In all, at least five projects across the district are either underway or moving through the planning stages, with an emphasis on safety, accessibility and long-term facility upgrades.

Here’s a closer look at what’s happening:

TJHS vestibule

At Tuscarora Junior High School in Mifflintown, district officials are advancing plans to enhance building security with the addition of a secure vestibule. Matt Wray, a multi-craft maintenance technician, outlined a revised design that relocates the main entrance to improve visitor monitoring.

Sentinel photo by MIKE GOSS
Dave Hampton, of Crider-Mitchell Construction, holds up a piece of plywood as he encloses an opening in the office.

Under the proposal, visitors would enter at the rear of the building, walking up a ramp and beneath a covered porch before arriving at an entrance connected directly to the school office. From there, staff would be able to visually confirm and control access. “The secretary can see them and buzz them in and out,” Wray said, noting the improved level of security.

Superintendent Christie Holderman added that the design makes use of existing office space while creating a dedicated waiting area and incorporating key fob entry. Because of the project’s emphasis on safety, the district is expecting to be able to offset costs through grant funding.

The district applied for a $1.5 million Public School Facility Improvement Grant to support a series of safety-related upgrades, most notably the construction of the secure vestibule at the school’s main entrance.

District officials explained that secure entryways — now considered a best practice in school-safety design — serve as the first line of defense by creating a controlled checkpoint before visitors can access the building.

Board members emphasized that the secure vestibule is a long-needed improvement. To qualify for the grant, the district must commit to a 25% local matching contribution, a requirement the board approved as part of the resolution.

Sentinel photo by MIKE GOSS
Chris Fultz, of Crider-Mitchell Construction, works on a brick wall.

Juniata tennis courts

A more extensive upgrade is planned at Juniata High School, where the district has approved a $396,643 contract to fully renovate the tennis courts. The project calls for removing existing fencing and posts, addressing erosion and drainage concerns, and installing new playing surfaces with a multi-layer acrylic coating system. New fencing and gates will also be added.

The improvements will provide a regulation-quality facility, something the program has lacked for years. For the coaching staff, the new courts represent more than a physical upgrade; they offer the chance to expand participation and strengthen the program moving forward.

EJHS ADA bathroom

At East Juniata High School in Cocolamus, attention is focused on improving accessibility. Plans are in place to construct a new handicapped-accessible bathroom behind the current concession stand. Wray said the project is in its early stages, with design concepts already reviewed by the board. Once completed, the addition will better accommodate students, athletes and visitors during school and community events.

Sentinel photo by MIKE GOSS
A recent view of the overall work being done this summer at Tuscarora Junior High School in Mifflintown.

EJHS roof, stage

East Juniata High School is also the site of two additional upgrades this summer. The school board recently approved a $994,996.47 contract with Weatherproofing Technologies Inc. to replace the building’s roof, a major investment to protect the facility and prevent future maintenance issues.

In addition, the district has contracted Pittsburgh Stage Inc. to complete repairs to the school auditorium stage at a cost of $40,703. The work will include reinforcing structural supports to meet current safety standards, ensuring the stage remains safe for performances and community use.

District officials remain optimistic about the timeline for completion.

“We are hopeful that the projects will be completed prior to the start of school,” Holderman said. “If they are not, we will be able to work around the various projects. None of them have direct impact on the daily school operations. Ideally we will be completed with all projects before the start of school. If not, we will have contingency plans in place.”

Together, the projects reflect a productive summer across the district, with crews working behind the scenes to ensure buildings are ready.