Less than one month after a ceremonial groundbreaking for East Allen Elementary School, Northampton Area School District Board of Education has voted to halt upcoming funding for the project.

School directors voted 5-4 at the Oct. 14 board meeting to reject a parameters resolution to authorize “the issuance of general obligation bonds, series of 2025, in the maximum amount of $37,200,000 via a competitive internet auction for the purpose of funding a capital improvement plan, including the construction and fixturing and equipping of an elementary school and education center.”

Voting against the parameters resolution were school Directors Joshua Harris, Nathan Lichtenwalner, Brian McCulloch, Kim Bretzik and board Vice President Kristin Soldridge.

Voting for the parameters resolution were school Directors Dr. Michael Baird, John Becker, Ross Makary and board President Doug Vaughn.

The parameters resolution would fund work for the next phase of the East Allen Elementary School construction project underway at Route 329 and Seemsville Road.

After the conclusion of the 4-1/4-hour school board meeting, NASD Business Administrator Craig Neiman said, when asked about the implication of the school directors’ denial of future funding for the project, “Based on the board’s action tonight, we need to look at the East Allen school project and how to pay the contractors.”

Nonpayment of contracts for work on an education facility construction project can result in exposure to lawsuits of a school district, its administration and school board members.

Funding delays and legal ramifications can add to the cost of a school construction project because of inflation, costs associated with materials already paid for by contractors, employees hired to work on the project and other previously agreed-to obligations.

The Sept. 19 dedication ceremony occurred after the Sept. 9 board meeting when school directors voted unanimously 9-0 to approve the name of the new school as East Allen Elementary School and voted 7-2, with Bretzik and McCulloch voting no, to “authorize the administration to work with PFM Financial Advisors LLC, in conjunction with the issuance of general obligation bonds, series of 2025, in the approximate amount of $31,020,000 in early calendar year 2025 for the second phase of financing the new Route 329 elementary school and education center project.”

The parameters resolution voted down at the Oct. 14 board meeting was to implement the already approved Sept. 19 school directors’ vote for issuance of the general obligation bonds, series of 2025. Based on previous district bond issuances, the internet auction would have taken place in January 2025 with the outcome available roughly in February 2025.

It is likely there is sufficient funding authorized by the school board for the first phase of construction for the East Allen Elementary School project to continue approximately through first quarter 2025.

Construction of the $75.8 million project in East Allen Township began in November 2023. Construction is to be completed in summer 2026. East Allen Elementary School is to open in the fall of 2026 for the 2026-27 academic year. In addition to the elementary school, the facility is to include the NASD information technology department and administration center.

Christopher W. Haller, project engineer, D’Huy Engineering Inc., district consulting engineer, updated the school board and public at the Oct. 14 meeting about construction progress with photographs of the Route 329 project site, including a steel beam being lowered in place, a steel-beams superstructure, gymnasium and upper levels.

In a separate but related vote at the Oct. 14 meeting, school directors voted 8-1 to not approve “the closure of Moore Elementary School upon completion of the East Allen Elementary School.”

In school directors choosing to vote yes or no on Moore Elementary, they rejected, by a 5-4 vote, “Approve keeping Moore Elementary School open as a school either to be partially renovated, fully renovated or demolish the current Moore school and build a new Moore Elementary School and provide the funds necessary to keep the school open either through additional revenue, reductions in operation costs or a property tax increase over multiple years. The specific time to begin a Moore Elementary School project will be determined by the board.”

Additionally, school directors voted 6-3 on a nonpublicly prior advertised motion by Bretzik, who was counted in attendance via her voice presence on speaker phone, to spend $20 million on a partial restoration of Moore Elementary School, to commence in summer 2025 after the 2024-25 school year concludes.

School directors voted 5-4 to reject “the transfer of $3,000,000 from the general fund to the capital reserve for future capital improvements effective October 2024” and “the commitment of $2,000,000 of fund balance for the future renovations of Moore Elementary School, effective October 2024.”

School directors voted 8-1 to approve “the issuance of general obligation bonds, series of 2025, in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $19,200,000, the proceeds of which would be used to refund all or a portion of the general obligation bonds, series of 2019 and series of 2020, provided that a net minimum savings of $361,500 (2.00% equals historic benchmark) is achieved.”

The school board facilities committee next meets 6 p.m. Oct. 21 in the library conference room at Northampton Area High School, 1619 Laubach Ave., Northampton. The meeting is open to the public.

The board of education will next meet 6:30 p.m. Nov. 11 in the auditorium at NAHS.