The Panther Valley School Board on Wednesday hired an architectural design firm that will assess its buildings and provide information the district needs to plan for the future.

KCBA Architects of Center Valley landed the contract for a feasibility study that will provide cost estimates for capital improvements, reconstruction, new construction and upgrading present facilities.

The firm was one of seven that submitted proposals, which ranged in cost from $2,500 to $58,750. KCBA’s proposal was $8,780, which was close to the amount proposed by four of the seven firms.

All of the proposals were reviewed and finalists were interviewed by a team comprised of administrators and board members who made the final recommendation to the full board.

James M. Keiffer, director of operations, and Shannon Abraham, project architect, of KCBA, spoke to the board about the firm and its services, other districts they have worked with in the region and what it can do for the Panther Valley.

“We’ve done over 400 K-through-12 projects in Pennsylvania,” Keiffer said. “And we’ve done over 50 studies like you’re going to undertake.

“We have a lot of expertise in doing studies for districts, really helping you decide and find what your issues are, and prioritizing where you should go,” he said.

The firm has more than 40 in-house professionals, which include architects, interior designers, structural engineers, code specialists, and LEED accredited professionals, Keiffer said.

KCBA also uses 3D modeling for all its projects, which helps clients visualize what a building or space will look like, he said.

The firm also wants input from all of the stakeholders in the community, as the school district is an essential part of the community. Leaders, teachers and students will be involved, Keiffer said.

“We find that buy-in really means helps develop the right project. It’s the buy-in from the people who are really going to be benefiting from the project,” he said. “So, the collaborative approach is really, we think, the cornerstone of a good project.”

Some of the projects regionally include an additional to Palmerton Junior High School and an addition to Slatington Elementary and Veterans Memorial, which is a brand-new elementary school for the Parkland School District, Keiffer said.

Superintendent David McAndrew Jr. thanked them for presenting to the board, but wanted to clarify the district is undertaking a study to look at the conditions of its buildings and explore costs for renovations.

Rumors spark quickly in the area, McAndrew said, and people may jump to the conclusion that the district wants to build new. The board has said repeatedly that it is undertaking the study to find out costs and plan for the district’s future.

Business manager Jesse Walck said last month that the study will provide a blueprint for the district moving forward.

Feasibility studies take between three to six months, Keiffer told the board, and much of it is dependent on meeting with the people they need to gather information for the study.

“You’re a three-building district,” he said. “So, to study the information should go fairly quickly. This is closer to a three-month process.”

The timeline provided has the study wrapped up in December, McAndrew said.

“That’s very realistic,” Keiffer replied.

After the meeting, McAndrew reiterated that it’s not about building a building.

“This is about seeing the shape our buildings are in,” he said. “How much longer do we have in the elementary? The building is built on stilts. The high school is very old. We’re looking at HVAC issues.

“Then, we have to determine, prioritizing, which ones we’re going to do, and if they’re too great, then we have to look at other solutions,” McAndrew said.

Ultimately, he said, it’s about what kind of learning environment they want for their students. They’re working with classrooms of 31, McAndrew said, and they have to see if they want to continue that route.

“In the end, it’s all about our students,” he said, “And making sure our students get the proper education.”