There was no groundhog or a shadow, but Palmerton Area School District students learned Tuesday they have one more week of summer.

Palmerton’s board of directors voted Tuesday night to delay the start of the school year by six days, pushing the first day of school to Sept. 9.

The decision comes in response to ongoing renovations at S.S. Palmer Elementary School, which have faced unexpected delays.

Interim Superintendent Ryan Kish explained the rationale behind the delay, emphasizing the importance of safety and security for students.

“We were told the front doors are delayed right now,” Kish said. “That means our inspection for the occupancy permit will also be delayed. For the safety and security of our students, this is the best path forward.”

Director Earl Paules supported the decision, despite acknowledging that it would not have been his approach in a private business setting.

“This is the right decision,” Paules said. “Even if we got the occupancy permit next Wednesday, it would have given teachers just a couple of days to set up their classroom. This won’t impact us terribly, and our teachers and staff have been working great with us on this.”

The board’s decision ensures that the end date for the school year will remain unchanged, with the last day of classes and graduation set for June 10. To accommodate the delayed start, students will lose two scheduled off days on Nov. 15 and March 14, which will now be used as instructional days. Staff Act 80 days, originally planned for November and March, will be moved to Sept. 5 and 6.

Paules also highlighted the broader goals of the renovation project, which includes transforming the front entrance of S.S. Palmer Elementary to enhance security.

“The whole reason we are doing this project is for safety,” he said. “You can’t open a school without a front door. At this time next year, this will all just be a memory.”

Palmerton approved $1.4 million in contracts in March for a project that is transforming the appearance of the building’s front entrance and enhancing security.

One month later directors awarded the electrical construction bid for the renovation project to West Side Hammer Electric of Bethlehem at a cost of $168,750, and awarded the bid for a roof replacement project to Centre Roofing & Coatings LLC of Belleville at a cost of $434,000.

Changes include relocating the school’s office suite from the second level to the ground floor. The large existing staircase that greeted visitors upon entry has been removed. Renovation plans feature a secure vestibule at the entrance and an ADA accessible ramp added to the front entrance.

Students were originally scheduled to return on Sept. 3, already a week later than normal, in order to give construction crews time to finish renovations at S.S. Palmer Elementary.

With the project nearing completion, Paules expressed optimism about the future. “The whole front of the school should be done by Friday,” he said. “It’s going to look nice. It’s going to be good for Palmerton.”