Plans for renovating Moore Elementary School are proceeding in Northampton Area School District.

The NASD Board of Education voted 8-1 at the Oct. 9 meeting to authorize $2 million of the assigned fund balance of the district’s general fund to be designated as a committed fund balance for the future renovations of Moore Elementary, effective October 2023.

School Director Kim Bretzik cast the “no” vote for authorization.

The scope of the renovations to Moore is to be determined based on a tour of the school building in Moore Township and an October meeting of the NASD building committee.

An additional Act 34 hearing will not be needed to move forward with the Moore project.

Moore Elementary School was discussed following the Oct. 9 school board meeting presentation on the proposed financing plan for the Route 329 project by Jamie Doyle, managing director, PFM Financial Advisors LLC.

On page 4 of the presentation, which is posted on the NASD website, nasdschools.org, an estimated indirect cost savings of $990,000 is estimated.

During the board meeting, school Director Doug Vaughn asked Doyle what the nearly $1 million savings is based on.

“The closing buildings and other savings,” Doyle answered.

Bretzik asked if the savings is based on the closing of the administration building, Washington building IT department, Franklin Elementary School and Moore.

Bretzik pointed out that, based on a straw poll at the Aug. 14 board meeting, when school directors voted unanimously 9-0 to keep Moore open for classroom education use, savings from the closure of Moore could not be included in the Route 329 project financing. Bretzik said renovation of Moore could add to the project cost.

Chris Haller, senior project manager at D’Huy Engineering Inc., who attended the Oct. 9 meeting, said, “We went up to [Moore] to tour the building. We’re looking to meet with the building committee at the end of the month (October).”

Haller said there are two approaches that could be taken for Moore: a minimum renovation or a major renovation.

“We want to look at what needs to be done and at a complete renovation,” Haller said.

Bids for the Route 329 project are due Oct. 26. The bids will be reviewed by the project leadership team Nov. 2.

A recommendation on bids is expected to be made to the school board Nov. 7. Consideration of the bids are expected at the Nov. 13 school board meeting.

Contracts are to be awarded Nov. 29. Site work is expected Nov. 30 through March 29, 2024. Building construction is anticipated Feb. 26, 2024, through March 16, 2026.

Bretzik questioned the cost of renovations to Moore and where the funding for it would be obtained. She previously raised concerns about the cost of keeping Moore open and proceeding with the Route 329 project.

Vaughn asked, “What would be the cost of operating Moore?”

“It’s going to depend on the transfers. We’re going to transfer staff,” NASD Superintendent of Schools Joseph S. Kovalchik said. “Hypothetically, if you have to hire 20 staff members, it would be $2 million.”

Kovalchik noted there are additional costs for busing, electricity and other items.

“It’s $100,000 for utilities annually at Moore,” NASD Business Administrator Craig Neiman said.

The NASD Route 329 elementary school and education center is estimated to cost $73.6 million.

“The school district has the ability to borrow up to $100 million,” Kovalchik said.

A presentation on the scope and timetable of Moore’s renovations is to be on the agenda of the Nov. 13 school board meeting.

During the public comment portion of the meeting Oct. 9, former school director Maggie Kemp asked, based on the plan to keep Moore Elementary School open, whether or not a new Act 34 hearing would need to be held or if the Act 34 information would need to be amended. The Act 34 public hearing for the Route 329 project was Dec. 8, 2022.

“I don’t understand how you can commit $2 million to renovate Moore Elementary when, under Act 34, you voted to close Moore Elementary,” Kemp said to school directors.

Haller said the wording of the Act 34 hearing document doesn’t require the school board to close Moore.

“The option that they looked at was closing four buildings. That doesn’t mean that the school district has to do it,” Haller said.

“You can change the plan. The school was to close, but this is not locked in,” Haller added. “Act 34 is geared toward new construction. It’s nicknamed the Taj Mahal Act.”

“There’s no requirement for a second hearing,” said NASD Solicitor Attorney Avery E. Smith, partner with King, Spry, Herman, Freund & Faul LLC.

In other business at the Oct. 9 meeting, school directors voted 8-1 to approve:

• Transfers - $3 million from the general fund to the capital reserve for future capital improvements, effective October 2023, and $2 million from the general fund to the capital reserve that occurred during the 2022-23 fiscal year

Also at the Oct. 9 meeting, school directors voted 9-0 to approve:

• Jamie Hunara, coordinator of the Community Education program, at a stipend of $3,000, effective Oct. 10, for the fall session of the 2023-24 school year; Charles Phelps, 10-month district school police officer, effective Jan. 8, 2024, to June 30, 2027, at $45,891, prorated; memorandum of understanding for services between Valley Youth House and NASD for the 2023-24 school year to provide additional counseling services at Northampton Area Middle School, Moore, George Wolf Elementary School, Lehigh Elementary School and Northampton Borough Elementary Schools at a cost not to exceed $30,000, paid for by a Title IV grant. There is no cost to the district for the additional counseling services.

The board of education will next meet 6:30 p.m. Nov. 13 in the auditorium at Northampton Area High School, 1619 Laubach Ave.