SPRING MILLS — In an early morning ceremony on May 30, ground was broken in front of the Penns Valley High School for a major renovation and addition project at the school. Turning spades at the ceremony were district Superintendent Brian Griffith, PVHS Principal Dustin Dalton, physical plant manager Bob Miller, and school board members Hank Yeagley, Kerri Kubalak, Jeff Hyde and Chris Houser, as well as representatives from KCBA Architects. Lobar, Inc. is the principal construction contractor for the project.
District officials say the process to determine needs, funding, layout options and scope of the project began in January 2015. There are four goals for the process identified by the district:
• To enhance safety and security
• To identify structural deficiencies and equipment operating beyond its expected life cycle
• To create areas to improve collaboration among students, and update aesthetics
• To provide facilities to strengthen educational programming beyond the classroom in physical activity, athletics, fine arts, and extracurricular activities.
According to district officials, the $15.5 million dollar project will include an upgraded auditorium with a set construction area, a new band room, changing and storage rooms, new counseling, nurses and principal offices, a secure entryway, a renovated library with small collaboration spaces, new paint, door hardware and lockers throughout the building, renovated cafeteria, air conditioning throughout the building and a new 1,200-seat gymnasium.
Construction is slated to begin on June 12, and continue in phases through December 2018. The plan is designed to minimize disruptions of the classroom environment. Project funding is from a combination of accumulated cash reserves and low-interest loans. Griffith said that $3 million dollars is being granted to the district for the project from PlanCon, a state government program which helps fund school building projects in Pennsylvania.
