District 90 officials will meet with representatives from other groups later this month to gather feedback and hear ideas on possible renovations at Roosevelt Middle School.
Officials from the village, park district, library, and the River Forest Tennis Club — all of whom have a stake in the outcome of this effort — will give the school district their perspectives, concerns and ideas about the project and how it could affect their organizations.
The outcome of the Aug. 21 meeting could present the school district with a clearer picture of community thinking on the project, which has been on the district’s to-do list for nearly two years.
Topics on the table include accessibility to the site by students, cars and pedestrians. Folded into the discussion will be cost, impact any project will have on storm water management, parking and neighbors of the school, said D90 Superintendent Edward Condon.
The discussion, said Condon, will be valuable in identifying shared concerns as well as addressing challenges and problems related to any work on the site.
“We are sensitive as to how any decision we make might impact other groups,” he said. “These are all elements we need to take into account when the board decides whether to proceed.”
Residents will be able to weigh in during a community hearing slated to be conducted this sometime this fall.
A design committee in June 2012 came back with three different concepts for the project; each would improve lighting, fencing, way-finding signage, plus bike and reconfigured vehicle parking. Each scenario differed in the quality of materials that would be used. Cost estimates ranged from $610,000 to $1.6 million.
Additional community feedback also will be garnered before the board decides whether to proceed with renovations at all. A target date for that determination is slated for December.
Condon noted, though, “It is more important for the board to consider all relevant perspectives than meet a timetable.”