Last weekend a Bond Summit was held at Riverside High School. The Summit brought together students, teachers, parents, and school board members to discuss where the district’s capital bonds are going. Capital bonds are voter-approved additional money to fund projects and maintenance around the district.

In the past, capital bonds have gone towards building the PAC and new schools. This year’s bond will focus on maintenance and keeping our schools safe.

This summit brought together all members of the community. Everyone sat in randomized table groups and the summit focused on building discussion within these tables.

Ryan Ingersoll serves on the Long Range Plan Committee, and gives some insight on the summit.

“One of the reasons we have a summit is to gain feedback and insight from the public, from voters. What are the types of projects that they are interested in and that are important to them and their constituents?”

One of the most valuable aspects of the summit was hearing from all community members and discussing from all different perspectives, with one driving question: what do we need to do to make our schools better?

Ultimately this summit was about students, and how to best keep them safe and engaged in the classroom. “We’re here for the students, they’re a part of the community… You’re receiving every single day what the district provides,” said Ingersoll.

One of the students who was selected to attend the summit was JD Greene.

“I enjoyed the summit, I had a school member at my table as well, which was cool. He was helping me out and explaining what needs to be changed in our district,” Greene stated.

Every attendee is able to vote, including every student that was present at the meeting, giving high schoolers a voice in what they want improved in their school.