Palmerton Area School District is seeking proposals for a feasibility study that will yield an analysis of future physical and programmatic needs.

The district is accepting sealed proposals until 1 p.m. March 22.

According to the request for proposals, which is located on the district website, the study scope includes a complete physical survey of all district buildings, stadium (including turf field), and athletic fields. The study will also feature capacity planning including how many students are in each building and class sizes.

“Depending upon the results of the study, the district may consider future construction projects,” the RFP states.

Board members authorized moving forward with the request for proposals in November.

“The feasibility study is really justification for our taxpayers as well,” director MaryJo King said in November. “When the board decides to work on projects in the future, we want to ensure that the community is well-informed and supportive of these initiatives. We’re not pulling them out of thin air.”

Board member Earl Paules said though the district doesn’t have to do everything recommended in the study, it allows Palmerton’s business manager to start budgeting for items that may be coming down the pike.

“If we know what might be coming, we can make a line item under the capital reserve and not touch it,” Paules said.

Palmerton’s last feasibility study was done in 2006.

Several other area districts awarded feasibility study contracts within the last year. Panther Valley hired KCBA Architects of Center Valley to do its study in August 2023 for $8,780.

Jim Thorpe, earlier this month, awarded its contract to EI Associates at a cost not to exceed $2,500.

According to the district’s timeline, board members are hoping to interview finalists at the April 2 workshop meeting. A presentation by the selected firm would take place at the April 16 voting meeting with tentative contract approval that same night.