A preliminary report puts the price tag for a new elementary school, administration building and technology facility on the Northampton Area School District Seemsville Road property at $70 million.

The cost, according to the “Elementary School Options and Facility Improvements” presentation, is approximately equal to the cost of renovating or replacing Franklin Elementary School, the administration building, the Washington building and Moore Elementary School.

The report was presented by Arif Fazil, president of D’Huy Engineering Inc., and NASD Superintendent of Schools Joseph S. Kovalchik March 22 at the NASD meeting.

The NASD Board of Education previously voted 7-2 at its Feb. 8 meeting to approve an agreement with D’Huy to develop a master plan for the 92.3-acre property at Route 329 and Seemsville Road, East Allen Township, at a cost not to exceed $540,500.

“Nothing has been determined by this board of education in terms of what direction we’re going to be heading in the next couple of years,” Kovalchik said, emphasizing the elementary school and facilities presentation is preliminary.

The district capital projects study began in 2010-11.

“The first phase of this study was the middle school, which is where you’re now sitting in,” Kovalchik reported. “The second part is the Lehigh Elementary School project. The third phase of the capital project is that we have multiple buildings that have issues.”

Franklin Elementary School in the borough has 130 students. The Washington building, which houses the technology department, has 14 employees. The administration building has 33 employees.

“Those three buildings are all over 100 years of age,” Kovalchik reported. “There are issues with those buildings that are going to cost substantial amounts of money.”

Moore Elementary School was built in 1957 and needs a number of capital improvements, according to Kovalchik.

“The board is going to have to make a decision as to renovate those buildings or build anew,” he said. “If we decide to build a school, we’re four years down the road. Either way, it’s going to cost money, it’s going to take time, and it needs to be addressed.”

Kovalchik reminded the board members they can stop the project at any time.

The options and improvements report is to be posted on the NASD website, nasdschools.org.

Also at the March 22 school board meeting, the resignation of NASD Assistant Superintendent Dr. Robert J. Steckel Jr. was accepted by a unanimous 9-0 vote. Steckel begins his duties as Whitehall-Coplay School District superintendent May 3. His last day in NASD will be May 2.

“I would like to congratulate my friend, Mr. Steckel,” Kovalchik said. “He’s done a lot for the district. And he’ll do a lot for the Whitehall-Coplay School District.”

Kovalchik announced students in seventh, eighth and ninth grades will return for four-day, in-person instruction April 6.

Students in third, fourth and fifth grades returned March 23, and kindergarten and first- and second-graders returned March 9.

“We’re going to see what we can do, especially for the seniors in their last school year,” Kovalchik said. “The issue at the high school is keeping the safe distance when the face coverings come off, especially in the cafeteria and around the halls of the school.”

Doug Vaughn, one of six residents in the audience at the meeting, asked why the students are not attending school on Mondays.

“We’re going to see sometime after the Easter break (April 1, 2 and 5) if we couldn’t bring them back five days,” Kovalchik replied.

Vaughn asked about getting seniors back in school.

“We want to get our seniors back in the high school for the last month of school,” Kovalchik said.

There will be no final exams at the high school, according to Kovalchik.

“It’s a cumulative test,” Kovalchik said. “And we’re not sure how that will count.”

Kovalchik reminded parents and guardians they can opt out of PSSA tests, May 17-28, for their students in third through eighth grades.

Keystone exams are the first week in June.

“Keystones are a requirement for graduation,” Kovalchik said.

In other business, Director Dr. Michael Baird, NASD representative to and president of the Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 board, reported the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 one-shot vaccine clinic March 12 and 13 at IU-20’s Colonial Academy, Wind Gap, was a success.

“It went like clockwork. The National Guard was there,” Baird said. “We had 4,000 vaccinated that Friday. We had another 1,500 vaccinated Saturday. We’re looking at about 6,000 area school districts’ employees vaccinated who will be able to get back in school.”

The school board voted 8-1 to not adopt the Northampton Community College 2021-22 budget of $65,166,452 with the NASD portion $863,223. This is an increase of 3.3 percent.

“I think it’s time we put some brakes on these increases,” board President David Gogel said.

The board of education is next scheduled to meet 6:30 p.m. April 12 in the cafeteria of Northampton Area Middle School, 1617 Laubach Ave., Northampton. The meeting is open to the public. COVID-19 protocol, including the wearing of face masks, is required.