To the Editor:

Newspapers report the Northampton Area School District Board of Education directors have taken a nonbinding vote ahead of the Nov. 7 general election to keep Moore Elementary School open as a district school, in addition to building a new three-story elementary school on Route 329.

Unfortunately, even with closing Franklin Elementary School, which is a necessary move, the district still has excess capacity in the current four elementary schools with present enrollment and even predicted future enrollment.

Home sales in the Lehigh Valley have declined by 32.6% due to rising mortgage rates, which has put a damper on any envisioned housing building boom. There is no flood of new elementary students on the horizon for NASD.

An inflated estimate of $25 million to renovate Moore Elementary has resurfaced. Such an estimate was used to justify demolishing Moore in the past. If the new school is built and Moore is renovated, the district would be spending nearly $100 million.

In addition to building costs, a fifth elementary school would require the hiring of a full complement of teachers, administrators, counselors, cafeteria workers and custodians for the school. It would be hard to justify such expenses when enrollment does not justify five elementary schools.

Interestingly, the schedule for the new Route 329 school includes several special meetings not part of regular board meetings, including a meeting to award contracts Nov. 29, just 12 days before the new school board is set to take office Dec. 11.

Chuck Longacre

Moore Township