Three construction projects in Lehighton Area School District are progressing nicely, according to project managers.

Karl Kauffman of the Quandel Construction Group and Superintendent Jonathan Cleaver updated the school board Monday night on the status of renovations at Lehighton's middle and high schools, and the early process of constructing a new K-5 elementary center.Renovations totaling nearly $26 million at the middle and high schools targeted new heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems as well as a plethora of internal improvements."Right now there is a lot of framing going up inside for the guidance area at the middle school," Cleaver said. "There is plywood up around the cafeteria right now so the students are excited to see what that looks like. We've also added a lot of technology updates to the building including laptop charging stations in the cafeteria."The administration area will be turned back over to the district the week after Thanksgiving, Kauffman said.Teachers who are back in their permanent classrooms have settled in, Cleaver said, while temporary classrooms remain in use in the auditorium as parts of the building are under construction.Kauffman said all of the second-floor classrooms have been completed.The auditorium will be the last part of the middle school to be renovated in April or May.At the high school, the district received clearance Monday to begin using the auditorium."Our band and chorus and theater students are really happy for that as their performances are getting closer and closer," Cleaver said.Two phases of construction remain there, Kauffman said."The fitness center/wrestling room has been turned over to the district, and it's really incredible how that space turned out," he said.Adjacent to the high school, crews have started to move earth for a new elementary center that will house all the district's K-5 students starting in the fall of 2018.Cleaver said the site contractor has had a great relationship with Lehighton Borough and the early stages of the project are moving along without issue."Hopefully the asphalt companies stay open a little bit longer like last year and we can keep making progress there," he said.