School district name change approved by governor
Barring a change of direction by the school board, it appears the South Butler County School District will become the Knoch School District as early as the 2022-23 school year.
A bill introduced by state Rep. Marci Mustello, R-11th, allowing the district to change its name passed both the House and Senate and was signed this week by Gov. Tom Wolf.
That signature paves the way for the name change, which was suggested to the school board by Superintendent David Foley.
The board voted 8-1 in December 2019 to approve the change.
Foley said Friday he was thrilled to learn the bill received its final approval by the governor.
“We are excited about it,” he said. “I think it better identifies who we are. The transition from South Butler to Knoch doesn’t mean we’ll forget about all the past that South Butler had, but we do look forward to some new and great things happening in the school district.”
He said because it has been more than two years since the initial school board action to approve the name change, he will ask the board to vote again in March.
The board also will discuss changing the names of the South Butler Primary Center and South Butler Intermediate Elementary School to Knoch.
In addition, Foley will consult with the district’s solicitor, Tom Breth, on changing the district’s name on current contracts with vendors and others.
Benefits of name change
Foley said the main benefits of the name change are turning the page into a new era for the district, coinciding with the large renovation project being planned for the high school and middle school, leaving the district’s labor issues of a few years ago behind, better learning opportunities for students in new science and STEM labs, modernizing the current academics at the district and providing students with new opportunities in academics, arts and athletics.
“But the primary benefit is that Knoch is how we currently identify ourselves,” Foley said.
Regarding cost, Foley said all consumables that say “South Butler” will be used up before new items are purchased.
A few mats on the floor and various letterheads will need to be changed, plus a panel on the marquee sign along Dinnerbell Road will be changed to Knoch School District, he said.
“I think the expense of the whole thing would be minimal,” Foley said.
Foley said the name change will not occur immediately, pending the school board’s decision.
“The rollout might be better at the beginning of the next school year to give everyone the opportunity to celebrate the change,” Foley said.
He envisions a community event at the annual pie festival that might include some descendants of the late Eva C. Knoch, who donated the land for the high school in 1956.
History
Groundbreaking on the then new $2 million Knoch Junior-Senior High School occurred on Sept. 15, 1956.
The school’s cornerstone was laid on May 24, 1957, and the new building was dedicated on Nov. 13, 1958, while the first year of classes was in session.
Eva and William Knoch initially donated the 50 acres now occupied by the high school, middle school and stadium to the borough of Saxonburg for a park.
When the borough found that it had inadequate funds to maintain the park, the Knochs asked that the acreage be returned to them.
After William’s death in 1951, Eva donated the land to the school district because she was a proponent of the formation of school districts — then known as “jointure” — replacing the separate schools dotting the countryside.
The school was named in Eva Knoch’s honor, and she attended the dedication in 1958.
Knoch died in 1970, having lived to see the high school successfully educating teenagers for many years.
