After nearly two years of planning, Riverview School District officials are considering a major renovation project for the junior-senior high school along Hulton Road.
While the project is only in the discussion phase, it could cost from $10.2 million to $10.9 million, not including an 18% contingency fund for unforeseen costs, according to preliminary estimates.
Officials said the project aligns with the district’s long-term goals and the “Small School District, Big Opportunities” mindset.
District officials have been evaluating the building’s condition, instructional needs, safety and long-term priorities since June 2024 with the help of Pittsburgh-based architecture firm DRAW Collective.
“Through that process, we have conducted our due diligence to identify specific areas where our infrastructure and programming no longer align with the evolving needs of our students and school community,” Superintendent Neil English said in a statement to TribLive.
“We have found that the junior-senior high school currently lacks several educational, instructional and student support spaces commonly found in secondary schools throughout Pennsylvania.”
About $2 million in existing money has been set aside in the district’s capital improvement plan for possible use in the project. The district is “considering a possible bond to pay for the remaining costs,” English said.
Any tax increase to start paying for a potential bond issue would be on top of the 1.5% increase the school board proposed May 18 to support additional staffing in elementary STEM and junior-senior high school computer science.
A meeting to discuss the project and its payment options will be held at 7 p.m. Monday in the junior-senior high school library. Officials and the public will receive information from a PNC Bank representative regarding the current bond market and the possible implications of issuing a $10 million bond. Bond payments would be about $515,000 for at least the next five years, with a chance to restructure it at that time.
Additional discussions, and possibly a vote on further increasing next school year’s millage, could take place at the board’s June 8 meeting.
“Our current debt ratio is relatively low, which provides the district with the capacity to consider an additional bond,” English said.
Officials cited the lack of a high school auditorium, a shortage of electives, limited auxiliary space for athletics, security limitations and a few other modern features as reasons for the project’s necessity.
“While there may be differing opinions regarding timing, financial considerations, construction and design choices and taxpayer impact, the infrastructure challenges remain and will continue to remain until a comprehensive plan is implemented to address them,” English said.
District officials said the proposal enhances programming for all students, specifically in regard to arts, athletics and extracurricular activities. It’s expected to improve school security and expand counseling, college and career readiness, and student services. It also aims to provide flexible spaces for testing, assemblies and community events.
The plan calls for a new assembly and performance space that incorporates between about 19,000 and 21,000 square feet of instructional and student activity space. It would have between 500 and 550 retractable seats. The plan also would provide a dedicated choral, orchestra and music instructional area below the proposed auditorium space.
With the proposed auditorium, the district would not have to rely on the elementary school auditorium, which would help preserve instructional flexibility for younger students.
The capital project also shows designs for an additional athletic, wrestling and physical education space and a “modernized” vestibule, security and visitor management area, There also would be space for esports, technology and student programming.
The current chorus space would be repurposed to support the golf team.
In a tentative schedule posted by the district, construction would begin in June 2027.
The master planning documents located on the front page of the district website outline the identified deficiencies.
Renderings of the proposed project design posted to the district’s social media are preliminary plans and represent the first iteration of the project, English said.
While there is no set schedule for the project’s approval or rejection, any formal action related to the project will take place during a voting meeting.
The project is not included in the 2026-27 budget, English said.
“We will be discussing a number of possibilities regarding how to fund the project at the June 1 study session and the June 8 voting meeting,” he said. “The board may or may not decide to vote on additional tax increases during the June 8 budget meeting, based on those public discussions.”
Coming up
Who: Riverview School Board
What: Public meeting to discuss proposed renovations to the junior-senior high school
Where: Riverview Jr-Sr High School library
When: 7 p.m. Monday