Although it’s far from a done deal, demolition of Moore Elementary School and building a new school are under consideration for the 17.75-acre site along 2835 Mountain View Drive (Route 946), Moore Township.

The demolition of the 68-year-old building is one of three options presented and discussed at the Northampton Area School District Board of Education facilities committee meeting, held Aug. 19 in the Northampton Area High School library conference room. The facilities committee adjourned with plans to review the options outlined in depth by Christopher W. Haller, D’Huy Engineering Inc. project engineer.

Haller detailed three options, combinations of which could also be considered for Moore, in a 26-page PowerPoint presentation during the meeting, including updates and discussion about numerous repairs, improvements and projects at district buildings.

The facilities committee, by consensus, agreed to make its recommendation for Moore at its next meeting, set for 6 p.m. Sept. 16 in the NAHS library conference room.

The committee’s recommendation is expected to be presented at the board of education meeting 6:30 p.m. Oct. 14 in the NAHS auditorium. The NASD school board next meets 6:30 p.m. Sept. 9 in the NAHS auditorium.

Attending the Aug. 19 facilities meeting were committee members school Directors Josh Harris, Brian McCulloch and Ross Makary; NASD Superintendent of Schools Joseph S. Kovalchik; NASD Business Administrator Craig Neiman; NASD Director of Operations Jonathan Jenny; Haller; school Director Nathan Lichtenwalner; Moore Elementary School Principal Curt Dimmick; D’Huy Engineering President Arif Fazil; two school facilities employees; and approximately six district residents.

“The last time work was done (at Moore) was 2001, so it’s been 23 years,” Jenny said.

Moore Elementary was built in 1956.

“[Jenny] maintains the heating system all year ’round, so it doesn’t contract and leak,” Haller said. “The building is safe. I don’t want people to think the building isn’t safe.”

Moore does present safety and security challenges.

“Anyone familiar with Moore knows that the cellular (phone) coverage is not good,” Haller said. “We really don’t have a PA system in the gym and cafeteria. We really don’t have a paging system.”

“The well (water) is in fine shape,” Haller added.

“We have some concerns with the underground plumbing,” Jenny said.

Moore reportedly has recurring roof problems.

“We get a roof guy to patch it and replace it, but it gets expensive,” Jenny said.

“We recommend replacing the play area,” Haller added.

The three options for Moore are: partial renovation, estimated to cost $27,432,953; full renovation, a $53,975,006 estimate; and demolition and replacement, $73,068,090, based on an Aug. 12 presentation by NASD financial consultant Jamie Doyle, PFM Financial Advisors LLC managing director.

“If you did a new school, then you can kind of move it (the new building) back, and that will open up traffic flow,” Haller said.

Harris, McCulloch and Makary expressed concerns that renovating Moore might only buy 10 years of additional building use. They each said it might be more prudent in the long run to build a new facility.

Kovalchik said the cost of staffing Moore, whatever the status of renovation or new construction, is a district budget consideration when the Route 329 school opens in 2026.

Kovalchik pointed out housing projects in the district could place demands on schools’ classroom capacities.

NASD is currently constructing a new elementary school, IT facility and administration center at Route 329 and Seemsville Road, East Allen Township. It also opened a new Lehigh Elementary School at Blue Mountain Drive in the fall of 2021, opened a new Northampton Area Middle School in the fall of 2015, completed an NAHS expansion and renovation in 2008 and renovated and expanded Col. John Siegfried Elementary School and George Wolf Elementary School in recent years.

“The folks living in Moore Township deserve the same as everyone else,” Dr. Kathryn Mack, former Moore Elementary School principal, said at the Aug. 19 facilities meeting. “You’re better off tearing the old girl (Moore Elementary) down.”