“New Look” Bucktail High School Awaits Students

Major Facilities Improvements near Completion

 

by John Lipez

FARWELL – When Bucktail High School students return to classes next Wednesday, they’ll get a first day look at more than half a million dollars in improvements to the high school complex.

As Keystone Central school board vice-president and western Clinton County representative Butch Knauff noted, significant changes have been made, some very noticeable, some not so much.

Knauff told the Record his favorite, probably the cheapest of the upgrades, was the painting of the outside of the high school building.

He said metal trim (fascia) around the top of the windows and doors was a unique shade of green, there since the school was built. The district had the contractor that refurbished the gym paint the metal and the letters that spelled Bucktail red; above the main entrance the tile was painted red and white, making for a striking difference in the appearance of the school.

The biggest project was the refurbishing of Dwyer Memorial Football Field.

The lights that were originally installed in 1969 were replaced with state of the art Musco lights.

Knauff said the bleachers that have been in place for quite some time are being retrofitted to make them ADA Compliant. Work includes installing barriers under the seats, a handicap ramp and handicap seating area

Knauff said the bleacher work should be started in the next week and hopefully will be completed before the first game Aug. 30. Also the concession stand received a new roof.
 The long neglected Bucktail gym has received a major upgrade. The gym was completely painted from ceiling to floor. The floor has been redesigned. A large Buck was painted in the center of the gym floor; the border was redone in black with red BUCKS on each end. The 3-point area was stained a darker brown with the top of the key painted red. There will be red padding installed on the walls and two new backboards installed. 
 The district also made numerous security upgrades at both Bucktail and the nearby Renovo Elementary. These include new light standards around the oval, at the football practice field and near the elementary school playground. Some of the other security upgrades are new security keypads on the entry doors, additional security cameras and some other steps Knauff said should help in keeping the buildings secure.
 Other upgrades include a cafeteria face lift; new paint, ceiling tiles and floor tiles. The high school office received new paint, carpet and furniture. A couple classrooms also were painted and received new floor tile. Knauff said the district plans to remodel a couple rooms a years so that in a short time every room will be redone.
 Total improvement dollars, Knauff said, budgeted or spent: $446,525 in 2012 / 13 and $83,000 for 2013/ 14 at Bucktail.