our challenges

rippleside is aging

Outdated, undersized classrooms make it challenging for hands-on learning, small group work, and using modern classroom technology that helps students learn best today. This also limits handicap accessibility to the whole classroom for wheelchair-bound students.

to learn more about our building challenges, watch these short videos!

challenges at rippleside:

Small classrooms

safety risks

Lack of security at entrances, walkways, and entrances that do not meet ADA standards, as well as congested parking lots and drop-off zones, compromise student and staff safety.

Lack of student support space

Lack of dedicated and adequate space to meet the growing need for special education and mental health support.

Small, Crowded Gyms

An undersized gym and an auxiliary gym that doubles as a cafeteria limit space for student classes, activities, and equipment storage.

Health Concerns

Poor air quality, inconsistent temperatures, and asbestos exposure create health concerns that distract from learning.

Inadequate Bus Maintenance and Vehicle Storage

The district’s aging bus garage no longer meets the needs of our mechanics, drivers, staff, or the transportation fleet it supports. As our maintenance facility, it lacks the space and modern equipment needed to properly care for district vehicles.

In addition, the bus garage and storage area are located off-site near the railroad tracks. This location creates potential safety concerns related to train traffic, can delay buses when last-minute swaps are needed for maintenance, and increases fuel usage and wear and tear on the buses as they need to travel between facilities.

- The ventilation system isn’t sufficient to protect our bus drivers, staff, and mechanics from exhaust fumes and carbon monoxide.
- The bus lift and building itself is beyond its useful life.
- The building lacks insulation, leading to extreme working temperatures in the summer and winter.
- The building lacks modern fire and life safety requirements.
- The doors freeze shut in the winter, locking staff in the building or outside in the cold.
- Rain and snowmelt pool in the garage, clogging floor drains and leaving standing water in the mechanic bays.
- Modern-day buses are too long for the garage, so we cannot shut the doors and safely work on the engines or other key areas of the buses.
- The gathering areas are too small to accommodate all drivers and staff, meaning all safety trainings take place in the maintenance bays, requiring vehicles to be moved out of that space.
- Due to inadequate space, many vehicles can’t be stored indoors, leaving them exposed to year-round elements.
- The only space large enough to wash the buses is outside, leading to ice on the ground in the winter and salt and rust damage on vehicles.
- There is only one, single-stall bathroom to be shared by all bus drivers and it is not ADA accessible.
- All equipment and parts (jacks, fluid, windshields, etc.) are stored in the bays, further reducing workspace.

As maintenance needs continue to grow and the Rippleside building becomes less suited to today’s teaching and learning needs, the district will have to devote more resources simply to keep it functional for students.

While patchwork repairs will keep the building running, they will become increasingly expensive and do nothing to improve the day-to-day learning experience of our students.

Our current bus garage and vehicle storage is insufficient for caring for our district’s vehicles and the staff that are responsible for safely transporting our students to and from school. We need a new space to adequately maintain current and future equipment.