for $361,116• A new high school fitness center and wrestling room for $577,985• Middle school science casework replacement for $132,850• Middle school auditorium seating replacement for $144,000• New middle school paging, clock and phone system for $100,872• New high school paging, clock and phone system for $69,274• New middle school auditorium lighting and sound system for $175,326.“There are several alternates that we didn’t recommend as an administration because we feel we can do them at a later time through a state contract or with our own staff,” Superintendent Jonathan Cleaver said.One alternate the board did not choose Monday was a roof alteration at the high school.Lobar bid $753,000 on roof alterations.The district received a proposal Monday from roof manufacturer Tremco that includes a coating and 10-year maintenance agreement.“The only thing we wouldn’t be getting with them is the dormer removal,” Cleaver said. “They would remove our snowguard and replace it with a rail-type snow fence. It’s actually safer than what we have now. Tremco would visit the school twice per year to make sure everything is OK with the roof.”A portion of the roof above the library and the wing of the school near the detention pond are being replaced as part of Lobar’s base bid.“Those are the areas where we have had the most trouble,” Cleaver said.It will take around a month for Lehighton to review and sign all the necessary paperwork.While there may be some action at the schools before Christmas break, the majority of work will take place in 2016.“The general contractor will now go back and firm up the specifications for windows and individual items like that,” Cleaver said. “We’ll then review that with our construction manager and architect. There are a number of those types of submittals we have to look at before we really get going.”McClure said it will do some preliminary work while students are still in session, but the bulk of the HVAC system itself will be installed following the 2015-16 school year.