A poll of the Northampton Area School District Board of Education indicates a willingness to sell Moore Elementary School and its property in Moore Township.

The nonbinding poll taken at the Feb. 9 board meeting saw six school directors in favor of selling the Moore property and three school directors in favor of not selling it.

In favor of selling Moore were school Directors Dr. Michael Baird, Zachary Kromer, Ross Makary, Fran Shehab, school board Vice President David Gogel and board President John Becker.

Not in favor of selling Moore were school Directors Joshua Harris, Jamie Marchiano and Kristin Soldridge.

Tallying the poll was NASD Business Administrator Craig Neiman.

Becker requested a poll of school directors to give guidance to NASD Superintendent of Schools Joseph S. Kovalchik in response to the 11th item on the Feb. 9 meeting agenda: “Discussion on the sale of district buildings and final recommendations for the April school board meeting.”

“The administration is looking to gather some guidance,” Becker said before the vote.

“We’re not just talking about the buildings but the surrounding properties as well,” Kovalchik said.

The buildings are Washington Technology Center, the district administration building and Franklin Elementary School, all in Northampton Borough.

“With Washington, we have a lot across the street, as well as with Franklin, there’s a lot down the alley,” Gogel said.

“The Washington building has two acres across the street,” Kovalchik said, adding, “Franklin has a playground, basketball court and baseball field.”

Baird asked about the possible demolition of Moore and whether a building could be constructed on the site.

“After a period of two years, the well and sewer would be lost. It’s not that it can’t be done. It would be more difficult and expensive,” NASD Director of Operations Jonathan Jenny said.

“It would be more difficult because it’s grandfathered,” Soldridge said of the well-water system and the septic system serving the school.

The existing systems may no longer meet Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection regulations. If the Moore building was demolished and a new building was not constructed on the site within two years, new permits might be required.

Moore Elementary School is on 17.75 acres at 2835 Mountain View Drive (Route 946), Moore Township, in the northeast sector of the 97.3-square-mile school district.

Becker asked for two polls of the board — one poll on closing the three buildings and a second poll on closing the three buildings and Moore.

Soldridge said she would prefer voting on each building, and Harris agreed with separate votes. None of the other school directors objected.

Becker asked Neiman to poll the board separately for each building.

School directors voted unanimously 9-0 in separate votes to sell Washington Technology Center, the district administration building and Franklin Elementary School.

The NASD school board facilities committee voted 3-1 at its Jan. 20 meeting to recommend selling Moore. Voting in favor of selling Moore were Makary, Kromer and Becker. Voting against selling Moore was Harris.

In other business at the Feb. 9 board meeting, school directors voted 9-0 to approve the list of community education classes and roster of instructors with stipends for the winter session of the 2025-26 school year.

“The checks are in hand for the winter session,” Kovalchik said.

The winter session includes February and March.

“I think we should approve this program for the rest of this year and then vote on it later for next year,” Gogel said.

A vote on the spring session, which includes April and May, may be on the agenda of the March school board meeting.

Dr. Michelle Schoeneberger presented the NASD comprehensive plan for 2026-29, and a representative of Gorman & Associates, P.C., presented the 2024-25 audit report.

The resignation of 11 teachers for retirement was accepted.

In his report to the school board, Kovalchik noted district schools are closed Feb. 13 for teacher and administration in-service day and Feb. 16 for Presidents Day.

Kovalchik said a 2026-27 budget update is expected to be presented at the March school board meeting.

Kovalchik said that, based on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed 2026-27 state budget presented Feb. 3 to the general assembly, no additional funding to NASD is anticipated.

Kovalchik lauded NASD students at Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School who were participants and winners in District 11 SkillsUSA Championship, held Feb. 4 at the Agri-Plex at Allentown Fairgrounds. NASD students garnered 13 wins — six, first place; four, second place; and three, third place.

Kovalchik said the NASD detention policy, starting with the 2026-27 school year, will set aside two days — Tuesdays and Thursdays — instead of four days — Mondays through Thursdays. Support staff would be recruited to supervise.

The NASD facilities committee next meets 6 p.m. Feb. 17 in the Northampton Area High School library conference room, 1619 Laubach Ave., Northampton.

The school board will meet 6:30 p.m. March 9 in the NAHS auditorium.