Safety Concerns Addressed at Reavis High School

Reavis High School in Burbank took action to repair a deteriorating exterior staircase following directives from the Illinois Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This development came after records obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request. A complaint, filed in April, claimed that the eroded stairs at the school’s Austin Avenue entrance posed a trip and fall hazard for employees.

Photos accompanying the complaint showed worn edges and crumbling concrete around a stair railing. Upon receiving the complaint, Illinois OSHA contacted the school, though initial communications were unanswered, as indicated by records. A second letter sent in May insisted on a response from the school, with an inspection possible if there was no reply.

Repair work on the Austin Avenue entrance stairs is visible as of July 16, 2026. Not all damage is fixed, though improvements are noticeable. Superintendent Dan Riordan of Reavis High School District 220 did not provide comments to the Daily Southtown, but communicated with OSHA, submitting photos verifying repairs near the railing.

In correspondence with OSHA, Riordan shared plans for a comprehensive renovation of the main gym and auditorium entrances, aiming for bid submissions later in the year and commencement of work in 2027. Riordan stated, “There is a plan in place to replace and renovate the entire area within the next 12–18 months.”

Riordan noted that an independent team conducted an audit of the entire building recently, with no safety issues identified. “We do agree the steps and railings are not aesthetically appealing to the eye, but we would refute any claim that it is unsafe or out of code,” Riordan wrote to Illinois OSHA.

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