The end of the year could look a bit different for S.S. Palmer Elementary students as Palmerton Area School District gears up for a renovation project at the downtown school.

During Tuesday night’s board meeting, administration and directors held a lengthy discussion over the possibility of students and teachers transitioning to a virtual learning process for the last few weeks of school in order to allow contractors to get a head start on work.

“While we haven’t talked about a specific date yet, we have started talks about transitioning Palmer to virtual days at the end of the year,” Superintendent Dr. Jodi Frankelli said during the meeting. “It has been our goal to make sure we are ready to start next school year on time. Part of the thinking on that is that it would be better to have students out of the building early this year than start next year late.”

Frankelli said if the district chooses to have Palmer students finish the year virtually, the earliest date that would likely happen is May 20.

“If I’m being 100% honest,” director Kris Schaible said, “I think we need to start construction early if we can and we’re going to end up starting school later because this project is a lot. I think it’s also a very valid conversation to have about what happens if we start school after Labor Day and we still don’t have occupancy for Palmer. That is a very real possibility.”

Board member Earl Paules also backed Palmer students ending this school year virtually.

“If I was the contractor, I’d want to get in there as soon as possible,” he said. “That way you know what you’re getting into right away. I feel confident. I didn’t see any look on anyone’s face that they were worried about doing this job. They are going to get in there and get it done.”

Directors approved $1.4 million in contracts last month for a project that will transform the appearance of the building’s front entrance and enhance security.

Proposed changes include relocating the school’s office suite from the second level to the ground floor. Additionally, the large existing staircase that currently greets visitors upon entry will be removed. The renovation plans feature a secure vestibule at the entrance and an ADA accessible ramp will also be added to the front entrance.

While the contract calls for substantial completion by Aug. 23, district officials said that doesn’t provide much of a window to get the building clean and have staff set up their rooms by a pre-Labor Day start of school.

A 2024-25 school calendar up for a board vote Tuesday night called for Palmerton to begin classes before Labor Day but directors unanimously rejected it. The board plans to vote on a different calendar calling for school to start after Labor Day at a future meeting.

“I think it would beneficial for us to give as much time to the project as needed,” S.S. Palmer Principal Ralph Andrews said. “Starting the year in person next year is a priority for us because starting virtually would be a huge headache for teachers and students. Gaining a couple weeks on the front side and gaining time on the backside as well is probably the best way to go.”

Andrews said the school will work to make accommodations for the events that normally take place at Palmer during the last few weeks of school.

“Things such as our moving up ceremony, we’re looking at all of that,” Andrews said. “We have a couple field trips after May 20 and the likely scenario would be that we meet at Parkside, take attendance and leave from there, but we’re just starting to really talk about all of that so we’ll have to finalize all of that.”

If Palmer students do go virtual in late May, director Brandon Mazepa said one logistical component to keep in mind is the breakfast and lunch meals they would be missing.

“Many of those students and families rely on those meals so it is one of the logistical things we need to think about,” he said. “When we make a decision like this, it is more than just the educational aspect of it that comes into play.”

Palmerton’s last scheduled day of school this year is June 4.

Palmerton, on Tuesday, approved several additional items in regards to work at S.S. Palmer.

Directors awarded the electrical construction bid for the renovation project to West Side Hammer Electric of Bethlehem at a cost of $168,750, awarded the bid for a roof replacement project to Centre Roofing & Coatings LLC of Belleville at a cost of $434,000, and accepted the proposal for structural engineering services for clocktower roof work at an estimated cost of $6,000.