Joseph S. Kovalchik, superintendent of schools for Northampton Area School District, has announced his retirement.

The NASD Board of Education voted 9-0 at the Nov. 11 board meeting to approve Kovalchik’s retirement, effective July 1, 2025.

Kovalchik received a standing ovation from school directors and a majority of the estimated 115 in the audience during the three-hour board meeting in the Northampton Area High School auditorium.

The board also voted 9-0 to approve the retirement of Kovalchik’s wife, Terry, a Northampton Area Middle School reading specialist, effective July 1, 2025.

Kovalchik has worked in the district for 34 years, with 15 years of those as superintendent. His wife has worked for the district for 31 years.

“I’ll continue to work as hard as I have for the last 34 years,” Kovalchik said after the meeting, concerning the remaining months of his tenure.

The school board has not announced a timetable to select Kovalchik’s successor.

“The search will have to be announced,” board President Doug Vaughn said.

Kovalchik is said to be the second-longest-serving superintendent in NASD history.

“Since its founding in 1901, NASD has had 17 superintendents. Joe is the second-longest-serving superintendent. He is only surpassed by George Eichler with 31 years,” Robert Mentzell, a retired NAHS history teacher, said.

Mentzell also added Kovalchik is the “only superintendent who is a native-born son,” adding how important his institutional knowledge is since he occupied a number of internal positions while rising to superintendent.

“He has built a solid administration to lead the district. He has always hired the best teachers. After July, you will be missed,” Mentzell said.

Kovalchik was lauded at the meeting by several board members and the public for his role as superintendent.

“People look up to him, from bottom to top,” Vaughn said of Kovalchik. “He thinks about what to do and then he does it.”

“There’s still a lot of work to do,” Kovalchik said. “The board of education and this school district have a lot of challenges. I hope and pray the school district can work it out.”

That work includes construction of East Allen Elementary School, funding for which school directors approved unanimously after twice rejecting the second portion of construction funding.

School directors voted 9-0 at the Nov. 11 meeting to approve a parameters resolution, authorizing issuance of general obligation bonds, series of 2025, for $37,200,000 in a competitive internet auction to fund a capital improvement plan, including construction, fixtures and equipping of the elementary school and education center.

School directors rejected the same parameters resolution in separate 5-4 votes at the regular monthly board meeting Oct. 14 and at a special meeting Oct. 28.

The parameters resolution was approved after a finance discussion was presented at the Nov. 11 meeting by Scott Shearer, managing director at PFM Financial Advisors LLC, which is the NASD financial adviser.

At the Oct. 28 meeting, school Director Kim Bretzik requested an updated facilities financing plan before board approval of the second round of funding for the East Allen Elementary School project. Had the parameters resolution not been approved, the Route 329 and Seemsville Road school project was expected to run out of construction funds in early 2025.

In his detailed 11-page report, Shearer summarized NASD outstanding indebtedness, estimated construction draws, proposed a new financing plan for the school project and proposed a financing plan timeline. The new total for the East Allen school project is $75,993,297. The estimated millage equivalent totals 4.76 for 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028.

The East Allen school financing timeline includes the following: parameters resolution adoption, Nov. 11; pricing of 2025 bonds and locking in interest rates, Jan. 7, 2025; and the settlement of 2025 bonds, Feb. 11, 2025.

Christopher W. Haller, project engineer for D’Huy Engineering Inc., district consulting engineer, updated the school board and public about the East Allen school project with photographs of construction progress.

Shearer’s second portion of his presentation separated Moore Elementary School scenarios, a request of school Director Joshua Harris. Scenario 1, a partial renovation of Moore Elementary School, has a project cost of $24,128,127. The estimated millage equivalent totals 0.86 for 2027, 2028 and 2029. Scenario 2, a full renovation, has a project cost of $52,778,730. The estimated millage equivalent totals 1.82 for 2027, 2028 and 2029. Scenario 3, involving a new building for Moore Elementary, has a project cost of $73,095,787. The estimated millage equivalent totals 2.54 for 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.

Haller presented a detailed work list in five options for the partial renovation of Moore Elementary.

School directors will have copies of the Moore options for review. A vote on the Moore options is expected to be on the agenda of the next board meeting, set for 6:30 p.m. Dec. 2, preceded by the school board reorganization meeting 6:15 p.m., in the NAHS auditorium, 1619 Laubach Ave.