When students returned to the Parkside Education Center in Palmerton this morning, they found several changes waiting for them on the third floor.

Superintendent Angela Friebolin said the school district spent the summer reconfiguring the space to create new learning environments and eliminate the need for instruction to take place in hallways.

“With the relocation of the district administrative team to a temporary rental property, we were able to repurpose the former board room into two large classrooms,” she said.

Parkside houses kindergarten and first grade classes in the district. In addition to the classrooms, Friebolin said the district made space for science and technology education.

“Removing several walls in another location on the third floor allowed us to create a large space for STEM instruction,” she said. “Multiple small-group instructional spaces were also gained in this process.”

Teachers and instructional assistants who were previously working in hallways now have designated rooms, something Friebolin called a benefit for both staff and students.

“Relocating the administrative team allows us to have a true secure environment for our students,” she said.

The move also had a ripple effect across the district. According to Friebolin, the reorganization at Parkside created additional space at S.S. Palmer Elementary for student use.

The administrative team officially vacated Parkside in early June, moving into rental space at 3295 Forest Inn Road. The district entered into a two-year lease for the property at $3,800 per month.

The long-term plan, however, is to bring administration back onto school grounds. Palmerton is proposing a new district office building to be constructed off the west side of the high school gymnasium. That project has not yet gone out for bid.