For those who have been following the Northampton Area Middle School Project, the Aug. 16 Act 34 hearing was anticlimactic.

Even so, the hearing is a big step toward building a new middle school – an idea which has bounced around the district for more than 20 years – a reality.

Ground-breaking for the new middle school could take place as soon as March 2013. The school is expected to be completed for the 2015-16 school year.

"It's not just one building. We're changing the whole complexion of the campus," NASD Superintendent Joseph Kovalchik told a reporter for the Northampton Press following an interview for a TV 13 videographer.

The approximately 90-minute hearing, required by state law, sets forth the overall objectives of a middle school, including the need for it and possible alternatives to it, as well as the all-important financing of it.

Kovalchik listed reasons why Northampton Area Middle School, built in 1968 and opened in 1970, needs to be replaced.

"The [school] board is well aware that a building itself will not improve student achievement," said Kovalchik. "But in our world, everything has advanced from 1970. There is a whole host of issues why we need a new building. I could talk at length about it."

The new 270,000-square-foot middle school will have 66 classrooms and serve 1,500 students.

Middle school structure costs are put at $56,063,750, not including construction insurance. The project cost is placed at $80,720,752.

"The current facility limits what we can do in technological achievement," Kovalchik said. The new building will have "a virtual room." Students would have the opportunity to talk with astronauts at NASA.

"It [the middle school] has multiple issues, from an interior standpoint, as well as an external standpoint," Kovalchik said.

Kovalchik cited safety and security issues.

"You cannot see directly down the hallway, which can create all kinds of problems," he said.

Kovalchik said the addition of sixth grade to seventh and eighth grade at the new middle school was done "in order to advance their [students'] academic skills."

Jay Clough, principal at KCBA Architects, the middle school architecture firm, handled the major portion of the presentation, outlining the building's location and detailing the floor plan for the three-story structure.

"Even if you do not have children attending this building, the community will benefit from the building," Clough said.

The board will decide when the construction bids are opened whether to build the pool now or later, said Clough.

"Although we are building a middle school, we are reorganizing the entire campus," said Clough.

"This includes improved vehicular safety," Clough said. "We'll have no one backing in or out of Campus Lane, as happens now."

Buses will be parked on an angle at a loop road, where the middle school is now located. That area will provide approximately 190 parking spaces for after-school activities, events and sports games.

Clough said parking for parents dropping off students at the high school will be separate from that for the middle school. Both areas will be separated from the bus parking area.

A new middle school teachers' parking lot will be located at what is now the site of the vo-tech, scheduled to be demolished in summer 2013.

When classes aren't in session, the new lot will provide parking for Al Erdosy Memorial Stadium events. For those using this lot, a new ticket booth and entrance will be added at the stadium's southeast.

Clough noted that NASD purchased the 3.5-acre former Bethlehem Area Vo-Tech satellite campus, and 2.5 acres from the Borough of Northampton as the basis not only for the new middle school, but also for new parking lots, revamped streets and other improvements to the Northampton Area High School campus.

"We are working on a very steep site, which works to our advantage," said Clough. "It will allow us to exit to grade from any story [of the new middle school]."

The project includes a new sports team field house.

"It's more economical to build a field house than renovate it," said Clough. The field house may be demolished in Fall 2013.

The new gymnasium will have 1,500 seats.

Eighth-grade students will be on the third floor, seventh-grade students will be on the second floor and sixth-grade students will be on the first floor of the new middle school.

Each wing of the middle school will be self-sufficient and have its own mechanical system for heating, ventilation and air conditioning.

At the center of the building will be an outdoor classroom with an amphitheater for music performances.

The middle school's main entrance will be on the second floor. Administrative offices will be at the entrance, near a secure vestibule. Visitors will be buzzed in.

Because of the building's hallway design, only two hall monitors would be needed per floor.

"The building's meant to be secure, efficient and economical," said Clough.

"When the middle school is complete, we will demolish [the old] middle school," Clough said. Demolition could take place in fall 2015.

The new bus loop would probably be constructed in 2016. The sports field is expected to be constructed in 2016-17

Concerning funding of the middle school project, Christopher Bamber of Public Financial Management Inc, NASD financial consultant, outlined how the school, plus associated development would be paid for.

A general obligation bond is the "most efficient route," Bamber said, noting that five bond issues will fund the middle school project.

"By breaking it up into smaller pieces, you save on your financing costs," Bamber said.

The millage impact for each of the five bonds is: 0.18, 0.20, 0.41, 0.47, 0.73 and 0.39, for a total of 2.38 mills.

Christopher Haller, project manager, D'Huy Engineering Inc., NASD engineering consultant, also discussed the project.

During the public comment portion, several residents spoke, as did union representatives, who urged the NASD administration to ensure union labor is used for the project.

Robert Mentzell, a 36-year NASD teacher, urged the district to include a swimming pool. He also asked that sufficient trophy cases be included to display student sports team accomplishments. He advocated for concrete-block walls.

Mentzell said the administration should learn from the high school renovation and addition project.

"There needs to be more rigorous review of subcontractors," Mentzell said.

He suggested that the district's vo-tech students could help with landscaping.

Dennis Liberto, NAHS Class of '95, said, "This is a great plan and a much-needed plan." He asked that union workers be employed.

Ray Reeder, a union ironworker, and James Youwakim, both of whom also live in the district and have had or have students in school, also advocated for union workers for the middle school project.

Also attending was Joseph Colucci, business manager, Local No. 36, International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Ironworkers.

Chuck Longacre, of Moore Township, said, "I'd like to commend the administration and staff for what they've done in the past few years [on the middle school project].

"There's been thousands of hours of research done to get to where we are today," said Longacre, adding, "I don't think this district can afford to be without a [swimming] pool. It should not be an option."

Wayne Mery, of Lehigh Township, also asked the school board to include a new swimming pool.

Act 34 came about in 1973 when the Pennsylvania Legislature amended the State School Code. The school board voted at its July 23 meeting to authorize the Act 34 hearing.

Written comments will be taken up to 30 days after the Aug. 16 hearing.

They must be submitted no later than 4 p.m. Sept. 21 to Kovalchik at the administration building, 2014 Laubach Ave., Northampton.