A paving project at the Panther Valley Elementary School is complete ahead of the new school year and at a big savings to taxpayers.

Superintendent David McAndrew Jr. thanked crews from Summit Hill, Coaldale and Lansford, who pitched in and helped keep the costs down.

Maintenance supervisor Scott Fisher said it’s nice how everyone from the three communities come together, plus they had about 15 summer helpers from the borough - all students in the district who pitched in.

“It looked like a PennDOT crew down there with shovels everywhere,” he said, noting the students were troopers working through the hottest week of the summer. “We kept them well hydrated, but they wanted to stay out there.”

The boroughs working together with the district allows them to save taxpayers money, McAndrew said after Panther Valley School Board’s meeting Wednesday.

The district purchased a paving machine, which is used by all three communities and kept in Summit Hill, and then, everyone comes together to help the district with a project, such as this one, he said.

Business manager Jesse Walck said the district purchased about $35,000 in materials for the project, but would have spent upward of $200,000, if it had to bid out the work.

Outdoor seating

Students at the Panther Valley Intermediate School will be able to eat lunch outside this school year.

The school board awarded a contract to Virco, an Arkansas-based school furniture manufacturer, for $52,468.70.

The company will provide the district 20 tables with umbrellas, which will be placed in the large courtyard area outside the school’s cafeteria.

McAndrew said the outdoor seating will serve as a way to reward good behavior, allowing students to go outside for lunch.

The purchase will be paid out of the district’s cafeteria funds.