After taking a tour, Richmond Community Schools’ board members support an approximately $7.3 million full building upgrade soon for Dennis Middle School and installing new tennis courts near McBride Stadium. Another potential addition could be a practice facility with an inflatable dome.
However, they’re going to hope that the heating/cooling system at Baxter Elementary School, which is now used for the Community Youth Services alternative program, won’t break until they take a deeper look into the district’s grade configurations and future building needs.
Some board members said they want a 10- to 15-year district plan to help determine facilities priorities. Those plans don’t include previous priorities, such as a building focused on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
Work session discussion
RCS’ board conducted an approximately three-hour work session on Sunday, Sept. 15, with architect Kevin McCurdy of LWC to review proposed designs and financial options.
RCS has already committed to or completed more than $4 million of construction projects at Fairview Elementary, Test Intermediate and Richmond High School from its 2024 bond proceeds, leaving $12,172,322 to spend from that fund.
However, RCS could spend an additional $5 million from its $8.9 million operations fund on construction if desired. The minimum recommended operations balance is $2 million.
Baxter: A total replacement of Baxter’s HVAC would be $3.1 to $3.4 million. Board members had favored an approximately $725,000 to $800,000 patch at a previous meeting, but changed course.
They decided a future full replacement is a wiser investment for compatibility and HVAC efficiency if RCS continues using it after analyzing the best locations for students of all ages in future years.
If the HVAC system went down, temporary units would cost an estimated $50,000 to $70,000 per month unless students were relocated.
The 11-classroom North West Third building was built in 1958. It was last renovated in 1994 when mechanical updates and a roof project took place. Fire alarms were upgraded in 2000. Brad Walton, facilities director, said it’s a very sound building.
Dennis: The 1920 building’s last major renovation was in 1987 and last mechanical updates were in 2001. A partial roof replacement was in 2018.
A full Dennis upgrade would consolidate mechanical controls because Dennis currently has three different systems, and replace lighting with more efficient LED equipment. It also replaces two air handlers and rebuilds two, replaces ventilators and fan coil units, adds flow controls, and upgrades fire alarms. Freshening paint, ceilings and casework in classrooms and halls would cost additional money but could be part of RCS’ ongoing cosmetic work.
That work could begin as soon as Summer 2025.
Athletics: RCS is considering relocating eight tennis courts and adding parking spaces near the baseball stadium it recently acquired from Richmond Parks and Recreation.
The current tennis courts behind Richmond High School experience damage from standing water. Existing restrooms at McBride would be utilized.
An updated option from previous meetings is to spend $7.325 to $8.25 million for the tennis courts, adding 123 parking spaces at RHS where the tennis courts were, and a bus drop-off lane with canopy on Tiernan Center’s west side. Other projects focus on the area around Lyboult Field, including new entry features on the east and west sides, a synthetic turf practice field, decorative fence with brick columns, and additional storage.
An enclosed practice field with inflatable dome, which includes heating, cooling and lighting, would be $2.2 to $2.675 million.
The board determined more conversations are needed about athletics facilities before making decisions.
A version of this article appeared in the September 25 2024 print edition of the Western Wayne News.