Parkland School District will be searching for bog turtles and web-footed toads in a wetland area near the location of the proposed new elementary school in Upper Macungie Township.

At the June 20 meeting, Superintendent Richard Sniscak explained the need for a fauna study at the site.

“Because road widening at Schantz Road will infringe on wetlands, we need to look for the bog turtles and web-footed toads,” Sniscak said. “If these are discovered, we have to construct a new habitat for them somewhere else.”

The board authorized $15,000 for the fauna study to be undertaken by KCBA, the architectural firm for the new building.

The school will be built on an 18-acre parcel along Twin Ponds Road between Schantz Road and Long Lane.

Preliminary studies, requests for municipal and agency approvals, and refinement of plans are presently underway.

Construction is expected to begin early next year with the school ready for occupancy in fall 2020.

In other business, the board approved $16,500 for installation of a restroom in a kindergarten classroom at the Schnecksville School.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Rod Troutman reported a surge in kindergarten registration this spring at Schnecksville Elementary.

“They came out of nowhere,” Troutman said. “Last year we had 48, this year 75.”

“We need an additional section of kindergarten there.

We’ll have four kindergarten classrooms at Schnecksville.”

Each kindergarten class has its own toilet within the room.

Troutman said the district did not need to hire a new teacher for the additional kindergarten class but could work internally to have it staffed.