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Board discusses urgent senior-high elevator replacement; estimates top $2 million and eyes state infrastructure grant
Summary
Officials told the board the senior high elevator is undersized, presents safety concerns (people trapped during power outages) and needs replacement; administrators estimated a maximum cost of about $2 million and said state infrastructure grant funds requiring a 25% match may be available.
District facilities staff urged the board on Dec. 3 to move forward on replacing the senior high elevator, which administrators said is too small to meet current code and has reliability problems.
"I've ridden in this elevator multiple times, and it's a scary experience," a facilities committee member said, describing passenger discomfort and mechanical issues. Administrators noted instances when power outages trapped riders and required fire-company rescues because the elevator lacks backup power.
The administration said the existing shaft is too small to enlarge without removing classrooms and that building an external elevator would cost roughly twice as much. The district indicated it has capital-improvement funds available (the transcript cites about $3.6 million remaining in that line) and provided a maximum cost estimate of $2,000,000; a prior estimate had been about $1,100,000.
Officials recommended pursuing engineering, demolition and bid packages and applying for a state infrastructure grant that could cover a significant share (administration said grants require at least a 25% local match). The board generally supported moving forward with design and procurement work and stated that final bids and contract award will return for board approval.
What’s next: administration will solicit engineering proposals and prepare bid documents; the board will review actual bids and the final contract award in a future voting meeting.
