A recently released agenda for Monday night’s Lehighton Area School District Board meeting includes the “recommended action” of accepting an invitation to the Colonial League on a full-time basis beginning in the fall of 2024.

The decision whether or not to depart the Schuylkill League will come during the voting session set to begin at 7 p.m. at the district administration building.

Lehighton discussed the Colonial League’s invitation, which was also sent to Jim Thorpe in December, at a board workshop earlier this month.

“I think one of the main things to consider when you are making the comparison is that our field hockey, tennis and competitive cheerleading teams would be able to compete for league championships in the Colonial League when they can’t right now because the Schuylkill League doesn’t offer that,” Lehighton athletic director Kyle Spotts said. “Those things matter and they’re very important to our student athletes.”

Lehighton and Jim Thorpe made a bid to join the Colonial League in 1997, but the league voted against expansion at that time.

Now, Colonial League president and Northern Lehigh athletic director Bryan Geist said last month, the time may be right.

“We feel like both Lehighton and Jim Thorpe fit our league because of their size (school enrollment); their geography (being close to Palmerton, Northern Lehigh, and Northwestern Lehigh); and their facilities - which match facilities found in the Colonial League,” explained Geist.

According to Lehighton’s agenda, joining the Colonial League would cost the district $5,700 per year in dues. While that is more than the $1,100 charged in the Schuylkill, there other factors to consider, Spotts said.

“Our league dues in the Colonial League would cover our Schedule Star subscription, which we currently pay $3,000 out of our pocket for,” he said. “Also, if more schools enter the Colonial League, those league dues would come down.”

Currently, Lehighton and Jim Thorpe are part of Division 1 in the Schuylkill League along with Panther Valley, Tamaqua, Blue Mountain, North Schuylkill, Pine Grove and Pottsville.

Taking all schools into account, not just divisional foes, the average Schuylkill League trip for Lehighton is 30.48 miles versus 29.72 in the Colonial, while the average cost for bus transportation to an event in the Schuylkill League would be $240,50 versus $230.92 in the Colonial.

Jim Thorpe officials said they will discuss the Colonial League’s invitation in February.

Rich Strack contributed to this story.