A building project featuring a junior high school addition and an athletic stadium upgrade has been put out to bid in Palmerton Area School District.

According to Tim Sisock of Barry Isett and Associates, bids are due back at 2 p.m. March 28 for general construction, electrical, plumbing and heating, ventilation and air conditioning contracts.Work includes upgrading the existing athletic stadium to a synthetic turf field, adding an eight-lane synthetic track, bleachers, earthwork, utility improvements and the installation of underground detention systems.A softball field will be added adjacent to a 13,000-square-foot addition to the junior high school. The addition includes classrooms, cafeteria, kitchen, administration offices, and technology center.When the addition is complete, contractors will go to work on renovations to the existing junior high building. The upgrades include new air-conditioning systems, HVAC and electrical equipment replacements, floor and ceiling replacement and lighting improvements."We have all of the approvals from outside agencies, and right now we're waiting on the township to prepare the developer's agreement and maintenance agreement for stormwater," said Kevin Markell of Barry Isett and Associates. "When the township releases those signed plans back to the district, we can get them recorded and then the township would be able to issue building permits."Sisock told the school board during Tuesday's workshop that the goal is for work to start around May 1 on the junior high addition and softball field. Renovations to the existing junior high would begin around June 11, 2018, with both projects completed around Aug. 17, 2018.The bids include two time lines for the stadium upgrades.A fast-track scenario would see a May 1 start date and Aug. 25 completion date in time for the first home football game on Sept. 8.The longer project time line has a start date of Nov. 13, 2017, after the football season, and a completion date of July 28, 2018."We'll take a look at the numbers for both scenarios when bids come back and go from there," Sisock said.The current schedule has the board awarding contracts at its April 4 workshop session.