Disabled Will Have More Access to Indian Hills

Physically disabled students, faculty and visitors to Indian Hills High School will find it easier to navigate the campus once recently approved construction plans are implemented.

The construction plans, which will improve Indian Hills’ handicapped accessibility, consist of two major changes to the school’s interior walkways. A lift will be installed between the school’s main level and upper gymnasium, replacing part of an 8-foot wide stairwell that's presently in the space. The right side of the stairwell will be removed and replaced with the lift, while the left side will remain intact.

The second project will be the construction of a ramp with a set of aluminum stairs and a landing that reach from the main level of the school down to the cafeteria. The current landing and stairs will be entirely supplanted by the new construction.

Peter Keaney, coordinator of facilities and operations within the Ramapo Indian Hills Regional School District, said the construction will impact students “very little,” with the majority of work to be scheduled when classes are not in session. However, there is not yet a scheduled start date.

The school was not sanctioned to make its facilities more compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination against the disabled in education, employment, transportation and recreation, among other fields. Instead, it sought to improve handicapped accessibility on its own accord.

“Although we were not sanctioned by anyone to upgrade anything, for example, with getting from main level to gymnasium, there was not a way for (disabled people) to do it,” Keaney said. “We’re trying to be proactive for those people.”

The regional Board of Education awarded Drill Construction, Inc. the contract for construction after the company submitted a base bid of approximately $84,200 for the lift and an alternate of $19,600 for the ramp. Construction will begin after an initial pre-construction meeting, which has not yet been scheduled. The construction work consists of demolishing walls and stairs to clear space for installing the lift and ramp. In addition, electrical work will be required. The entire project may take 16 months to complete.

In spite of the cost and the time needed for construction, Keaney believes the project is worth pursuing because of the positive effect it will have for handicapped students, faculty and staff.

“There will be a significant improvement in overall access in the building because it will permit people with a handicap to access parts of the building they currently haven’t been able to,” he said. “We’re trying to make the building as accessible for handicapped people as is possible and practical within the limitations of funding available.”