Sartell-St. Stephen School Board Trying to Break Deadlock Over Riverview Intermediate School

(KNSI) – The Sartell-St. Stephen Board of Education will tackle the contentious issue of needed repairs at Riverview Intermediate School at Wednesday’s work session.

The building’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, or HVAC, system was installed in 1969 and has become antiquated. Interim Superintendent Tom Lee says problems are starting to crop up.

“We have a hard time keeping balance because we have holes in our air lines. By the time the air pressure gets down to the end of the hallway, there’s not enough to make sure that we can maintain and regulate temperature in those areas. We also have holes in our water lines because it’s a hot water system, so we have to leave the system running 24/7.”

All members of the Sartell-St. Stephen Board of Education agree that the HVAC system needs to be replaced. Three members hope to use authority under the Long Term Facilities Maintenance policy to get immediate approval for the $20 million project.

The other three want the voters to decide, probably in May 2024. Lee says the referendum would likely include other issues as well. “If we go to a community vote, it is possible that there are other items that were left off, like moving the stadium from the intermediate school out to the high school, that might get added on to a question.”

Lee says if emergency repairs become needed and the school is shut down for a prolonged period of time, students would need to learn virtually until a fix can be finished.

An emergency isn’t expected, but a community vote means the work would likely be delayed until 2026, increasing the chances that something breaks in the meantime.

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