Knoch school board pushing to finish up renovation
JEFFERSON TWP — While contractors are moving quickly to finish everything in time, a hurdle imposed by PennDOT could create a headache in Knoch High School’s renovation project.
John Pappas, president of Eckles Construction Services, told Knoch’s school board that PennDOT wants the district to pay for a portion of Dinnerbell Road to be milled and repaved, and a portion of concrete sidewalks to be reconfigured to allow for high spot in that road to “shed water from both sides” when it rains.
The district has reconfigured the intersection of new driveway into the school’s parking lot along Dinnerbell Road as part of its project. The district would now have to revise the plan based on how PennDOT wants water to flow so it doesn’t pool in front of entrances.
“When PennDOT did the culvert work, some of that got reworked whenever they did that drainline here when we were starting the project, to help deal with the water conditions and the drainage coming down Dinnerbell Road, that changed those drains out there. The intention is to have that entrance be able to be a handicap access point to the property.”
“PennDOT came out during one of their inspections, and said they didn’t like how that layout was gonna happen, realized the grades were different based on the culvert pipe, and asked the civil engineer redesign that area and readjust the grades throughout that whole area,” Pappas said.
Pappas said he believes the price, roughly $47,000 is high, but that “the work needs to be done.”
“The state is telling us there is no other way to do it now that they’ve seen the conditions of it, they want it this specific way and that’s how they’ve instructed us it has to be completed,” Pappas said.
Superintendent David Foley said the cost could be covered with leftover money from a $78,000 environmental grant the district previously received.
“It’s very difficult dealing with the state on these kinds of matters. The state basically tells you ‘this is the way we want it, otherwise it’s not going to be done.’ We can talk to them and see what we can work out,” Tom May, solicitor for Knoch school district, said.
The district is hoping to have the $39 million project wrapped up in time for the 2025-26 school year, which begins Sept. 2. Pappas said there are around 75 workers on a consistent basis working at the school, with many working extra time, to get the project done. He said Eckles is preparing to make sure the auditorium is ready to go for orientation Aug. 21. Surphacing for the tennis courts will also start on Monday, July 14.
“It’s been a very busy past month or two. A lot of work going on, a lot of good work, the contractors are on sight and getting things done. When we get to these big summer phases we always say we need to keep making things smaller and smaller, and that’s what’s happening. There’s stages where finishes are almost complete, there’s areas where we’re starting painting, everything in between,” Pappas said.
