NORTHAMPTON, Pa. — Northampton Area School Board failed once again to approve the financing needed to continue construction of the new East Allen Elementary School and education center.
A Monday special board meeting on the funding situation brought out a crowd of more than 130 residents.
Some were concerned school directors planned to cancel the construction project, which almost was nixed shortly after it first was approved about a year ago.
“If everyone thinks that that’s the intent, I’m sorry that you had to waste your evening tonight to come out."Northampton Area School Board Director Kim Bretzik
“If everyone thinks that that’s the intent, I’m sorry that you had to waste your evening tonight to come out,” school Director Kim Bretzik said.
Still, the majority of school directors voted against issuing the general obligation bonds of up to $37.2 million needed for the second phase of financing the project.
The funds would cover the construction, fixturing and equipping of the new buildings at Route 329 and Seemsville Road.
Board Vice President Kristin Soldrige, as well as directors Bretzik, Joshua Harris, Nathan Lichtenwalner and Brian McCulloch voted against issuing the bonds.
Board President Doug Vaughn, with directors Michael Baird, John Becker and Ross Makary, voted in favor of issuing the bonds.
Running out of funds
The new school and administration building, slated to open by the 2026-27 school year, would cost the district $75.9 million, according to financial documents posted on the Northampton Area School District website.
But the district would run out of funds in the first few months of 2025 to cover the costs of construction if the next round of financing isn’t approved and deposited into the district account by February, Northampton Area Schools Business Administrator Craig Neiman said.
"We’re not going to give the yes vote on this bond until we can have the full discussion."Kim Bretzik, Northampton Area School Director
Bretzik said there are certain adjustments to the financial documents she and some board colleagues want to see before approving the financing.
“We’re not going to give the yes vote on this bond until we can have the full discussion,” she said.
Because of public meetings laws, school directors couldn’t discuss changes to the financial documents that some directors wanted because the meeting was limited to the advertised agenda, which only listed the bond vote.
Vaughn said advertising for the bonds and meeting cost the district about $1,000.
Updating financial documents
As for proposed changes to the financial documents, Bretzik said she wants to see the line item for $990,000 in savings from closing Moore Elementary removed to reflect the school is “open and will remain open.”
In a heated meeting earlier this month, school directors approved keeping Moore open even after the new school is built.
“We were clear that we wanted these requests to be fulfilled before we gave the approval for this so that’s just about where we’re at. We are willing to have a more robust discussion.”Northampton Area School Boatd Director Kim Bretzik
At the time, they asked the district administration to prepare potential plans for partially renovating Moore — built in the 1950s — at a cost of $20 million.
Options for next steps at Moore will be discussed at next month’s meeting.
Bretzik also asked that the operations and staffing costs for East Allen Elementary be included in the updated financial documents.
“We were clear that we wanted these requests to be fulfilled before we gave the approval for this so that’s just about where we’re at,” she said.
“We are willing to have a more robust discussion.”
Nieman told Bretzik the district still would be on track to get the needed funds by February if the issuance of the bonds is approved at the November board meeting.
Residents criticize inaction
But some residents at the meeting were unhappy the majority of the board delayed acting on the necessary bonds Monday.
“You five up there on stage are wasting taxpayers' time tonight and are not thinking in a forward-looking manner,” said Randy Czankner of Allen Township, a 2014 NASD graduate.
"You five up there on stage are wasting taxpayers' time tonight and are not thinking in a forward looking manner."Randy Czankner, Allen Township Resident and NASD 2014 graduate
“We need this funding and we need to continue moving forward,” Czankner said. “Grow up and work together. You all should be held accountable and pay personally for the advertisement money and resources wasted.”
Andrew Schatz of Allen Township, a district parent, said school directors need to stop getting caught up in “some of the shenanigans going on” and focus on their jobs.
“This is for a school for children to learn,” Schatz said. “Let’s keep that in perspective.”
The next school board meeting is 6:30 p.m. Nov. 11 in Northampton Area High School’s auditorium.
