Parkland School District Superintendent Richard Sniscak reports after two years of working on plans for the new elementary school in Upper Macungie Township, action will soon begin at the site.

“We’re hoping to mobilize after May 8,” Sniscak said. “First we have to record the deed and take ownership by the end of this month.”

He noted David Jaindl donated about 18 acres of land for the school on the west side of Twin Ponds Road between Long Lane and Schantz Road.

Sniscak stated the district will soon start talking about a name for the school. He declined whether to say it will be given a geographic designation, as most Parkland schools have, or whether it will be named after a person.

Also at the April 17 meeting, the board granted approval to the bids of 19 contractors adding up to a total of $26,899,298.

“We feel we got good competitive pricing on the whole,” Sniscak said.

In addition to those contracted bids, the project will also need $2,239,192 for off-site highway improvements and $6,729,017 for soft costs such as permit and design fees and finance costs.

The total amount for the school adds up to $35,867,507, some 2.4 percent higher than the targeted cost of $35 million.

The school is expected to open in fall 2020.

“It will serve this community well for at least the next five decades or longer,” the superintendent said.

He noted the capacity of the high school is adequate, as declining enrollments in the north balance out the growth in the southern portion of the district.

He said Parkland officials will soon have to start thinking about providing additional space for children in the area served by Kratzer Elementary School due to proposed development in the vicinity.

Although construction of 741 housing units on Huckleberry Ridge is only a proposal at this point, Sniscak noted it takes a couple of years of planning before any actual building of new school facilities.