Board of Ed to Consider Spending $1.3M for Middle School Elevators

At Tuesday's Board of Education meeting, the board will consider spending nearly $1.3 million on elevators, in order to bring the Riverhead Middle School up into compliance with the American Disabilities Act.

Board President Ann Cotten-DeGrasse, who is out of state and will not be present at Wednesday night's meeting, said in an interview that the upgrades are required.

The funding will come out of a $10 million capital reserve fund, which voters approved in June of 2006. The fund - which as of June 30, 2011 had a balance of $8.1 million - is reserved for improvements or modernization of school facilities.

According to the agenda (attached as a .pdf), general contract work would cost around $1.1 million, mechanical and plumbing work just over $100,000, and electrical work just under $100,000.

Cotten-DeGrasse said that the district previously considered had considered outfitting the Middle School with elevators, though as the district presented the public with a capital improvement bond, specific design was up in the air. 

In February, 2010, voters rejected a $122.9 million bond by a nearly two-to-one margin, and . With firm plans for the middle school set, the district can now move forward with elevator installation.