NORTHAMPTON, Pa. — In a 5-4 vote at a special meeting Monday, the newly-formed Northampton Area Board of Education decided to honor contracts and bonds for a new $75.8 million school approved by the previous board.
During a Nov. 13 meeting, before new members took office, the board approved the new elementary school project at Route 329 and Seemsville Road in East Allen Township.
The board on Dec. 4 voted 6-3 to approve a parameters resolution for $41.2 million in an internet auction for the new elementary school.
Three new members who won election to the board in November joined the board at that time. Republican Kristin Soldridge won in Region I, which represent the Allen and Lehigh Townships. Republicans Joshua Harris and Brian McCulloch, who cross-filed, won from Region III.
Board Vice President Soldridge called for the special meeting on the Route 329 construction project at the Dec. 4 meeting to reconsider the project.
On Monday night, Harris, McCullough, Soldridge and Director Kim Bretzik voted to terminate the contracts.
Harris, McCullough and Bretzik represent Bath, Chapman and Moore Township. Directors Michael Baird, John Becker, Chuck Frantz, Doug Vaughn and Ross Makary voted to continue the project.
The cost of cancelation
On Monday, Arif Fazil, president of D'Huy Engineering, the district's architect for the new elementary school, gave a presentation that showed the more than $9.5 million it would have cost the district to terminate the construction project had the board of education voted that way.
"The problem is the project is in progress and cost factors have to be considered for work that is in progress that will have to be terminated or work that is completed already that has to be paid for," Fazil said.
"And then, as I said, restoration work to keep the site safe."
Fazil told school board directors that about $3.5 million in work had already been completed and the district likely would owe $6 million more in order cancellations, site restoration and supplies likely already purchased by the contractors.
The board took public comment for an hour about the issue.
Former school board director Cory Fenstermacher said he opposed the elementary school project.
"There's two quotes I'm going to leave you with," he said. "One of them is from my father: 'Figures never lie. Liars always figure.'"
For some of the new board directors, they said the issue is about keeping Moore Elementary School open, which could cost at least $23.3 million to renovate. The board has not made a final decision on the facility.
The school district has said Franklin, Moore, Siegfried and an administrative center need improvements.
Pleased to move forward
Director McCullough said he had to represent his constituents.
"I have an obligation to represent the people that elected me and the bulk of the people that I spoke with in Moore township, they don't support that school and they want Moore to remain open."
I have an obligation to represent the people that elected me and the bulk of the people that I spoke with in Moore TWP, they don't support to that school and they want Moore to remain open."School Board Director Brian McCullough
He said he expected the results of Monday night's vote.
"I'm not surprised, frankly," McCullough said. " I kind of expected that to happen."
Fazil said that with the opening of the new elementary school, students from the Franklin School will be redistricted between the Siegfried school and the Franklin school.
He said that with the new elementary school, Franklin will be closed.
NASD Superintendent Joseph Kovalchik said the administration is pleased to move forward with a set plan.
"I just think that the administration can move forward with our planning," Kovalchik said. "And the board finally made that decision after many years of discussion."
