A hole was found under the floor during renovations of Pleasant Valley High School.

Michael Sander, an engineer and construction manager for CHA Consulting in Bethlehem, formerly known as D’Huy Engineering, said, “a small vertical void along a foundation line” was found near an exit door. The gap is 2 inches in width, 30 inches deep, and runs the length of 10 feet.

In an interview during the Pleasant Valley School Board meeting on Thursday, Sanders said the cause of the void is due to the building being nearly 70 years old.

The high school is composed of three sections. In 2022 when Arif Fazil, president of the then D’Huy Engineering, gave a presentation to the school board, he said construction of the main section with the front entrances began in 1959. The J.C. Mill wing was built in 1974, and the third expansion began in 1995 and included the new gymnasium, library and auditorium. That expansion connected the main part of the high school to the J.C. Mill section.

On Thursday, school board director Norman Burger, who is the chairman of the Capital Improvement Plan committee, said after his report, “As an aside, this past week, we had, there’s been a rumor about a sinkhole at the high school.”

Burger said he “talked with the engineering folks we have on board. What I found and discovered was in the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s, we were using a fiberwood board that will decay over time. The high school was built in the 1950s, so we’re looking at 65 plus years now, so that material was deteriorated and has left a void.

“We measured down 30 inches to hit the concrete sidewalls … that’s the depth we would have been for the frost line. There is nothing below that that is a problem, so we will be filling that with concrete.”

Sander confirmed that the void does not pose a safety hazard and will be filled this week with flowable fill, which he said is a very fluid concrete.

Superintendent James Konrad said school will begin as planned.

In response to a community question about the void, repair of the hole, and impact on the beginning of school, Konrad said, “As you know, we’re preparing school to be ready. Right now, we are in the middle of a renovation project, and we’re preparing for school to be ready on Aug. 25.

“High school renovation updates have been provided for the last two years, since breaking ground each month during workshop sessions we provide a presentation updating the community on this project. This information can be found on our district website.”

Community members are invited to submit their questions to the superintendent on Monday and Tuesday of the week of the school board meeting. The form can be found on the school district’s website. Konrad answers those questions at the beginning of the school board meeting before public comment on agenda items.

Sander updated the school board on the renovation project during their workshop session after the regular meeting. He said new mechanical and plumbing systems including ductwork have been installed in the new Bear Academy, auditorium, library and classrooms. Partition walls were installed in the Bear Academy, and installation of a new ceiling grid, lights and devices continue. Preparations continue for new bathrooms in the cafeteria and rough-in of the electrical service continues.

On the exterior, surface basins were completed. Work continues on footings and foundations, relocation of existing utilities, and installing underground utilities. Preparations are being done for the subgrade and base of the new parking lot and new curbing.

Sander said they are on schedule for the beginning of the school year. Traffic patterns will be coordinated with the school district, updated and provided to families before school starts.