JEFFERSON TWP — A new and modern learning space will greet Knoch High School students in the fall when the school year begins.

The old library will be replaced by the Knoch High School Learning Commons, where students can grab a healthy snack, work on small-group assignments or study for a test in a relaxing space.

Principal Todd Trofimuk said the learning commons was created through a committee composed of teachers, parents, administrators and others who discussed the best potential use of the large space.

The ideas settled on by the committee include an area for relaxation, a collaboration room, a cafe with seating and a STEM area.

A waterfall was even suggested by some committee members, but is not a feature in the learning commons plans as of yet, Trofimuk said.

The $100,000 renovation project was made possible by a $40,000 grant from the Knoch Knights Legacies Foundation, $5,000 donations from Amerikohl Aggregates, Brayman Construction, Concordia Lutheran Ministries and Hunter Truck Sales, and $20,000 raised from community members and businesses by the foundation.

Once open in the fall, the learning commons will have new carpet, high-top tables in the cafe area, white boards for instruction, a large-group instruction room, a small-group instruction area, and a quiet area.

One recent addition to the new learning commons is a set of hydroponic tower gardens that will grow lettuce, tomatoes, strawberries and other edibles.

The towers are the idea of Trofimuk, who learned about them at a summer conference.

“I thought wow, (the new learning commons) would be a great space to do this,” Trofimuk said on Thursday.

He explained that the towers are vertical tubes made of PCV pipe material with holes along their length in which seedlings are planted without dirt.

A filtration and water system allows nutrients to flow over the seedlings, which speeds up the growth process.

Students will monitor, tend and harvest the growth system.

The food gathered will be prepared and served by students in the school's life skills classes, who will run a cafe in the learning commons.

“We have been looking to include them more in our school community,” Trofimuk said of the life skills students.

Trofimuk knew his friend and South Butler parent Dawn Mock and her husband, David, the owners of Oak Lane Farm in Penn Township, had received a $2,500 grant from the agrochemical company Monsanto, so he approached her about the garden towers.

“She really liked it,” Trofimuk said of Mock's reaction.

Dawn Mock said Monsanto offers a grant to farmers each year. The winner then chooses a nonprofit organization to donate the $2,500.

One farmer in every county is selected each year for a grant, and Mock won for this year.

It didn't take the Knoch High School alumnus long to decide who would be the beneficiary of the Monsanto money, as fewer and fewer students in the district hail from farms.

“We are trying to help them get agricultural programming back into the school or work on some agricultural project in the district,” Mock said.

She loves that the garden towers will expose students to agriculture and that the life skills students will use the fruits and vegetables grown by the contraptions.

“I thought it was a good agricultural project for the school,” Mock said.

Mock can't wait to see the garden towers in action as a result of the Monsanto grant.

“I was happy to win it this year,” she said.

Trofimuk said the garden towers have been ordered and should arrive in May.

The renovation of the old high school library has begun, but workers are waiting for the end of the school year to tear up the old carpet and perform other heavy work.

He is thrilled that the Mocks decided to give the grant to their alma mater so the garden towers can be added to the new learning commons.

“The Mock family have always been very big supporters of the school district, especially when it comes to agriculture,” Trofimuk said.