A debate over what qualifies as an executive session topic broke out during a Palmerton Area School District’s board workshop Tuesday, temporarily overshadowing updates on the district’s high school and administrative office construction projects.

Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Facilities Ryan Kish told the board the district continues working with KCBA Architects on design and land development plans for both facilities.

“Our current timeline has bids being awarded in March 2026,” Kish said.

Kish added that district representatives would attend the Lower Towamensing Township Planning Commission meeting later in the week, along with KCBA staff, to discuss the next steps in the process.

But tensions arose when board members disagreed over whether a discussion over a facilities matter Tuesday should be held privately.

“I’d like to talk about what we’re planning to discuss in executive session,” director Earl Paules said. “It doesn’t fall under executive session guidelines, so I’d like to discuss it now.”

Superintendent Angela Friebolin, however, urged caution.

“I would strongly advise the board to allow me to first present this in executive session,” she said. “This presents potential vulnerabilities to our district and campus that I feel, as does Dr. (Dan) Heaney, should be discussed privately before being opened to the public.”

The debate continued as board member Danielle Paules responded that the district’s attorney had already determined the matter could be discussed publicly. “Our attorney said this does not fall under executive session,” she said. “We’re paying him a lot of money for his legal opinion.”

Board member MaryJo King expressed frustration that most of the board had not been informed about the matter in advance.

“My concern is that I’m just learning about this right now,” King said. “I have no idea what this is concerning. It seems like maybe only two of you do. It would be nice if we could be brought on board so we can have an open discussion with the public about it as well. The other six of us are sitting here not knowing what you’re talking about.”

King said she only learned of the issue through an email that afternoon.

“Why didn’t we receive more information before this?” she asked.

As discussion intensified, Earl Paules again pushed to hold the conversation in public.

“The public has the right to know,” he said. “We’re not trying to hide anything. That’s why this is called a workshop — to discuss matters.”

The board eventually agreed to take a recess for an executive session, which included Jay Clough of KCBA and Rory Koons of the Aquashicola Volunteer Fire Department. Koons is also Lower Towamensing Township’s emergency management coordinator. When they returned, Friebolin said the closed-door discussion involved “matters that have direct access to student safety, student and building safety.”

After the meeting, Earl Paules did not divulge the executive session topic but said he intended to file a Sunshine Act violation against the district.

KCBA last presented project plans to the district in July.

The work includes a two-story addition to Palmerton Area High School and a new 11,000-square-foot district administration building. The total estimated cost — which also covered outfitting the top floor of the Parkside Education Center for classroom space — is around $14 million.

Plans for the high school addition include administrative offices, a counselor suite, a nurse’s suite and five new teaching spaces. The top floor would feature classrooms designed for flexibility, technology integration and future readiness. One room is planned for family and consumer science and would include kitchen space and classroom seating.

Clough told the board in July that safety was a major focus of the design. The high school entrance would feature three layers of security: a secure vestibule monitored by a receptionist or safety officer, an internal lobby, and a final checkpoint before visitors could access administrative offices.

The administration building would sit in the lawn area off the high school gymnasium. Like the high school addition, it would emphasize layered security, including a secure vestibule and internal checkpoints.

The single-story building would feature a multipurpose room for school board meetings, training sessions and district events. Clough said the layout is designed with “long-term use in mind,” featuring extra offices for future growth and workspaces positioned along the perimeter for maximum daylight and energy efficiency.

Exterior improvements are also planned, including a continuous sidewalk around the high school for improved pedestrian safety and a reconfigured parking layout. While some parking spaces will shift due to construction, the total number of spaces will remain similar, with a few additional spots added for staff.