Riverview Intermediate’s aging 1969 heating and ventilation system is finally getting the boot, as crews dig into the first year of a two-year, nearly $22 million overhaul that district leaders say is long overdue. The work is phased so classrooms can keep functioning while the school’s mechanical heart is ripped out and rebuilt.
This summer, contractors are zeroing in on the north side of the building and the gym, with the south side slated for next summer. The idea is to keep parts of the school open and usable instead of turning the entire campus into a construction zone at once.
Superintendent Michael Rivard told WJON that district staff and contractors huddle every Tuesday to keep things on track and that crews have "already started moving all the HVAC ductwork, and those things have already started to be put into place." Rivard said demolition is largely wrapped up in the active zones and installers are now focused on getting the new systems installed.
Phasing And Background
According to Sartell-St. Stephen Schools, Riverview’s air-handling system has been on the district’s to-do list since at least the 2015 Facilities Master Plan. What started as an estimated roughly $16 million project in 2021 grew to about $20 million by 2023, as costs climbed and plans were refined.
The district notes that much of the mechanical infrastructure still in use dates back to the original 1969 construction, and the building’s layout and extensive ductwork mean the work has to be split into a two-summer sequence to keep parts of the school operational while crews tear into the rest.
Funding And Voter Approval
The overhaul moved from wish list to reality after voters signed off on a roughly $21.9 million question in a February 2025 referendum. Unofficial results showed the measure passing 1,663 to 1,149, according to St. Cloud Live. That green light allowed the district to launch phased bidding and contractor scheduling this spring and summer.
To give crews more breathing room at Riverview, the district will start the school year after Labor Day, on September 8, Rivard told WJON. Officials say the later start applies to all buildings, but the goal is to cut down on last-minute chaos for families while contractors push through the heaviest work.
What Families Should Expect
Parents can expect plenty of visible construction activity around the north end of the building and the gym throughout the summer, along with limited access in those areas. Next year, when crews shift to the south side, construction traffic and disruptions will move with them.
The district says it is coordinating safety, staging and communication closely with contractors and is posting updates and planning documents on Sartell-St. Stephen Schools.
For ongoing coverage, see reporting from St. Cloud Live. The work is expected to run into 2027 as crews finish the second phase of the replacement.
