It was a groundbreaking announcement.

In less than two weeks, and decades after the middle school was a glint in the eyes of Northampton Area School District officials, groundbreaking for the $80.7-million middle school and secondary campus improvement project is set for 4:30 p.m. April 8.

The project is shovel ready.

"The next thing to do is start digging," said NASD Superintendent Joseph Kovalchik at Monday night's meeting.

While the location for the groundbreaking ceremony has not been chosen and the names of area officials attending have not been announced, NASD school directors and officials are expected because they'll convene at 6:30 p.m. April 8 for the regular school board meeting.

"Hopefully, that first week in May is when we're going to start moving on the project," Kovalchik said.

As announced and expected, notice to proceed was given to bidders at the March 25 board meeting.

The middle school, with a capacity of up to 1,500 students in grades six, seven and eight, is to be completed June 26, 2015. The old middle school is to be demolished Aug. 19, 2015.

The three-story, high-tech equipped middle school includes a new library and cafeteria.

There will be a six-lane, two-diving-board, $3.5-million swimming pool, advocated by many district residents.

Overall cost for the middle school is about $61 million, with about $19.6 million remaining in the $80.7-million campus improvement project.

The campus project includes stormwater system improvements, separate primary electrical service to the secondary campus, new softball field, new athletic field where the middle school is now located, new field house, Al Erdosy Memorial Stadium Astro Turf football field and new track and demolition of the field house and former Bethlehem Area Vo-Tech Building.

The groundbreaking may take place in the vicinity of the vo-tech building or on former Northampton Borough Park land acquired by NASD from the borough.

Phase I of the middle school project begins after the groundbreaking and continues until June 10, conclusion of the 2012-13 school year.

Phase II begins after the close of the current school year.

In May, a second letter concerning Phase II will be sent to parents, guardians, employees and students and posted on the NASD website.

During Phase I, according to the first letter now posted on the NASD web site:

· Sections of Northampton Borough Park will be inaccessible. The construction area will be fenced for safety.

· Borough park basketball and tennis courts at Stadium Drive will be demolished.

· A new Stadium Drive, the secondary campus access street off Smith Lane which buses use, will be constructed through a portion of the park.

· The field house adjacent to the stadium closes May 3.

· The field house weight room will be relocated to the high school.

· The current Stadium Drive will continue to be used until the new Stadium Drive is completed.

· Campus and borough parking lots remain the same.

· Bus traffic patterns, entering and departing the second campus, remain the same.

· Procedures for high school and middle school student drop-off by parents remains the same.

· Use of Al Erdosy Stadium remains the same.

Also, at the March 25 meeting, Kovalchik announced that an update on the proposed 2013-14 NASD budget would be presented at the April 8 school board meeting.

Kovalchik said several factors are impacting the proposed NASD budget, including an expected 10 percent reduction in federal funding of education programs, as yet unknown education department funding in Gov. Tom Corbett's proposed Pennsylvania budget, and the health care cost impact of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

"There are a number of things that have transpired in the last few months as far as costs go," said Kovalchik.

Also, at the April 8 board meeting, Lydia Hanner, NASD director of curriculum and instruction, will make a presentation on the PSSA-Keystone tests, and Dr. Kathleen E. Ott, director of data, grants, and special programs, will make a presentation on the $650,000 Keystones to Opportunity Grant received by NASD.

"It's going to be a busy couple of months as we head into the home stretch," Kovalchik said of the remaining months of the school year.

"It's been a difficult year with the weather," Kovalchik added, noting that NASD schools and offices are closed March 29 and April 1 for spring break.