The three scenarios for Moore Elementary School include partial renovation, full renovation and demolition and building a new school.

Financing of each of the options was outlined by Northampton Area School District financial consultant Jamie Doyle, PFM Financial Advisors LLC managing director, at the NASD board of education Aug. 12 meeting.

Whatever the choice, a tax hike would be required, Doyle indicated. Each scenario carries an initial impact of an added $990,000, or 2.40 mills, the estimated savings from closing Moore Elementary School.

If Moore continues as an education facility, whatever the scenario, the $990,000 would not be saved.

The scenarios do not include proceeds from sale of Franklin Elementary School, the Washington building and the district administration offices on Laubach Avenue, which will close with the opening of the Route 329 elementary school and education center. The new building is expected to accommodate Franklin kindergarten students, the information technology department and NASD administration offices.

For the purposes of her presentation, Doyle said the value of one mill in NASD is $1,373,493.

Scenario 1, the partial renovation of Moore Elementary School, would cost $27,432,953. The impact would be 3.15 mills, plus 2.40 mills from not closing Moore, for a total 5.55 mills.

Scenario 2, the full renovation of Moore Elementary School, would cost $53,975,006. The impact would be 4.09 mills, plus 2.40 mills from not closing Moore, for a total 6.49 mills.

Scenario 3, the demolition and replacement of Moore Elementary School, would cost $73,068,090. The impact would be 4.76 mills, plus 2.40 mills from not closing Moore, for a total 7.16 mills.

“The estimates are the same that were presented in April at the town hall meeting,” NASD Business Administrator Craig Neiman noted.

The April 4 town hall at Moore Elementary School drew an estimated 200 attendees, the majority of whom backed keeping Moore open.

After Doyle’s presentation, NASD Superintendent of Schools Joseph S. Kovalchik said the administration needs guidance from the school board concerning Moore Elementary.

“The next step is for the facilities committee to meet. We need a decision by Thanksgiving or Christmas at the latest,” Kovalchik said.

The NASD facilities committee meets 6 p.m. Aug. 19 in the Northampton Area High School library conference room. The meeting is open to the public.

The current Moore Elementary School, in the northeast corner of the 97.3-square-mile school district, is one-story with a two-story classroom wing, for a total of 97,600 square feet. The building, constructed in 1957, with additions and renovations in 1966, 1973 and 2001, is on 17.75 acres at 2835 Mountain View Drive, Moore Township.

Moore was to be closed as part of the Route 329 school project. A straw poll result of 9-0 of the previous school board at the Aug. 14, 2023, meeting, backed continuing Moore as an education facility.

Cost estimates for Moore are based on presentations given Nov. 13, 2023, and Jan. 17 by district consulting engineer D’Huy Engineering Inc.

The Route 329 elementary school and education center project is to cost $75,858,529. The Route 329 project millage impact is 1.72 mills.

Construction of the project at Route 329 and Seemsville Road in East Allen Township began November 2023. The elementary school is to open for classes in fall 2026.

Doyle’s presentation included a financing plan for continuing construction of the Route 329 project. A Series of 2025 bond issue of $31,475,408 is the second step in district financing for the Route 329 Project, Doyle said.

Doyle outlined a timetable for the bond issue: authorization to proceed, Sept. 9 NASD board meeting; parameters resolution, Oct. 14 meeting; pricing locked in, Jan. 7, 2025, meeting; and settlement of bonds, Feb. 11, 2025, meeting.

Doyle also presented a refinancing plan for Bonds Series of 2019 and 2020 that could save the district $361,500.

Chris Haller, D’Huy Engineering Inc. project engineer, gave a progress report on the Route 329 project. Steel is expected to be placed soon, he noted.

In other business, the school board voted 5-4 to adopt a resolution for censure of school board President Doug Vaughn. The resolution, put forth by school Director Kim Bretzik, said Vaughn violated Robert’s Rules of Order at the board meetings April 9 and May 8 and 13.

Before the meeting, Kovalchik had asked for a moment of silence to honor Nicholas F. Politi Jr., the NASD representative on the Northampton Community College Board of Trustees, who died Aug. 1.

“He was a quality individual, just a first-class gentleman,” Kovalchik said.