NORTHAMPTON, Pa. — Northampton Area School Board approved the necessary financing to continue constructing the new East Allen Elementary School and education center after twice failing to do so.
At their Nov. 11 meeting, school directors unanimously approved the issuance of general obligation bonds of up to $37.2 million for the second phase of financing the construction project.
The project itself has a $72.8 million price tag. With interest, the buildings will ultimately cost the district nearly $76 million.
School directors had voted down the financing in two separate votes over the last month because some school directors wanted financial documents updated before approving the financing.
Some residents were concerned school directors planned to cancel the East Allen Elementary construction project, which was almost nixed shortly after it was first approved about a year ago.
But school Director Kim Bretzik previously said that was not the case.
She and some other directors wanted a line item for $990,000 in savings removed from the East Allen Elementary financial documents before approving the financing. These savings were from closing Moore Elementary School, which school directors voted against doing in October.
The financial documents were updated by last week’s school board meeting to reflect that Moore Elementary will remain open.
At the Nov. 11 meeting, school directors asked the district administration to try reducing the $3.2 million in annual indirect costs for operating five elementary schools.
These costs include items, such as staff salaries, transportation and utilities.
Superintendent Joseph Kovalchik said his administration will provide more information on these costs and how they might be reduced at the next board meeting on Dec. 2.
