A public presentation about the new Northampton Area Middle School will be held at 6 p.m. Dec. 6 in the Northampton Area High School auditorium.

"It's open to anyone to get an overview. And we'll be there to answer any questions," said NASD Superintendent Joseph Kovalchik.

An overview of the new building, which will accommodate grades six, seven and eight, and the improved campus will be presented. District representatives and members of the planning team are expected to attend.

Meanwhile, the $80-million middle school project continues moving forward, with school board votes to approve several key aspects at the Nov. 19 school board meeting.

"We are getting closer and closer to go out for bids," said Christopher W. Haller, project engineer, D'Huy Engineering Inc.

A vote on Plan Con Part F, which is the Pennsylvania Department of Education nomenclature for the process to review middle school design drawings and bid specifications, is expected to be on the agenda of the next school board meeting, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 3, in the administration building, 2014 Laubach Ave., Northampton.

KCBA, middle school architect, will also review the specifications. The project is expected to be reviewed next month by Borough of Northampton officials.

School directors were told that $30,000 will be saved in connection with the $5 million bond being issued for the middle school project.

Jamie Doyle, director, Public Financial Management, district financial consultants, said that UBS was the successful bidder among 11 financial services firms during a Nov. 14 Internet offering with a 2.53-percent interest rate.

"Interest rates continue to set near all-time lows," Doyle said.

The savings is because bond insurance is not being required as a result of the school district's favorable rating by Moody's credit ratings, which cited the following strengths of NASD: stable tax base, above-average income level and good cash reserve.

Doyle said that $1.1 million might be saved with the refunding of $24 million in 2003 bonds, expected to occur Jan. 9, 2013. The school board voted 8-0 at the Nov. 19 meeting to approve issuance of the bonds.

In other business at the Nov. 19 meeting, under facilities, school directors voted 8-0, with one director absent, to approve:

· KCBA fee of $20,600 to include the concession stand and restroom facilities into the alternate bid for the softball field at the new middle school campus;

· KCBA fee of $4,000 to include plans for a second sewer module for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection;

· A bid of $189,400 by CC Inc. of Bethlehem for replacement of the windows in the administration building.

· A three-year service contract of $3,300 annually with Reading Elevator Service Inc., Reading, for the elevator in the administration building.

School directors voted 7-1 to donate use of Northampton Area Middle School and Northampton Area High School cafeterias and gymnasiums for the fifth annual Dakota C. Galusha Memorial Fund basketball tournament, March 8-10, 2013.

Also at the Nov. 19 meeting, school directors heard a presentation by Nick Tornaritis, business development manager, Enernoc, whereby the school district might save money on energy costs by cutting back on electricity use during peak demand times and with improved monitoring of its electricity use.

East Penn and Nazareth school districts are among those that utilize the program. Savings of approximately $50,000 annually are possible.

The school board held an executive session before and after the Nov. 19 meeting to discuss personnel and legal matters, Kovalchik said.