Question #1 on the Referendum Vote focuses on expanding and improving our education spaces as well as improving our roof structures with

no increase to taxes.

Details on Question 1 Projects

Additional Classrooms:

Enrollment at Riverside Township School District is on the rise. In the past two years alone, student enrollment has increased by 13% (181 new students). This naturally impacts the district overall. Classroom space is becoming increasingly scarce, and several staff members have been relocated from the classrooms and small group instruction areas they have previously utilized to other spaces such as shared conference rooms, shared classrooms, our cafeteria and auditorium spaces, different areas within our two Media Centers in the district, and various other parts of the building. This is especially the case with the special area teachers (World Language, Health, Computers, etc.) and support teachers (Basic Skills, ESL, etc.) in the elementary school, teachers in the high school, and the certified specialists that provide services for our students through the Child Study Team district-wide. Although our amazing staff is doing a tremendous job of facilitating positive learning environments even when they are displaced, it is not the optimal learning environment for our students. Not only do extra classrooms allow for a more favorable student-teacher ratio per class and minimize the use of shared space, but it also supports more significant opportunities for collaborative planning between teachers in their rooms during their lunch or prep period. With limited space right now, teachers find it difficult to plan activities in their classrooms during those times as they are generally being used by other teachers. The additional classrooms also create better options for using intervention time with students in small groups.

COST- $6,049,198

New Playground:

In order to add the 10 new classrooms, the existing building must extend out into the existing playground area. As a result, the playground will need to be relocated, and when it is, it will be rebuilt on a "poured surface." This new surface is made of small rubber granules that are stuck together, and there are a number of benefits to a "poured surface" over our existing playground:

• it is durable, soft, cannot splinter, and is maintenance free

• it is shock-absorbent and provides cushioning in the event of a fall

• it is ADA-compliant, wheelchair accessible, and considered the safest option for any students with physical disabilities

COST - $400,000

Parking Lot Upgrades:

The entire large staff parking lot that runs from Washington Street back to Grant Street between the Pop Vernon Field House and Paine Street will be upgraded. Specifically, the lot will be regraded to ensure proper drainage, prevent rain flow impact to adjacent properties, and minimize erosion problems. In that process, a new stormwater pump will be installed to better regulate rain accumulation for the entire property. Finally, the whole lot will be repaved.

In the past, we have had challenges managing the stormwater runoff onto Grant Street, and the existing parking lot has flooded into classrooms, damaging walls and requiring sections of flooring to be replaced. These upgrades should eliminate most, if not all, of those problems.

COST $2,512,339

Roof Restoration:

Select portions of the district roofs, including the front portion of the elementary wing, the hallway directly outside the high school gymnasium (Pop Vernon Field House), and the Middle School/High School Cafeteria, will be restored as rooftop conditions have deteriorated since their original installation and their warranties are set to expire within the next few years. They are a lime green color on the map above and total 28,600 square feet (S.F.)

COST- $800,800

Shingle Roofing Replacement:

Select portions of the district's roofs, including the back portion of the elementary wing leading into the board offices, and the elementary media center, are shingle roofing and need to be replaced with a new GAF Golden Pledge Warranty. They are a light blue color on the map above and total 12,500 square feet (S.F.)

COST- $350,000

Built-Up Roofing Replacement and EPDM Roofing Replacement:

Select portions of the district's roofs, including the majority of the high school and middle school, and the auditorium, consist of BUR, or built-up roofing. The warranty on these areas has long since expired, and the roof needs to be replaced. It would be replaced with a new SBS roofing system, along with tapered insulation, enhanced drainage, etc. The new roof is made of a material (SBS) that is exceptionally flexible, making it better for flat roofs and less prone to cracking and sustaining damage from elements like ice and sun. These sections are an orange color on the map above and total 35,500 square feet (S.F.)

Finally, the elementary gymnasium and the hallway directly in front of it currently have EPDM roofing, but that warranty has also expired. This section would also be replaced with a new SBS roofing system, along with tapered insulation, enhanced drainage, etc. This section is a dark gray color on the map above and totals 5,800 square feet (S.F.)

COST - $1,654,000

Roofing Accessories

Any necessary roofing accessories for the multiple roof replacements and restorations, including things like facia, flashings, soffits, downspouts, etc., are priced together for all three types of roof upgrades.

COST - $438,305

Soft Costs:

All architectural and construction projects also include some component of "soft costs," traditionally estimated/projected at 30% of the project costs, that include A/E (Architectural & Engineering) fees, contingency costs, construction manager fees, legal fees, etc. The "soft costs" for this whole project equal $3,661,395.