PHOTO PROVIDED A ground breaking took place for Muncy School District on April 1. Students participating are (left to right) Natalya Giroux, Alivia Heivly, Madesyn Brelsford, Sabrina Barner, Madison Dipre-Giles, Dakota Haueisen, Kolby Moyer, and Dalton Spring.  

MUNCY – A groundbreaking ceremony took place earlier this month for Muncy School District at the old baseball field where an addition will be added to the Junior/Senior high school building.

Construction began this month for a $17 million building and renovation project. According to Superintendent, Dr. Craig Skaluba, the bids came in less than anticipated, but will still need to borrow the first ten million. However, 2 to 2.5 million will be reimbursed from the state.

The addition will not include a full basement, just partial and a brand new gym will be built on the first floor. There will be a new weight room and a new lobby upstairs on the second floor. There also will be a new media center and additional locker rooms.

The library will be expanded and located above the gym. The old weight room will be a classroom and enlarged.

“Excavation started for the foundation and basement,” said Dr. Skaluba who hopes to have the entire project completed by June 2020. “We are trying to get the interior done during the summer. Classrooms and the library will be the last to be done.”

An elevated walkway is planned to connect to the addition which will be located at the former basketball courts.

Renovations are needed for the inside of the building as well according to Dr. Skaluba. The auditorium will have a new stage with updated lighting, sound system and curtains. The old library will be used for additional classrooms, and some of the classrooms are in need of updates.

The high school will have new air conditioning, as it is only “partial” now. Skaluba said just the computer and science labs and some of the offices now have air conditioning. “Now the whole school will be air conditioned. We will convert from steam to hot water.”

The Muncy Music Association will be adding a concession stand but this was not part of the construction project.