While constructing a new elementary school and administration building-technology center at Route 329 and Seemsville Road has apparently gotten the green light in East Allen Township, the project is not guaranteed.

In response to a question from a former school board official at the meeting Nov. 8, Northampton Area School District Superintendent of Schools Joseph S. Kovalchik said the decision to proceed remains with the board of education.

Former NASD school director Maggie Kemp again spoke against the Seemsville school project, citing student safety concerns because of its proximity to warehouses.

“We are going to be inundated with tractor-trailers in this area,” Kemp said.

The proposed $70 million educational facility is on the 92.32-acre district-owned Seemsville tract. D’Huy Engineering Inc. was hired Feb. 2 by the school board to develop a master plan at a cost not to exceed $540,500.

A new elementary school, administration building and other facilities would be built and Moore Elementary School, Franklin Elementary School, Washington building (technology department), administration building and maintenance building would be closed, as recommended in the Northampton Area School District Elementary School Options and Facility Improvements report presented at the March 22 board meeting.

“The board in the coming months is going to make a decision to renovate existing buildings, to build a new facility or to do nothing,” Kovalchik said after the meeting.

The Seemsville project was approved 4-0 with conditions at an East Allen Township Board of Supervisors meeting.

“Nothing has been determined about that project,” Kovalchik said to Kemp. “Just because East Allen said we can do it doesn’t mean we will.”

Kovalchik said the decision to proceed remains with the board of education.

The meeting was again dominated, during the 30-minute public comment portion, by questions concerning the district face mask requirement.

Shouting erupted briefly in the Northampton Area High School auditorium from a few of the estimated 40 in the audience in response to comments by school board President David Gogel and school Director James Chuss.

Steve Lynch, a candidate who lost the race for Northampton County executive in the Nov. 2 municipal election, was escorted from the auditorium by NASD police and security personnel after he refused to wear a face mask when asked to do so while at the podium.

During his political campaign, Lynch called for “20 strong men” to remove school board members. Approximately 10 audience members, some of whom wore red T-shirts with the words “Stand For Freedom,” stood up in an apparent show of support when Lynch and some others spoke.

On a separate topic, there were anecdotal comments by a parent and a student who alleged incidents of fighting and bullying between students at Northampton Area High School and Northampton Area Middle School during the fall 2021-22 school term.

Another parent complained about alleged mistreatment of her student by an NASD staffer.

The comments by parents and students are of a confidential nature and might violate the privacy of students, parents and NASD staff if recounted in a news article.

Kovalchik said he is meeting with the parents concerning the several separate matters.

Meanwhile, the school board voted 9-0 unanimously to approve the promotion of an NASD police department officer and the hiring of a new police officer. This brings the personnel to three in the district police department, which includes police Chief Will Williams.

Michael Renner was hired as a 12-month police officer, Dec. 14 through June 30, 2024, at a prorated salary of $57,500. He has been on the NASD police force for three years and an NASD employee for five years, previously as a hall monitor for two years.

Peter McAfee was hired as a 10-month police officer, effective from Dec. 14 through June 30, 2024, as a prorated salary of $42,000.

Concerning the atmosphere in district schools, Kovalchik said, “The real concern, other than COVID, is the learning loss and the socialization.

“It’s a problem, and it’s not going to be solved in a week. It’s going to take some time,” Kovalchik said.

Applause greeted the conclusion of his remarks.

School Director Roy Maranki congratulated Doug Vaughn on his election win.

“I’d like to congratulate Mr. Vaughn. I know you’ll be here for the students. I wish you all the best,” Maranki said.

Gogel congratulated the Konkrete Kids varsity football team for its postseason 11-0 record, believed to be the best in the team’s history since the 1920s.

The NASD website COVID-19 data dashboard seven-day building totals, Nov. 3-9, as of Nov. 9, are: NAHS, 3; NAMS, 6; Borough Elementary Schools, 0; Moore Elementary School, 1; Lehigh Elementary School, 5; George Wolf Elementary School, 3; district administration building, 0.

The board of education next meets 6:30 p.m. Nov. 22 in the auditorium of NAHS, 1619 Laubach Ave., Northampton. Face masks are required, personal items will be checked at the entrance, and attendees will walk through a metal detector in the school lobby.