• 132 teachers

• 1,866 students• Buildings are Parkside Education Center (K-1); S.S. Palmer Elementary School (2-6); Towamensing Elementary (K-6); Palmerton Area Junior High School (7-8); Palmerton Area High School (9-12)Palmerton Area School District Superintendent Scot Engler discussed the upcoming year.Changes and updatesThree of the four buildings in Palmerton Area School District will have air conditioning to begin the year after the climate control improvements at S.S. Palmer and Towamensing elementary schools.“We’re just tweaking and balancing the systems at Palmer and Towamensing getting that ready to go,” Engler said. “The junior high air conditioning will be the last to be completed as part of that building’s renovation project.”The construction of the junior high school addition continues, which will include a cafeteria specifically for junior high students.“Of all the projects, this is the one we’re probably most excited for because it will allow us to free up secondary schedules,” Engler said. “Right now, we are running six grade levels of lunches through our high school cafeteria starting at 10:17 a.m. and ending after 1 p.m. Being able to separate the lunches will allow us to strengthen our programming and offerings through a more efficient utilization of the school day.”The Carbon and Schuylkill SHINE Afterschool Program will be expanding in Palmerton Area School District, as soon as state funding is available.A program will be added in S.S. Palmer Elementary for first through either fourth of fifth grade.Founded in Carbon and Schuylkill counties, SHINE emphasizes Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.SHINE debuted locally at Parkside Education Center last year from 3-6 p.m. on Monday through Thursday starting in mid-September.It serviced 25 students and Engler is hopeful an additional 25 students can benefit this year.Biggest challengesOperating the district during the multitude of campus improvements taking place this year.“With the construction on the junior high addition, we have a lost a considerable amount of parking,” Engler said. “The district has made some changes to accommodate that. For example, only seniors will be allowed parking spaces this year.”— Jarrad Hedes