Palmerton Area School District will host a town hall meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the high school auditorium to discuss the findings of a recent feasibility study conducted by RLPS Architects.

The study, initiated in April 2023, provides recommendations to the school board on how to optimize building usage, improve safety, and ensure that students have access to the best possible learning environments.

“This is a significant opportunity for the district,” said Mike Savage of RLPS Architects during a presentation to the board earlier this month. “Our goal is to provide a roadmap that addresses immediate needs while giving the district the flexibility to adapt as circumstances evolve.”

One of the major proposals outlined in the study is a realignment of the district’s elementary schools.

Savage outlined one-, three- and five-year recommendations. In the first year, all kindergarten students would attend Parkside Education Center, all first through third grade students would attend Towamensing Elementary and all fourth through sixth grade students would attend S.S. Palmer. The first-year plan also calls for a secure entrance to be added to Palmerton Area High School. In year three, kindergarten students would be moved to an addition built to Towamensing and Parkside would only house district administrative offices. In year 5, high school administrative staff would be moved to an addition in the front of the building.

“This plan we proposed offers a roadmap for the future,” Savage said. “It provides flexibility, addresses immediate needs, and gives the district time to adapt as circumstances evolve.”

Other options considered but ultimately not recommended, Savage said, were keeping the current grade alignment with students attending an elementary school based on where they live, using Parkside for all kindergarten students in the district, and adding a sixth-grade wing to the junior high.

“The idea here is to get all students in the same grade levels under the same roof,” Savage said. “This will allow for a more streamlined curriculum and better professional development opportunities for teachers.”

While the realignment of grades offers potential benefits, including increased collaboration between teachers and a more cohesive learning environment, there are still many concerns to address according to board members, particularly regarding transportation.

Savage shared that RLPS has been working with George’s Transportation to run simulations of new bus routes to determine potential costs and travel times. The results of these simulations are expected to be shared at the town hall.

According to Savage, the total estimated cost for the proposed projects ranges from $13.4 million to $15.3 million, spread out over five years. The first year of implementation, which focuses on security upgrades and initial realignment, is estimated to cost between $1.26 million and $1.5 million. By year three, costs would rise to between $7.63 million and $8.62 million as new facilities are added and more significant changes are made. The final phase, focused on administrative realignment at the high school, would cost an additional $2.75 million to $3.35 million.

Attendees on Tuesday will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback on the study.

“We envision two microphones set up on each aisle for a live question-and-answer session,” interim Palmerton Superintendent Ryan Kish said. “This will give parents and community members a chance to voice their concerns and ask about specific aspects of the study.”

While the town hall is an important step in the decision-making process, Palmerton administrators said, no final decisions have been made yet.

“This is a lengthy process, and nothing happens until the board votes on the final feasibility study,” Assistant to the Superintendent Jamie Schuler said during a board meeting last week. “RLPS isn’t telling us what to do; they’re providing the board with options and recommendations based on the data they’ve gathered.”

As the district moves forward with these discussions, school officials are emphasizing the importance of community involvement.

“We want to hear from our families,” board member Kris Schaible said last week. “This is a potential major change for the district, and we need all stakeholders to be a part of the conversation.”