From the Desk of the Superintendent
Superindendent J. Brian Sarvis, Ed.D.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Santa Barbara High’s Elevator Project Completed
ADA Upgrades Across the Santa Barbara School Districts
We just celebrated the completion of six elevators at Santa Barbara High School. Like other bond projects, funding for the elevators was provided by the people of this community. The expense of six elevators, $5.3 million, is also symbolic of the significant amount of bond funds used to provide Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) handicap accessibility at schools across the Santa Barbara School Districts.
We are proud to have school facilities that are accessible to students, parents, staff, and the public. Simply providing curbs, ramps, and restrooms that are accessible to all does not seem like it would cost much. But, the increase from the initial cost estimate of $8 million necessary for ADA handicap accessibility to the actual cost of $30 million in both the elementary district (Bond Measure I-98) and secondary district (Bond Measure V), is an example of what happened to many of our bond construction projects.
At the time the districts anticipated refurbishing and modernization bond funding in 1998 (elementary) and 2000 (secondary), a number of ADA upgrades were already known. They were spread across building and sports facilities throughout the districts. What was not known at the time was that increased state requirements over the next ten years would add to the anticipated ADA upgrades.
Following a series of lawsuits against school districts, the Division of State Architect (DSA) moved proactively by increasing its requirements on ADA compliance on renovation projects. Instead of requiring that up to 20 percent of a school project budget be allocated to ADA, DSA required districts to allocate whatever dollar amount was needed to complete the ADA portion of the project. The resulting impact on project budgets has been significant.
Finally, rising construction costs would decrease the value of 1998 and 2000 bond money so that by the time of construction, the money would buy only half of what it was initially expected to buy.
As a result of these factors, over four years ago the districts scaled back bond construction projects to those that would obtain the necessary ADA access. Other projects were not completed at Adams, Cleveland, Franklin, Peabody, Washington, La Colina Junior High, La Cumbre Junior High, Goleta Valley Junior High, Santa Barbara Junior High, Dos Pueblos High, San Marcos High, and Santa Barbara High. Although it was not my decision to scale back other projects as I was not the superintendent at the time, it was the right decision.
Elevators may not appear to be exciting, however, to hear from students who can today get to class on time at Santa Barbara High School, a school built in 1924 on a hill, is a wonderful thing. The community deserves our heartfelt thanks for making this a reality.