Lehighton Area School District’s board of directors approved a series of capital improvement projects during a special meeting held Monday night, voting unanimously to proceed with upgrades across several district facilities.

“One of the reasons why we’re holding a special meeting … is because had we waited until late July at the normal voting meeting, we would have squandered a couple of weeks of getting these done,” Superintendent Jason Moser said of the projects.

Among the approved projects was the installation of a light at the high school flagpole to allow for proper nighttime display of the American flag in accordance with the United States Flag Code. The project, to be completed by Larry McCullion, will cost $2,165 and will be paid from capital reserve funds.

Sidewalks

Another item involved the addition of concrete sidewalks at the high school.

“It will allow easier, safer access, especially for our industrial arts students and faculty as they move things in and out of that area,” Moser noted.

The sidewalks will be 5 feet wide to accommodate snow removal equipment.

“That’s more than I would have hoped for, and that’s great,” director Duane Dellecker said of the width. The work will be completed in-house, with materials costing $1,573.18.

Kitchens and ventilation

Renovations were also approved for the Family and Consumer Science classrooms at both the high school and middle school. The high school upgrade includes replacing outdated gas stoves with electric models and installing new ventilation systems.

“The ventilation system will certainly be safer and better and more stable,” Moser said.

The high school FCS renovation will cost $26,700, with ANTZ Energy Systems receiving $22,720 and Larry McCullion & Son $3,980. At the middle school, a similar renovation was approved for $20,360.

District officials noted that the FCS program has grown in popularity, with 25 students enrolled last year in the middle school, and previously limited kitchen capacity meant not all students could cook.

“They had to resort to using air fryers,” Justin Smith, LASD building and grounds director, said. “The middle school kitchen will now be outfitted with three stoves.”

Functional upgrades

The board also approved aesthetic and functional upgrades to the middle school D-Wing, including repairs to the walls above the lockers.

Board President Joy Beers added, “This was identified by the board when they did their walk-through two or three years ago, and I’m glad to see this on the list.”

The district will purchase 17 tack board display panels at a cost of $2,550 for displaying student work and school symbols. Work will be done in-house.

Water bottle refill stations were approved for the middle school and elementary center.

“This does provide more sanitary conditions than the old water fountains,” Moser said. “We want our kids to be hydrated.”

Three Elkay ezH2O refill kits will be purchased from Amazon at a cost of $2,519.97. District staff will handle installation.

Finally, the board authorized a repair to the exterior gate at the Elementary Center. The current gateposts are unbalanced and misaligned, officials said, despite being just seven years old. The gate replacement will cost $139.24, using materials from Lowe’s and performed in-house.