The Lehigh Elementary School project is on track for groundbreaking in spring 2019.

Henry Guarriello, senior project manager at D’Huy Engineering, Bethlehem, outlined the school project timetable at the Northampton Area School District Board of Education meeting Dec. 17.

“We are on target,” Guarriello said.

School directors voted unanimously 9-0 at the Dec. 17 meeting to approve, at the recommendation of the administration, two aspects of the Lehigh project: PlanCon Part D, project accounting, based on estimates, and to submit PlanCon Part D to the Pennsylvania Department of Education for approval; and PlanCon Part E, design development and to submit PlanCon Part E to the Pennsylvania Department of Education for approval.

“When is groundbreaking expected?” school Director Chuck Longacre asked about the Lehigh project.

“We expect to start in April or May when the ground thaws out,” Guarriello replied.

The preliminary final land development plan for the project was recommended for conditional approval at the Dec. 10 meeting of Lehigh Township Planning Commission. The plan will be considered at either the 6:30 p.m. Jan. 8, 2019, or Jan. 22, 2019, meeting of Lehigh Township Board of Supervisors.

Drawings for firms planning to bid on the school project will be available Feb. 1, 2019. A pre-bid meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. Feb. 12, 2019, at Lehigh Elementary School. Bids are to be opened March 12, 2019. Information for prospective bidders is available on the website of the Lehigh school project architects, kcba-architects.com.

Guarriello credited Terry DeGroot, of Terraform, Bethlehem, for keeping the timetable on track. Terraform is the civil engineering firm for the school project.

Lehigh Township planners gave conditional approval to the school project pending receipt of a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, which was received, Guarriello said. The federal Environmental Protection Agency authorizes the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources to permit, administer and enforce the NPDES permit program, created in 1972 by the Clean Water Act.

A highway occupancy permit from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is also necessary for a new driveway that will be built on the school campus to Blue Mountain Drive. Guarriello said he expects a reply from PennDOT by Dec. 21.

“We hope it’s an approval. It might be asking for more information,” Guarriello said.

Lehigh Township planners also require a letter from Lehigh Township Water Authority, stating the school site cannot be provided water service.

“We’re too far away, and the water pressure is too low to service the site,” Guarriello said to school directors.

The school site will continue to be served by well water. The site’s septic system will continue to be in service.

“Getting the permits in place is a godsend based on my experience on the Moore Township Planning Commission,” school board President David Gogel said.

“I appreciate the township’s cooperation and the teamwork from the administrative team working together to come to a final approval in January,” said Joseph S. Kovalchik, NASD superintendent of schools. “The construction of the new school will have a lasting impact for years to come.”

Dr. Michael Baird reminded fellow school directors about the filing deadline for the May 21, 2019, primary ballot. The first day to circulate and file nomination petitions is Feb. 19, 2019. The last day to circulate and file nomination petitions is March 12, 2019. The first day to circulate and file nomination papers is March 13, 2019.

Directors John Becker, Robert Mentzell and Gogel all reported they would be running for re-election.

Director James Chuss said, “Probably not,” and Baird said he is undecided.

Each of their terms expire in 2019.

“You know what my slogan is? Twenty (years) and out,’” Gogel said.

He is currently in his 16th year on the board.

Kovalchik announced he and NASD Business Administrator Terry A. Leh will preview the 2019-20 school district budget at the next school board meeting, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 14, 2019, in the administration building, 2014 Laubach Ave., Northampton.

Also, at the Jan. 14, 2019, board meeting, Jamie Doyle, managing director at PFM Financial Advisers LLC, district financial consulting firm, will report on the Jan. 14, 2019, Internet auction of general obligation bonds, series of 2019, for $9,995,000 to fund a portion of the Lehigh project.