Construction of the new Northampton Area Middle School may result in a major project that won't necessarily be visible.

The Northampton Area School board and administration is considering a proposal for a new storm water sewer system in the vicinity of where the old middle school is now located.

In addition, the administration and board are considering artificial turf for the athletic field proposed for the site of the middle school after it's demolished.

The discussion about improving drainage and the athletic fields originated at the Aug. 27 board meeting during a middle school project update presented by Christopher W. Haller, project manager, D'Huy Engineering Inc.

Haller noted the Act 34 public hearing on the school project was held Aug. 16. He said written comments may be submitted until 30 days from the hearing date, which would be Sept. 17, to NASD Superintendent Joseph Kovalchik.

The project's next phase is "Design-Development" which, in Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) nomenclature, is known as PlanCon Parts D and E.

A vote on this phase is expected to be placed on the Sept. 24 school board agenda when school board members will consider it for a vote. An affirmative vote would authorize submitting the plan to the PDE for review and approval.

The next step in the middle school project is Part F, which involves requests for proposals or bids. Part F is expected to be ready by December.

Haller said that geotechnical testing has been completed at the middle school site.

Testing in the area of the Al Erdosy Memorial Stadium revealed, Haller said, that "most of that bank is fill." He described the findings as "nothing catastrophic."

Haller also discussed several alternatives for the drainage system. He recommended that a drainage system be established to redirect water from the proposed athletic fields within the new bus loop area to the school campus' upper athletic fields. This would allow artificial turf to be placed at the new field.

The cost, estimated at $121,000, would be absorbed in the project construction budget. It would cost $21,000 to design the system and $100,000 to extend the storm sewer line.

Kovalchik and some of the board members said NASD is in need of more athletic fields.

"We have 40 percent of our [grades 7-12] students participating in athletics" Kovalchik said.