David Jaindl, owner of Jaindl Farms, Jaindl Land Company, and Schantz Orchards has donated an 18-acre parcel of land to Parkland School District for a new elementary building.

Located in Upper Macungie Township, the site is on the west side of Twin Ponds Road between Long Lane and Schantz Road.

At the Feb. 28 meeting, superintendent Richard Sniscak extended “deepest thanks” to David Jaindl and his family for the generous gift.

“As a Parkland Distinguished Alumnus and parent, he has been a champion for education in our region at large and we are extremely appreciative of this donation,” said Sniscak.

He invited Jaindl to offer some remarks.

David Jaindl noted three generations of his family attended Parkland schools, including his father, wife, himself, and his five children.

“On behalf of our entire family, Jackie and I are proud to make this contribution to the Parkland School District.

“It’s a nice parcel,” Jaindl said. “We’re happy to do it.”

Board members took a break in the meeting for each one to step forward and thank Jaindl for his land donation.

The board granted unanimous approval to a resolution authorizing the district to move forward with the land conveyance process.

Sniscak reported Parkland had the land appraised last September, and the value was given as $25,000 to $30,000 an acre, which amounts to a total of $450,000 to $540,000.

He noted the land, which is currently being farmed, has no buildings on it and has a “nice grade,” making it very appropriate for the school.

Public water and sanitary sewer lines run close by for connection to the site.

Sniscak explained numerous details have to be undertaken before groundbreaking a year from now.

The land will have to be surveyed, the boundaries defined, and the deed recorded.

Environmental and geotechnical studies must be conducted, and the district must make certain the parcel is suitable to build on, said the superintendent.

Parkland will have to go through the land development review process with Upper Macungie.

A new elementary school advisory committee will be set-up to gather input on the facility, its features, and community use.

Sniscak said an Act 34 hearing will be held sometime in the fall to receive comments from the public.

He related the background on the decision to construct another elementary school.

“About a year-and-a-half ago, projections for new developments in the southwestern corner of the school district predicted an additional 500 elementary students would potentially enter Parkland int he next five years.

“A redistricting effort that occurred last year is helping us buy time, but a new elementary school will be the ultimate solution to the overcrowding that is starting to occur in the southern part of our district,” Sniscak said.

Administrators and the board are already working with the KCBA architectural firm on design of the new building.

Target date for occupancy of the new school is fall 2020.

The name of the building will be determined later.