Palmerton Area School District will conduct interviews of three potential engineering firms at its next school board workshop, currently scheduled for Sept. 3.

Interviews will begin at 5:30 p.m., following workshops concerning policy, curriculum and buildings and grounds matters.

The district voted in June to seek proposals from interested engineering firms after voicing concerns with Barry Isett and Associates, its current engineer of record.

“The proposals were due back Tuesday and we received proposals from three firms,” Palmerton business administrator Ryan Kish said. “The proposals came from Barry Isett and Associates, EI Associates and Keystone Consulting Engineers.”

The board agreed to set aside a maximum of 30 minutes per firm to hear a short presentation and allow directors to ask any questions they may have of the representatives. Board deliberation will follow the interviews at 7 p.m.

The district has discussed several projects which could come back on the table after an engineer of record is on board.

In March, KCBA Architects presented Palmerton’s board with several options to increase security at the S.S. Palmer Elementary, highlighted by moving the administrative offices and nurse’s suite to the ground floor of the building, just off to the left inside the main entrance. With the move, visitors would be buzzed in to the main entrance, off Third Street, and be let in to a secured area.

It has also discussed music room renovations at the high school and an oil tank replacement at Towamensing Elementary.

The current tank, located below ground behind the building, is over 30 years old, and district officials said there is no way to dig to it to test its stability. The fuel is used for heating and hot water in the building.

Palmerton’s next board meeting is Sept. 17, when action on the engineer could be taken.