The Act 34 public hearing on the proposed Northampton Area School District elementary school and education center on NASD’s Route 329 property will be 6:30 p.m. Nov. 10 in the cafeteria at Northampton Area Middle School, 1617 Laubach Ave.

The 54-page Act 34 hearing booklet detailing the project can be read or printed out by clicking on the link at nasdschools.org.

The booklet includes the following chapters:

III. Summary of buildings and land owned by NASD

IV. Description of the need for the project and options considered for the project

V. Project features - A: narrative description of the building project; B: NASD educational specifications; C: site plan; D: building scheduled area floor plans; PlanCon A building information

VI. Project cost data

VII. Analysis of financing alternatives and impact of the tax base

Introduction and opening remarks will be presented at the Act 34 hearing by NASD Superintendent of Schools Joseph S. Kovalchik. Kovalchik will also review the project history and need for the project.

NASD Solicitor C. Steven Miller will outline procedures for public comment at the hearing.

The project engineering firm and project architect, Arif Fazil, P.E., D’Huy Engineering Inc., and Jay Clough, AIA, KCBA Architects, respectively, will present options considered and options selected.

NASD financial consultant Jamie Doyle, PFM Financial Advisers LLC, will discuss cost analysis and budget and tax impact.

The Act 34 booklet introduction states, “The Northampton Area School District is planning and designing a new elementary school and education center located in East Allen Township on the Route 329-Seemsville Road school district property. The new elementary school will replace the Franklin Elementary School located in Northampton Borough and Moore Elementary School located in Moore Township. The new education center will replace the Washington building and the administration building. Moore Elementary School will be repurposed for community and other school district uses.”

The Act 34 booklet’s description of the need for the project and options considered for the project states, “Over the past several years, specific focus was given to Northampton Area High School, Colonel John Siegfried Elementary School, George Wolf Elementary School, Northampton Area Middle School and Lehigh Elementary School due to their age, date of last renovation and overall condition. The current focus is on addressing the four remaining buildings in the district: Moore Elementary, Franklin Elementary, the Washington building and the administration building.”

The Act 34 booklet includes general educational specifications for the Route 329 elementary school.

The Act 34 hearing will be taped and posted Nov. 11 on the NASD website.

The next board of education meeting will be 6:30 p.m. Nov. 14 in the auditorium at Northampton Area High School, 1619 Laubach Ave. The school board meeting will be taped and posted Nov. 15 on the website.