River Forest District 90 Plans Forum on Roosevelt Middle School Renovation

River Forest School District 90 on Monday will hold a public forum to discuss an updated Roosevelt Middle School exterior renovation plan. 

District 90's Board of Education has been involved with plans to renovate the school since 2011, and is moving forward with an Action Plan it adopted on April 25. 

The $1.073 million project would include a new congregation plaza for students north of the main entrance to the school, a through-drive on Lathrop with visitor parking and a River Forest Public Library drop box and an improved playground for students on the east side of the building, according to District 90. It would also include disbursement of bike parking, work to reduce drainage run-off problems and improved signage and lighting.

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The project is expected to cost $1.073 million, $313,000 less than originally proposed. The district will pay for the project using its operating fund reserves.

Measures to cut the cost after the original plan was presented in May included changing new walks from pavers to concrete, reducing the quality of fencing to the minimum required by Village ordinance, eliminating a Rain Garden and replacing it with an underground stormwater catch basin.

At its Oct. 21 meeting, District 90 board members agreed to present their preference for a student congregation plaza in the north parking lot at the Oct. 28 forum, and rejected alternate parking proposals for Oak Avenue, said District 90 spokesperson Tari Marshall.

The project plans have formed with stakeholder input from the Roosevelt Exterior Project Planning Committee, which includes Roosevelt faculty, staff, and parent representatives, input from other community entities including the library and the park district. 

"While it is our goal to come to resolution on this project by the end of the calendar year, the Board will take whatever time is necessary to ensure that the best interests of Roosevelt's students and the community are fully considered," Board President Patrick Meyer said in a statement.