The School District of River Falls is grateful for the longstanding support the community has for our district.
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Thank you, River Falls Community!
A successful Facilities Projects Open House was held on November 4, inviting the public to tour the high school multi-purpose addition and the brand new transportation center. Participants saw first-hand the valuable improvements that are already benefiting students, families, and the community.
Nearly all of our facilities have undergone significant construction. The improvements have touched nearly every corner of the district — from safety and surveillance system upgrades, improved heating, ventilation, lighting, and electrical systems, to remodeled restrooms, improved sidewalks and enhanced tennis courts. Not every improvement is easy to see, but each one helps create a safer, more welcoming environment for students, staff and the community.
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RIver Falls High School Multi-purpose Addition - outside view
RFHS basketball court - refinished and new bleachers added
RFHS multipurpose room - "green turf room"
RFH multi-purpose addition - "wrestling room"
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RFHS athletic training room
RFHS stairway
RFHS weight room
View of weight room (left) and multi-purpose "green turf" room (right)
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Transportation Center - view from driveway
Inside view of bus bays in Transportation Center
Bus bay on lift
Transportation Center training room
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RFHS multi-purpose addition
on track for completion by October 15
"bus garage" consisting of bus bay, conference room, offices, storage - on track for completion by October 15
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lighting and HVAC upgrades
lighting upgrades, a new generator, and soffit upgrades
lighting upgrades, a new generator, and soffit upgrades
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ADA compliant bathrooms, lighting and HVAC upgrades, classroom cabinetry
added at RFHS and at all of our elementary schools
gym floor redone; new bleachers installed
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the new tennis courts are already in use!
view of upper level multi-purpose "turf" room
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River Falls High School
Work Completed
- Existing School: North locker bay wall and frames installed/complete, south locker bay wall framed, weight room painted, main gym wood floor refinished and striped, dance floor studio wood floor refinished, fire sprinklers installed.
- Addition: Trainer's office painted, HM frames installed, casework for training room installed, aluminum door frames, all interior CMU walls, and fire sprinklers installed.
Work in Progress
- Existing School: Installing drywall for south locker bay walls, steel stud framing for furring and soffits, installing new handrails in existing south vestibule, installing rough mechanical/electrical/plumbing, sealing main gym and dance floor studio wood floors, installing sport flooring for the weight room and fitness room, replacing new fire alarm device throughout school.
- Addition: Hanging new ductwork installed on the ceiling, installing plumbing and electrical rough-ins, priming and painting throughout the addition, installing steel stairs from lower wrestling room to upper multi-purpose room, installing drywall soffits, taping and mudding walls.
Work Upcoming
- Existing School: paint existing south vestibule, install vestibule stair treads and flooring, install main gym new bleachers, final seal for both main gym and dance floor wood floors, new weight equipment, mechanical/electrical/plumbing finishes throughout, door/hardware install.
- Addition: finish painting throughout, install door/hardware, finish mechanical/electrical, plumbing, install overhead coiling doors for multi-purpose room, install ceiling grid.
Transportation Center
Work Completed
- Roofing and parapet over entire building, exterior aluminum windows, in-floor heat and trench drains for garage, underground electrical rough-ins, slab-on-grade concrete complete, interior CMU walls throughout.
Work in Progress
- Site utility tie-ins to Grove St., steel stud framing throughout, prime and paint for the bathrooms, mechanical/electrical/plumbing rough-ins and equipment install, exterior aluminum frame install.
Work Upcoming
- Run new fiber line, install exterior overhead coiling doors, prime and paint garage and remaining offices/training room, install door/hardware, site final grading, retaining wall, and storm water management area.
View July 2025 update in PDF format
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High School: The 2nd floor of the RFHS addition (turf room) HVAC installation; new flooring and paint in the current weight room
High School: Door frames and drywall are being installed for additional door security; duct work being added to the HS Aux Gym.
TRANSPORTATION CENTER
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July 2025 view from above!
View drone footage of the tennis courts, RFHS addition, and Transportation Center - July 2025.
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River Falls High School
Work Completed
- Existing School: Concrete topping for new stair landing, new ductwork installed on the ceiling, new openings cut through existing wall to the addition.
- Addition: Concrete topping poured over new precast plank, underground plumbing, slab on grade for main level.
Work in Progress
- Existing School: Hanging new ductwork installed on the ceiling.
- Addition: Hanging new ductwork installed on the ceiling, both plumbing and electrical rough-ins, installing exterior windows in the precast walls.
Work Upcoming
- Existing School: Building steel stud walls for mechanical room access in existing vestibule, steel stud framing for new locker bay security doors, removal of the existing bleachers in the main gym, fire alarm replacement throughout building, begin repairing the main gym wood floor.
- Addition: Fire sprinkler layout and rough-ins, finish installing remaining interior CMU walls, continue mechanical, electrical, plumbing rough-ins, installation of the new door frames, continue installing new windows and entrances.
TRANSPORTATION CENTER
WORK COMPLETED
- Precast plank flooring set, concrete topping poured over the precast plank, CMU bearing walls for roof joists, structural steel and decking for new roof, slab on grade for the offices, restrooms, training and work station.
WORK IN PROGRESS
- Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing in-wall rough-ins, roof parapet blocking around the perimeter, CMU walls for the restrooms.
WORK UPCOMING
- Installing the new roof over entire building, laying out the new in-floor heat for the garage space, slab on grade for the garage space, steel stud framing for the new offices, CMU walls for new mechanical rooms.
View June 2025 update in PDF format
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New openings cut through existing wall to the addition. Roofing for the new addition is complete and ongoing with the new roofing gravel.
New ductwork installed on the ceiling.
Structural steel and decking for new roof.
Concrete topping poured over the precast plank.
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River Falls High School
Work Completed
- Existing School: Structural steel and decking for new stair landing in vestibule.
- Addition: All exterior precast walls are now set in place. Structural steel installed for precast plank to mount to. Main floor CMU bearing walls for the Storage Room. Precast plank installed. First floor CMU bearing walls for roof joists.
Work in Progress
- Existing School: Demoing openings through exterior wall for new coiling doors.
- Addition: Structural steel and joists for the roofing. Underground plumbing rough-ins and tie-ins.
Work Upcoming
- Existing School: Pouring concrete for stair landing in vestibule. Mechanical/electrical rough-ins for Fitness Room.
- Addition: Parapet blocking for the roof. New roofing. Underground electrical rough-ins. Concrete topping on the recast plank floors. Slab on grad for main floor.
Transportation Center
Work Completed
- Exterior precast walls set. CMU bearing wall for the precast plank installed. Plumbing rough-ins for the bearing wall.
Work in Progress
- Setting precast plank floors on top of the CM bearing wall. Plumbing rough-ins.
Work Upcoming
- CMU bearing wall on top of the plank for new roof. Finishing up the rest of the CMU walls throughout. Setting structural steel and decking for the roof. Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing in-wall rough-ins. Install the in-floor heating. Final grade interior and pour concrete slab on grade.
view May 2025 update in PDF format
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Structural steel and decking has been installed in the new stair landing in vestibule. All exterior precast walls are now set in place.
Mechanical and electrical rough-ins are being installed in Fitness Room.
Exterior precast walls are set.Plumbing rough-ins for the bearing wall are installed.
Transportation Center progress includes finishing up the rest of the CMU walls throughout the structure.
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River Falls High School
WORK COMPLETED
• Addition: Exterior precast walls are set and ready for structural steel.
WORK IN PROGRESS
• Existing School: Removing ductwork and lights in the Fitness Room.
• Addition: Grouting bottom of the precast walls. Laying out and installing structural steel layout for Main Level
WORK UPCOMING
• Existing School: Installing structural steel and decking in existing vestibule. Pouring concrete floor on top of stairwell decking. Installing mechanical/electrical/plumbing rough-ins for vestibule and Fitness Room.
• Addition: Setting the precast plank on top of the structural steel. Building the CMU bearing walls for the Storage Room. Setting structural steel and decking for the roof.
view April 2025 update in PDF format
Transportation Center
WORK COMPLETED
- Exterior precast walls are now set. Catch Basins are set in the garage section.
Work in Progress
- Installing interior underground and in-wall plumbing rough-ins. Building the CMU bearing walls along the office spaces.
work upcoming
- Setting the precast plank on top of the CMU bearing walls. Setting structural steel and decking for the roof. Installing the in-floor heating. Final grading interior and pour concrete floor. Installing mechanical/electrical/plumbing in-wall rough-ins.
Transportation Center and RFHS - drone footage April 2025
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RFHS exterior walls
RFHS exterior precast walls are set and ready for structural steel.
Transportation Center exterior precast walls are now set.
concrete walls at the transportation center
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Work completed
- Exterior concrete footings and foundations poured and backfilled.
- Soil corrections for the interior building footprint complete.
work in progress
- Interior underground plumbing rough-ins.
Concrete footings being set at the Transportation Center.
work upcoming
- Digging, forming and pouring the interior footings.
- Building the CMU bearing walls along the Office space that the precast plank sits on.
- Precast walls tentatively scheduled for erection the week of April 7th.
Exterior concrete footings and foundations are poured and backfilled.
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WORK COMPLETED
- Existing School: Slab on grade installed in vestibule and ready for structural steel.
- Exterior insulation demoed and out of the way for precast.
- All architectural items in the Fitness Room demoed, such as the ceiling and flooring.
- Addition: All underground utilities and fire hydrant installed up to subgrade.
- All footings, poured walls, and piers complete.
- Backfilling complete with the exception of the North wall until precast is set.
Work in Progress
- Existing School: Demoing the ductwork and lights in the Fitness Room.
- Addition: Crane is getting set up and ready to start setting precast on March 26th.
Work Upcoming
- Existing School: Installing structural steel in vestibule for the second-floor platform.
- Addition: Setting all precast walls for the addition.
- Installing structural steel columns for the precast plank.
- Setting the precast plank on top of the steel columns.
- Building the CMU bearing walls for the Storage Room.
All footings, poured walls, and piers are complete.
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Demoing the ductwork and lights in the Fitness Room.
Crane is ready to start setting precast on March 26th.
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WHAT’S NEW?
Transportation Center
Ground thaw process at the new Transportation Center site. Excavation begins this month!
River Falls High School
Construction to the RFHS addition is underway with concrete demo complete and footings being dug and poured. Columns and precast walls are scheduled to be set by the end of March.
The Bus Garage is being prepared for excavation.
The favorable weather conditions have helped keep projects on schedule.
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Check out the aerial view of construction at the Transportation Center and RFHS - March 2025!
Transportation Center and RFHS - a view from our drone
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Construction will begin soon! As of January 27, 2025, the RFHS athletic roundabout drop-off and the athletic entrance will be closed to prepare for construction.
Note that students must enter through door 202 (the band door).
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What's New?
November was another productive month with a lot of detailed coordination between the district, Bray Architects, the engineers, and Kraus-Anderson. The project remains on schedule with construction documents set to be released in early December at which point Kraus-Anderson will seek bids on behalf of the district. The tennis courts are on schedule and the work planned for 2024 has been completed. The remainder of the work will be completed in spring 2025.
view December update in PDF format
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Planning and Design Update
Timeline for Project Bids
Bids documents sent out to bidders
Friday, December 6
Bid period
Friday, December 6 through Friday, December 20
Pre-bid walk throughs
Tuesday, December 10
Bid due date
Thursday, December 19
Guaranteed maximum price (GMP) issued to district
Monday, January 6
Update provided to Finance & Facilities Committee
Monday, January 13
Additional Safety & Security Update
The district increased its physical security of the main IT closet which contains district servers, network switches, firewalls and distribution units. This upgrade is another layer of security against data breaches, network disruptions, and potential financial losses for the district.
Conceptual Rendering: High School Multipurpose Room
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What's New?
This past month Kraus-Anderson and their construction team completed the installation of the tennis court base and adjacent concrete pavement. Bray Architects has finalized the design of the remaining projects and are focusing their attention on completing the drawings and preparing to issue them to Kraus-Anderson for bid. The engineers have been working with the district to finalize the building security, maintenance, and infrastructure scope of work which will be included in the bid documents.
view Nov update in PDF format
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what's next
Once construction documents are completed, they will be issued to Kraus-Anderson for bidding. During the bidding phase the construction budgets will be finalized and contracts issued. Construction documents will be submitted to the State for permitting and drawings will be issued to the City of River Falls for approval. Construction is scheduled to begin early 2025.
schedule update
- Long lead items bid package – end of October
- Issue 100% Construction Documents – beginning of December
- Issue for Bid – beginning of December
- Bids due – end of December
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new tennis court and adjacent sidewalks
new tennis court and adjacent sidewalks
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WHAT’S NEW?
September was an exciting month, Kraus-Anderson and the construction team started the demolition of the tennis courts. Bray Architects focused on the exterior design of the Transportation Center and Multi-purpose room addition and presented this to the district with much enthusiasm. With most of the design work complete, Bray and their engineers have been focusing on building security, maintenance, and infrastructure improvements at all the schools.
view update in PDF format
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Planning and Design Update
Rocky Branch and Westside Elementary Schools
The layout of the new student bathroom has been finalized and will include the same plumbing fixtures and interior finishes as other recently renovated student bathrooms around the district. Similar to Meyer Middle School and Greenwood Elementary School, the team has also been focusing on safety, security, and building infrastructure improvements.
Meyer Middle School and Greenwood Elementary School
Over the past few months, Bray Architects, their engineers, building and grounds staff, Kraus-Anderson, and the Core Planning Team have been working together to determine the extents of the security, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing infrastructure improvements. After visiting the schools to verify the existing conditions, the design team will document the improvements and work with Kraus-Anderson and the Core Planning Team to ensure this scope of work aligns with the referendum budget.
High School Tennis Courts
Kraus-Anderson and their construction team started the demolition of the existing tennis courts. The tennis court base layer will be installed this year to allow for any settlement over the winter. Next year the courts will be finished and ready for play.
Transportation Center
The design team has finalized the interior and exterior materials and finishes and presented them to the Core Planning Team. The civil engineers have been focusing on finalizing the site design including the pavement around the building for proper water drainage, and pedestrian and vehicle access to the building.
High School Multipurpose Room
The design team has been collaborating with the Core Planning Team and athletic department on the use and layout of the multi-purpose indoor facility. Several meetings have been hosted to work through the turf flooring, training and weight room equipment layouts, and building access.
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transportation center
demolition of the tennis courts
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RFHS multipurpose room - SE view
Multipurpose room - entrance
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PLANNING & DESIGN UPDATE
The Core Planning Team has been focused on making sure the new Transportation Center, multipurpose room addition, and the security and building system upgrades align with the approved referendum. To assist with this process, we have had meetings with user groups and select staff along with our engineering partners to make sure all the necessary infrastructure upgrades are captured within the scope of work. The design team has been using the latest 3D technology to scan the schools to ensure this information is accurately captured.
view update in PDF format
WHAT'S NEXT?
- Continue Core Planning Team meetings
- Engineering coordination
- Work through interior design concepts
- Interior finish/material discussions
- Work with City of River Falls on local approvals
SCHEDULE
- Design completion - November 2024
- Tennis court construction starts - Fall 2024
- Bids due - early 2025
- Construction starts - Spring 2025
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demolition at new transportation center site
River Falls High School - multipurpose room rendering
new transportation center - training/break room rendering
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Positive Progress
With support from voters for our $28M referendum projects, the district has solidified our bond details for financing these projects. Although our conservative estimates were explained at a 5.25% interest rate on financing these projects, we have successfully locked-in at a much lower 4.14% interest rate, which decreases the impact on taxpayers.
Now that we have confirmed our bond debt structure at a lower rate, the actual tax impact is estimated to be at $51 per $100,000 home value in each year. This is lower than the anticipated tax impact that was shared prior to the referendum!
Facilities Projects Update:
The District’s Design and Planning Team has been meeting regularly, including with user groups, to discuss, gather feedback and begin designing the referendum facility projects. Once these preliminary design specifications are complete, details will be finalized to allow construction bids to be let out publicly. Through those discussions it has been determined that a 2-story design for the high school multipurpose space is most advantageous from a user perspective and financial impact. The overall square feet dimensions and related budget will remain within the same parameters explained to the public prior to the referendum vote.
In addition, the district is planning to build the new Transportation Center on the recently-purchased property adjacent to the current site. These, and the majority of the other remaining referendum projects, will begin in summer 2025.
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