South Butler board sees 2 campus concepts
JEFFERSON TWP — Two preliminary exterior project drawings for the $34.3 million Knoch renovation project that were shown to the South Butler County School District board on Wednesday included many new features at the secondary campus.
Three separate entrances for student drop-off, access to the proposed new student parking lot on the west side of the football stadium, and kitchen and cafeteria deliveries were shown on both drawings.
Parents dropping students at the middle or high schools would enter campus from Dinnerbell Road on a new lane west of the middle school and proceed to a new student entrance at the rear of the secondary buildings.
The new student parking lot behind the middle school would be accessed from Knoch Road, with the lane being located on the south side of the football stadium.
Another entrance on Knoch Road farther to the north would allow trucks and other vehicles to deliver items to the kitchen and cafeteria.
A loop road would be added from Dinnerbell to Knoch roads as well.
In the interest of safety, superintendent David Foley said he and other district officials are interested in eliminating the current student parking lot across Knoch Road from the high school, which necessitates students crossing the road to get to school.
The new student parking lot also would be used for event parking for the stadium for football games, commencement and other events.
The drawings also showed the tennis courts moved to an area behind the middle school.
One of the drawings allowed for the maintenance of a natural wetland on the campus, which could be included in district curriculum.
“It would be an opportunity to create an environmental focus,” said Cassie Renninger, DRAW Collective architect.
No action was taken on the matter, as the board has not yet discussed the preliminary drawings.
The board also saw four concepts for graphics on the new turf field at the football stadium.
Renninger showed both dark blue and gray end zone options, with block or script lettering.
While the board did not vote on graphics for the field, they seemed to favor dark blue end zones with white block letters spelling out “Knoch,” and the Knoch Knights logo midfield.
Renninger said options for renovation of the high school interior will be presented at upcoming school board meetings.