Boiler causes problems at Pittsburg campus

Damage caused by an unseasonable storm earlier this month will likely mean the end of the line for Pittsburg's oldest school campus.

During the Oct. 13 storm, the main building of Riverside High School leaked in several places and the school's boiler failed when staff turned it on to battle the cold. The damage would take significant time to repair, district Superintendent Barbara Wilson said.

The bursting of the boiler's pipe resulted in conditions that Riverside Principal Martha Strock compared to "a steam room" near the unit. District officials deemed the Black Diamond Street campus unsuitable and began seeking quick solutions to where to move the continuation high school.

The 87-year-old school this week showed little effect from the storm, though dark stains remain on the ceilings in second-floor classrooms. District maintenance crews worked quickly to dry out the school.

"I was impressed with how fast they moved," Strock said.

But when the weather gets colder, the lack of heat would be uncomfortable for students, Strock said. The district looked into adding space heaters, but the school didn't have the proper wiring, she said.

The Pittsburg school board will be asked tonight to approve moving Riverside's 215 students to portables used for the Pittsburg Adult Education Center at 1151 Stoneman Ave. It also will consider moving 11 adult education day programs and counseling staff to the Central Junior High campus

Central was closed after the 2007-08 school year because of safety concerns. In August 2006, a district-commissioned study found that four of five water and gas pipelines within 1,500 feet of the school run directly beneath the campus, putting students at risk.

Adult education can use facilities at Central because "adults can make those choices" about where they work and go to school but children can't, Wilson said. The district is required to place students in state-approved classrooms, which Central is not, Wilson said.

Other options include having Riverside students attend class at other campus sites after school; exploring whether other vacant schools in the area have space; or moving portables to the asphalt area outside the Riverside building. The last option would require additional sewage and electric lines and require too much time and money, Wilson said.

Riverside's location change to adult education would go before the state board of education for approval.

The arrangement likely would remain in place for at least the next two to three years while plans are reviewed for construction of a new Riverside High School, Wilson said.

Riverside could be vacated by this weekend if approval is granted by the district and state boards. The district also is working on adding extra electrical circuits and bridging wiring to Central's E wing, Wilson said.

Funding for the moves would come from the district's deferred maintenance budget and could put other projects on hold, Wilson said. The district's reserve fund is available if necessary, she said.

Paul Burgarino covers Pittsburg and Bay Point. Reach him at 925-779-7164.