Knoch DME

JEFFERSON TWP — Knoch School District’s board of directors approved several work change orders related to its $39 million renovation project at a school board meeting Wednesday, Aug. 14.

Some of the orders were approved using credits granted by contractors as certain elements of the initial renovation plans changed or were canceled, said superintendent David Foley after the meeting.

“The change orders are a result of things that were outside of the scope of the (renovation) project,” Foley said.

“There were credits given to the school district because we weren’t doing that work,” he said. “And then additionally, as things have come up, different things that maybe the construction company has noticed when they’re there, they might say, ‘Hey, you might want to fix this while we have this wall opened up.’”

Board directors approved changes to the stadium entry in the amount of $15,554; post size alterations in the amount of $5,161; a $15,686 emergency gas line repair to the existing 8-inch main gas service discovered during excavation; a roof drain installation costing $3,814 for the main entrance canopy; and a $11,456 re-installation of a fiber line damaged by the general contractor.

Directors also approved $17,919 “to re-feed power to the messenger board because existing conduits were very shallow and (in) the way of new construction.”

Credits were used to offset the repair of a damaged fiber line that would cost $11,456 and a damaged water main service line outside the gymnasium for $2,746. The district also is deducting $8,864 from project costs after deciding to “delete” a de-ionizer intended for the science department.

Directors approved $66,480 deductions associated with mechanical engineering revisions; deductions of $155,000 for plumbing engineering revisions; and deductions of $285,550 for electrical engineering revisions.

The renovation project is expected to be complete by summer 2025. Foley said construction will continue with students in session this school year, but that it should not impact the first day of school.

“They have the ability to wall off certain areas, so the construction workers are not coming into contact with the students,” he said.

At a school board meeting last week, Foley said cleanup of several rooms and areas would be complete Aug. 14.

He said workers are nearing completion of the high school track, which has been painted.

“I believe both coats have been put on there,” he said. “I think they’re supposed to remove all the plastic. Staff has parked far away from that for the last couple of days.”

“We don’t know about the striping on the field, but we’re very close at the stadium,” he said.

Foley also said the district will ask for a quote for fencing along the stadium and concession stand. The first home game is slated for next Friday, he said.

The athletic field has not been usable since the beginning of the summer, when both the stadium and the track that encircles it were closed in preparation for construction and renovation work on the track. Contractors were delayed about a month in the project, causing football practices to be relocated.

Foley previously said he anticipates the track to be finished Aug. 19, prior to the first day of school.