Buildings and Grounds Board Committee Meeting (November 10, 2026)

Riverside Local Schools’ Buildings and Grounds Board Committee met on November 10, 2026. The committee discussed replacing the school-bus fleet, with a preliminary baseline of about three buses annually (or five to six per year on a 10-year replacement cycle) for a fleet of roughly 40. Members also considered acquiring two vans for athletics and trips, including leasing through Enterprise, purchasing, or using a bus trade-in; no selection or purchase was approved. Members raised concerns about affordability after a failed levy and the risk of committing to lease payments. Staff will clarify vehicle capacity and safety requirements. The committee was told that North Shore had secured 100 tons of salt for the district after Morton invoked force majeure on its order, compared with an estimated seasonal need of 140–180 tons, requiring careful use. An emergency drain repair using gravel from Accurate Landscaping cost approximately $1,100, compared with an estimated $5,000–$10,000 for contracted emergency work. Heating-system corrections at the school were warranty work by Westland HVAC, and the Buckeye construction project was progressing as scheduled.

The committee reviewed capital and operating pressures, including a projected deficit in the permanent improvement (PI) fund, approximately $74,000–$75,000 in Riverview and CTE purchase orders reported as closed, and other open orders totaling about $65,000 that were expected to largely offset them. Members discussed returning to the Bialosky facilities report to update project priorities, improving visibility into athletics-related costs, and evaluating future capital needs such as turf, a scoreboard, roofs, and parking lots. These were planning discussions; no procurement award, spending motion, or vote was identified.