SHAMOKIN -- The classrooms inside of the Shamokin Area Junior High School would normally be filled with students by now.
But this year, the district had to push the start date back as crews finished up a multi-million dollar heating, ventilation, and cooling upgrade to the school building.
"The system was just from the '70s. All we did was you know constantly band-aid that, fix it temporarily, and every day you came to school you just didn't know what was going to happen," facility manager Dave Petrovich said.
Classes were supposed to begin on September 8. Now the start date is in question because teachers may also go on strike that day.
"September 8, Tuesday, we're hoping to be in school. I know there have been some labor issues and an unsettled contract, but we're certainly hoping that can all get worked out by next Tuesday," superintendent Jim Zack said.
A representative for the Pennsylvania State Education Association tells Newswatch 16 teachers have been working without a new contract since 2013.
Ninth grader Ashley Beach says she understands why a strike might happen, but she just wants school to start.
"The strike really isn't unnecessary. It's just that it's a little too much," Ashley Beach said.
When kids go back to school at the Shamokin Area School District there will be some dress code changes.
The change this year is being implemented at the middle school.
"Colors are unlimited for the tops with collared shirts. Pants are limited to four colors," Zack said.
Olivia Bridges and her friends aren't too excited about the new dress code.
"It's like hard because kids all like how they usually wear their stuff. They don't like dress up and find only this for like a day of school and stuff," Bridges said.
A representative for the Pennsylvania State Education Association tells Newswatch 16 if an agreement isn't reached the teachers are scheduled to strike on Tuesday.