School will begin after Labor Day again in Lehighton Area School District as ongoing construction projects at the district's main campus continue to take shape.

Lehighton's school board unanimously approved the 2017-18 calendar last week with Sept. 5 listed as the starting date for students."There is still some work to be done, particularly at the middle school and this will allow for a few extra days just like last year to get things ready," Superintendent Jonathan Cleaver said. "The final phases of the middle school foyer will be completed over the summer along with some additional work in the gym and of course the auditorium."The district is wrapping up renovation projects at its middle and high schools as construction of a $33 million elementary center also progresses.A large portion of the work remaining at both schools is on the exterior.Work on dormers at the high school will also be done over the summer as to not disturb students and staff walking in and out of the building, Cleaver said. The later start date also benefits many area tourism businesses."The tourism agencies usually write us a letter every year asking us to start after Labor Day," Cleaver said. "They employ a lot of students and that holiday weekend is kind of their last big surge so they like the extra days."Renovation updateOne of the major improvements at the middle school has been a redesigned cafeteria with new equipment.Principal Dr. Mark McGalla said he was impressed at the layout and how students adapted to the change."I was really amazed at how the sound just went right up into the ceiling and was sucked up," he said. "You really couldn't hear anything even right across the hall. The students were prepared and went through the line really well."A new media center was also turned over to the district for use.As of mid-February, the elementary center construction was around a quarter complete with the building pad almost entirely finished.Foundation installation began in the receiving and kitchen area.Steel is expected to start going up in mid-to-late March."When the steel starts going up, that part of the project will proceed quickly," Cleaver said.A subcommittee meeting was planned to choose colors for everything from the gymnasium bleachers to the floor to the terrazzo.According to Cleaver, the district had 300 color selections from which to choose.The elementary center remains on target for an April 10, 2018, substantial completion date.All K-5 students would begin classes there in the 2018-19 school year.