NORTHAMPTON, Pa. — The Northampton Regional School Board has once again failed to approve the funding needed to continue construction of the new East Allen Elementary School and Education Center.
More than 130 residents gathered for Monday’s special board meeting regarding the funding situation.
Some feared school principals were planning to cancel construction plans, which were nearly scrapped shortly after they were first approved about a year ago.
“If you guys think that’s the intention, it’s a shame you had to waste your time tonight and come out.”
Kim Bretzik, Northampton Area School Board Director
“If everyone thinks that’s the intention, it’s unfortunate that they had to waste tonight and come out,” said school principal Kim Brezik.
Still, a majority of school trustees voted against issuing up to $37.2 million in general obligation bonds needed to finance the second phase of the project.
The funds will go toward construction, equipment and equipment for the new building at Route 329 and Seamesville Road.
Vice President Kristin Soldridge and board members Bretzik, Joshua Harris, Nathan Lichtenwollner and Brian McCulloch voted against the bond issuance.
President Doug Vaughn and directors Michael Baird, John Becker and Ross McCurry voted in favor of the bond issue.
lack of funds
Construction of the new school and administrative building, scheduled to open by the 2026-27 school year, will cost the district $75.9 million, according to financial documents posted on the Northampton Area School District’s website.
However, Northampton Area Schools Operations Administrator Craig Nieman said that if the next round of funding is not approved and deposited into the district’s account by February, the district will have no funds available to cover construction costs in the first few months of 2025. He said there would be a shortage.
“I’m not going to vote in favor of this bond until we have a full discussion.”
Kim Bretzik, Northampton Area Schools Director
Bretzik said there are certain adjustments to the financial documents that he and some of his board colleagues would like to see before approving the loan.
“I’m not going to vote in favor of this bond until we have a full discussion,” he said.
Open meetings laws prevented school trustees from discussing changes to financial statements that some trustees wanted. This is because the meeting was limited to the advertised topics and only the bond vote was listed.
Vaughn said the bond advertising and rally cost the district about $1,000.
Update financial statements
Regarding the proposed changes to the financial statements, Bretzik said he would like to remove the $990,000 savings from closing Moore Elementary School to reflect that the school “is open and will continue to be open.”
At a heated meeting earlier this month, school principals approved the continuation of Moore School after the new school is built.
“We were clear that we wanted these demands met before we approved this, so that’s where we are now. We look forward to having a more robust discussion.”
Kim Bretzik, Northampton Area School Boat Director
At the time, they asked the district administration to prepare a potential plan for a $20 million partial renovation of the 1950s-built moor.
Moore’s options for next steps will be discussed at next month’s meeting.
Brezik also asked for East Allen Elementary School’s operating and personnel costs to be included in the latest financial statements.
“We were clear that we wanted these requirements met before we approved this, so that’s where we are now,” she said.
“I would like to have a more robust discussion,” he said.
Neiman told Brezik that if the bond issue is approved at the November board meeting, the district is on track to have the needed funds by February.
Residents criticize inaction
However, some residents who attended the meeting were unhappy that the board majority delayed action on the required bond on Monday.
“The five of you on stage are wasting taxpayers’ time tonight and you are not thinking positively,” said 2014 NASD graduate Randy Zankner of Allen Township.
“The five of you on stage tonight are wasting taxpayers’ time and are not thinking positively.”
Randy Zankner, Allen Township resident and NASD 2014 graduate
“We need this funding and we need to keep moving forward,” Zankner said. “Let’s grow together and work together. You all should take responsibility and personally pay for wasted advertising dollars and resources.”
School district parent Andrew Schatz of Allen Township said principals need to stop getting caught up in “some of the shenanigans that are going on” and focus on their jobs. Ta.
“This is a school for kids to learn,” Schatz said. “Let’s keep that in mind.”
The next school board meeting will be held Nov. 11 at 6:30 p.m. in the Northampton Regional High School auditorium.
