Realignment is on the table in Palmerton Area School District after RLPS Architects presented the board of directors with a feasibility study option Tuesday that gets all grade levels under the same roof.

Under the proposal, outlined by RLPS’ Mike Savage, all pre-kindergarten through third grade students in the district would attend Towamensing Elementary, while all students in fourth through sixth grades would attend S.S. Palmer. The proposal also calls for Parkside Education Center to house all district administrative offices, including those currently located next to the junior high school, and for a secure entrance vestibule to be added at the high school with all office staff eventually moving to an addition at the front of the building.

The proposal was outlined Tuesday night as a five-year plan to gradually implement changes over time, minimize disruption and spread out costs.

“In the first phase, a grade realignment would take place, along with the construction of a secure entry at the high school,” Savage said. “The second phase, slated for the three-year mark, would involve the addition of kindergarten classrooms at Towamensing, as well as other renovations to accommodate growing enrollment and improve learning environments. By year five, the plan calls for a full administrative suite addition at the high school, along with further enhancements to special education and small group instruction spaces.”

Other options considered, Savage said, were keeping the current grade alignment with students attending an elementary school based on where they live, using Parkside for all kindergarten students in the district, and adding a sixth-grade wing to the junior high.

“This plan we proposed offers a roadmap for the future,” Savage said. “It provides flexibility, addresses immediate needs, and gives the district time to adapt as circumstances evolve.”

Palmerton has scheduled a town hall meeting on Oct. 22 in the high school auditorium to discuss the proposal.

Cost considerations

The estimated costs of the proposed projects were a significant part of Tuesday’s discussion, with a breakdown provided for each phase. For the one-year plan, costs are expected to range between $1.26 million and $1.5 million, including security improvements and necessary mechanical, electrical, and plumbing repairs. The three-year plan comes with a higher price tag, ranging from $7.63 million to $8.62 million, while the five-year plan, focused primarily on the high school, is estimated at $2.75 million to $3.35 million.

Savage said that brings the total estimated cost to between $13.4 million and $15.3 million.

Enrollment projections and building capacities

One of the core elements of the study was the enrollment projection for the district. Savage said the study used two projection methods: one based on live birth data from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and another known as the grade progression ratio. Both methods indicated that the district’s enrollment would remain relatively flat over the next 10 years.

As of May 2024, the district’s enrollment stood at 1,609 students, with capacities for each building well above current usage. However, Savage said, the study revealed a growing need for special education spaces and smaller, flexible learning environments.

“There are scenarios right now where the district is currently pulling students into hallways for one-on-one instruction because there simply isn’t enough dedicated space,” he said.

Community survey results

Savage also presented the results of a community survey conducted over the summer, which garnered 277 responses. Key takeaways from the survey, he said, included a strong desire for improvements in curriculum, funding, and building conditions, with safety and security emerging as top priorities. The survey also highlighted the community’s preference for highlighting extracurricular programs like music, sports, and performing arts, while financial literacy and family consumer science were identified as areas for future development.

“The community’s input aligns closely with the results of our facilities assessment,” Savage noted. “They recognize which buildings need the most help and share concerns about safety and security.”

Security concerns at the high school

One of the more pressing issues discussed Tuesday was the security of the high school. Currently, visitors are buzzed into the building, but then enter open space between the gym and auditorium. The feasibility study proposed adding a secure entry vestibule that would force visitors to pass through multiple points of security before gaining access to the main building.

“This is something we definitely need and have for quite a while,” High School Principal Paula Husar said. “I don’t think you would find anyone who would tell you otherwise.”

Transportation impact

The proposed grade realignment would require more students to be bussed between different schools, Savage said.

Haas asked what the proposed plan would mean for the amount of time students would be on the bus.

“Now you’re busing kids from in town to out of town,” Haas said. “I know some of our students are on the bus for an hour now.”

To address the concerns, Savage said, architects had a discussion with Leon George of George’s Transportation.

“Mr. George is currently running new bus route simulations using specialized software to determine the potential additional costs,” Savage said. “The results of this analysis will be presented at the upcoming town hall meeting on Oct. 22.”

Haas asked Savage to include how long students will need to be on the bus during the public presentation.

“That’s going to be a concern for parents,” she said.

Board reaction

Palmerton directors showed initial support for the proposal Tuesday night, while still acknowledging it is early in the process.

“Right now I think we’re seeing a huge discrepancy across the curriculums,” board member Stacy Connell said. “We asked for this and those who responded to the survey spoke about it as well. It’s going to be a lot to digest for the community. They will have immediate responses, but it’s very important we get all stakeholders involved as this moves forward.”

Kris Schaible said getting grade levels under the same roof allows the district to “fine tune professional development at the K-3 and 4-6 levels.”

MaryJo King said while transportation is going to be a key component if grade realignment is adopted, George’s has experience with bussing kids longer distances and making it work.

“They are the contractor in Lehighton where they went from multiple elementary schools to one elementary school,” King said. “So they’ve dealt with the changes and they are accustomed to it. They have a much larger square footage as well.”

Paules, who along with Schaible has been in meetings with the architects throughout the feasibility study process, said the plan pitched Tuesday night “makes the most sense.”

“Financially, we are almost out of debt so the timing is right,” Paules said. “When you look at Palmerton versus Towamensing, it’s like we’re in two different worlds. Bringing all the teachers together at the grade levels is a big deal. I honestly think it will improve our grades. We just did the weight room and the Palmer entrance, but in my time on the board we haven’t done a whole lot for education. It is time for that now.”