The construction schedule for the Northampton Area Middle School and Secondary Campus Renovation Project has been accelerated by one month.

"I've been informed by D'Huy that the project will be accelerated," Northampton Area School District Superintendent Joseph Kovalchik announced at Monday night's NASD board of education meeting.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the new Grades 6, 7 and 8 middle school and campus project is set for 4:30 p.m. April 22 at the former Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical satellite campus building, Northampton.

The ceremony is open to the public. Parking is available on the former vo-tech lot adjacent to Northampton Borough Park.

Kovalchik said the ceremony will be about 30 minutes in length. There is a school board meeting that night, 6:30 p.m. April 22 in the administration building, 2014 Laubach Ave., Northampton

"There will be at least two or more opportunities for people to participate," Kovalchik said of the campus project, which includes new football field turf and track for Al Erdosy Memorial Stadium, a new swimming pool at the middle school, a new field house, and new athletic field once the old middle school is torn down.

Kovalchik also announced that an auction of vo-tech contents will be held during the week of April 22.

It was announced at the March 28 board meeting that construction work was expected to begin the first week in May.

Instead, two key aspects of the $80.7-million project have been moved up.

Excavation at the borough park land deeded to NASD for construction of a new Stadium Drive is to begin April 22.

Also, demolition of the vo-tech building will start in May, not June.

"I was a little shocked – in a good way," Kovalchik said of the fast-track construction schedule.

"The contractors are pushing," said Jay Clough, principal at KCBA, project architect firm, explaining that a construction day in good weather can be worth three days in inclement weather.

"It's not just the contractors. The utility companies, too. PPL is on top of it," said Christopher W. Haller, D'Huy Engineering Inc., project engineering firm.

"Thanks again to KCBA and D'Huy," Kovalchik said, adding, "Ahead of schedule and under budget."

The middle school, with a capacity of up to 1,500 students, is to be completed June 26, 2015. Demolition of the old middle school is to begin Aug. 19, 2015.

The three-story, high-tech middle school includes a new library, cafeteria and six-lane swimming pool with two diving boards.

In related business at the April 8 board meeting, school directors voted 7-0, with two absences, to approve the Pennsylvania Department of Education approval of the middle school PlanCon Part F construction documents and revised PlanCon Part C site acquisition.

Directors also voted 7-0 to approve the issuance of $20 million General Obligation Bonds Series A 2013 for a portion of the middle school project.

In a presentation before the vote, Chris Bamber, senior analyst, Public Financial Management Inc., NASD financial advisor, reported on the 11 a.m. April 8 Internet bond sale. Morgan Stanley was the successful bidder with a 3.35-percent interest rate among 24 bids by six firms.

Bamber reported that NASD saved $82,000 by not having to provide bond insurance because of the district's "very solid rating" of Double A3.

Bamber cited NASD's "financial positives and reserves."

"Interest rates remain near all-time lows, though not as low as at the end of 2012, but historically low," Bamber said. "Interest rates dropped last week because of the jobs report," he added.

With debt service, the total amount is $29,930,000, which Bamber said is about $1 million less than planned.

Funds will be available May 15 for the middle school project.

The millage impact remains 1.83 mills over five years.

"We're very happy with the results. It was a good day for the district," Bamber said.

Atty. Kevin C. Reed, King, Spry, Herman, Freund & Faul, NASD bond counsel, noted, "You did save a fair amount of money by not having to go for insurance. And that's a credit to the district."

"We're well on our way," board President David Gogel said of the project.