The Lehigh Valley Dual Language Charter School is attempting to relocate to the current Lehigh Valley Charter School for the Arts building.

Lehigh Valley Dual Language is losing students due to overpopulation administrators said during a Bethlehem Area School District Board Curriculum Committee meeting June 8.

But their plans have been stalled, at least temporarily, until the move is reviewed more thoroughly.

Superintendent Dr. Joseph Roy said it remains unclear whether the school must follow public bidding rules regarding the renovations it hopes to make.

The charter school is hoping to renovate the 675 East Broad Street building – a cost that will be paid for by the school. The school would then receive a 50 percent rebate on its rent.

Potential building alterations include:

-Construction of additional bathrooms

-Construction of kitchen and cafeteria space

-Conversion of a current theater into a gym

-Removal of practice rooms to augment two classrooms.

Dr. Roy said the school is planning on using taxpayer dollars for a construction project that perhaps hasn't received a proper bidding process. A private building owner would undertake the renovations, so public bidding rules may not apply.

"It may be legal to the letter of the law, but in my opinion it doesn't meet the spirit of the law," he said. "These are the kinds said. "These are the kinds of deals public schools would be skewered for, but may be perfectly OK."

Both sides will be searching for clarification before a June 22 regular board meeting when the topic will be discussed again.

In other business, the Board Facilities Committee, which meets just prior to the Board Curriculum Committee, authorized the administration to purchase security camera hardware for slightly more than $122,000 for East Hills Middle School.

The cost includes three years of software maintenance and managed services from Communication Systems, Inc. of Allentown.

The cameras will not be continually monitored, but will be used in events that need to be investigated.

"It's for both property and to investigate," Dr. Roy said. "If something happens, we're aware of it, we investigate and see if video is available."