By SUSAN RUMBLE

Special to The Press

At a recent Parkland School Board meeting, Sylvia Hoffman of MKSD Architects, provided a timetable for the operations center planned for 2619 Stadium Road, Orefield.

Bids are due April 13 and are scheduled to be awarded on May 16.

Work should begin Aug. 14 with completion expected in fall 2024.

The 40,000-square-foot building, to be located east of Orefield Middle School, will house school services and food services departments, technology, and a student registration office on the upper level.

The lower level will include a loading and staging area, a technology work space for computer delivery and repair, a freezer and dry storage section for food, and storage for miscellaneous items such as props for plays, paper and secure records.

The building will be narrow and elongated to fit on the sloping, slim site.

Bids are being solicited for earthwork, concrete, masonry, structural steel, food service equipment, various metals, roofing, ceramic tile, flooring, painting, HVAC, plumbing, fire protection, electrical, landscaping, communications, safety and security.

Ryan Kennedy, director of project management for MKSD Architects, estimates the total cost of the project will be about $19.9 million.

In other business, the board approved Nicole Cummings as its new treasurer to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Angel Green.

Cummings, who started in the district on Feb. 13 as assistant director of business administration, will also serve as an alternate delegate to the Lehigh Tax Collection Committee, a position formerly held by Green.

Looking forward to high school graduation on June 6, the board approved a quote of $2,400 from Action Party Rentals to decorate the stage at the PPL Center for the ceremony.