Riverview transformer replaced; district reviews cafeteria air-conditioning, playground surfacing ahead of school start

Riverside Local Schools buildings and grounds staff reported that a transformer at Riverview Elementary failed on Tuesday, July 29, leaving the school on generator power until crews replaced the unit the same day. The district also discussed potential air-conditioning work for two high school cafeterias using federal nutrition funds, modular trailer removal plans, playground surfacing options and progress on the district’s CTE and Riverview construction projects as the new school year approaches.

District maintenance staff said the power interruption at Riverview required a temporary generator. “They tried to put 1 of the fuses up on the pole back in place and when he did, it exploded. Thankfully, the technician on the hole in the bucket was not hurt,” said Rich, a maintenance staff member. Painesville Power built and installed a replacement transformer, and district staff credited Cleveland Construction and Range Electric for on-site electrical work that restored full service by about 4:00 p.m. that day.

Why it matters: power disruptions and construction delays can affect school operations, staffing and safety when classes resume. Superintendent Ratino and buildings staff are coordinating final inspections and site access so schools open on schedule. Rich told the meeting that teachers are scheduled to arrive on the 18th and students on the 20th, and that contractors were finishing interior and code-related work at Riverview to meet fire- and building-department requirements.

Work completed and in progress: staff reported summer projects that are finished or nearly complete. The high school gym floor was refinished, parking-lot potholes were patched by Vasco Asphalt and parking-lot striping was finished by BBL Striping; the district has aerial photos of the completed work. Maintenance installed a mini-split HVAC unit in the district conference room and left a secondary Univet heater in place as backup. Custodial and summer staff completed routine deep cleaning, and buildings-and-grounds staff said they will present a summary of summer accomplishments at the September meeting.

Capital projects and modular units: the CTE (career and technical education) project is nearing the stage to set steel trusses and is completing work in the commons, bistro and kitchen so kitchen equipment and furniture can be moved in, a process staff expect to complete before school opens. Buckeye modular units are being removed; crews are arranging dumpsters and scheduling local movers. One modular trailer under consideration for sale will be moved behind Concord once contractors assess pricing and schedule.

Cafeteria air-conditioning and procurement constraints: the district discussed a request from nutrition services staff to use federal nutrition-account funds to partially pay for air-conditioning in two high school kitchens. Rich said that federal procurement rules would apply and that the work would likely require significant electrical upgrades. “CCI mentioned in the tune of $70,000 between 70 and $75,000 was the quote on doing any of the electrical upgrades or anything for air conditioning,” Rich said. The district said it will obtain bids and clarify allowable federal spending and procurement steps before proceeding.

Playground surfacing and accessibility: staff debated surfacing options for preschool and elementary playgrounds. One option discussed was poured rubber (an accessible poured-in-place surface) versus traditional mulch. Board members and staff raised concerns about durability and maintenance: one member noted a nearby poured surface in poor condition, while staff emphasized that an accessible surface can better serve students who use wheelchairs or have high special-needs accommodation needs. The district said it will review alternatives, consider hybrid solutions, and confirm construction limits and timelines before making a final selection. Staff also said they will assess the Buckeye site after modular removal and grading and, if needed, block off uneven areas for safety.

Other items and next steps: staff said they are collecting vendor bids and cost estimates for electrical upgrades, continuing to coordinate with contractors for final site access and safety inspections, and will report further details at upcoming meetings. The buildings-and-grounds team thanked district crews, contractors and vendors for rapid response to the transformer failure and other summer tasks.