Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School is proposing an expansion project costing $22.1 million or $43.1 million, depending on the plan chosen.

The cost of the project is expected to be shared over several years by the BAVTS three sponsoring school districts: Northampton Area School District, Saucon Valley School District and Bethlehem Area School District.

“This (project) has to be approved by the end of next year,” BAVTS Executive Director Adam S. Lazarchak said at a Feb. 12 Northampton Area School District Board of Education meeting.

He noted the BAVTS project is needed to meet increased enrollment and area employment sectors demand.

“We’re overgrown,” Lazarchak said. “We had to turn away students.”

BAVTS, 3300 Chester Ave., Bethlehem, reportedly turned away 200 student applicants for the 2023-24 school year, according to Lazarchak.

The expansion would accommodate 226 to 330 new students, depending on the plan chosen.

Lazarchak presented a preview of the BAVTS proposed additions and alterations at the meeting. The 24-page PowerPoint presentation was prepared by D’Huy Engineering Inc., Bethlehem. Two plans are under consideration.

Plan A1 highlights include a commercial kitchen for the culinary department, clinic area for veterinary technician classes, a lab for mechatronics, a lab for health services and cyber security, a medical office and social media marketing space.

Plan A1 includes new construction and additional parking at BAVTS. The first-floor plan includes a new classroom for veterinary technician instruction. The second floor includes a new classroom for behavioral health. The health careers classroom would be used for cyber security, medical office and social media marketing classes.

Plan A1 would accommodate 226 new students, according to the presentation.

Plan A1 has estimated construction costs of $15,483,750; furniture and equipment, $350,000; contingency, $2,322,600; and design fees, permits and inspections, $7,847,500, for a total estimated cost of $22,141,250.

Plan A1 has annual increased expenses of $1,090,158.

Plan B, which also includes plan A1, highlights include a new lab for auto technology, a new lab for auto body, a lab for aviation mechanics and a lab for welding. The first-floor plan includes auto mechanics. The main building plan includes auto technology repurposed for aviation mechanics. The annex building includes auto collision repurposed for a new welding shop.

“Auto technology turns away students each year. There is a huge need for welding,” Lazarchak said.

He also noted aviation mechanics classes have seen a lot of growth.

Plan B has estimated construction costs of $32,018,750; furniture and equipment, $700,000; contingency, $4,802,900; and design fees, permits and inspections, $16,152,300, for a total estimated cost of $43,191,050.

Plan B has annual increased expenses of $1,575,133.

Plan B would accommodate 330 new students, according to the presentation.

“The new plan would create a safer traffic plan,” Lazarchak said. “It’s going to be a three-year project.”

As of the Feb. 12 presentation, the project timeline is project approval, required of each school district’s board, four months; design and construction documents, 12 months; bidding and negotiations, two months; contract awards and approvals, one month; construction, 18 months; and project duration, 37 months.

The presentation also included a budget timeline of annual expenses and project budget for each school district for the 2024-25, 2025-26, 2026-27, 2027-28 and 2028-29 school years.

The total BAVTS 2024-25 budget is $14,597,899. The expenditure budget net increase is 1.68%, or $241,153. The revenue budget net decrease is $194,985.

The three districts’ contribution increase to the BAVTS 2024-25 budget is 4.02%, or $436,138.