SIMI VALLEY : Schools to Improve Access for Disabled

The Simi Valley Unified School District will spend $275,000 over the next five years to make the district’s buildings fully accessible to the disabled, school board members decided this week.

Only $50,000 will be spent over the next six months, however, to meet the January, 1995, deadline for compliance to the Americans with Disabilities Act. All public agencies, including schools, are required to meet ADA requirements by the beginning of next year.

Supt. Mary Beth Wolford assured board members that $50,000 worth of initial improvements, such as wheelchair ramps and restroom alterations, is enough to a make a “good faith effort” toward compliance with the federal law.

Although the board unanimously approved the expenditure, some board members questioned whether more money should be spent right away.

“I’m concerned that that isn’t enough to show a good faith effort,” board member Diane Collins said during Tuesday night’s meeting.

An evaluation of the district’s existing facilities by an outside consultant determined 28 areas that needed improvements, including parking spaces and signs, wheelchair ramps and restroom facilities.

“We’ve already done some things,” said Roger Grady, director of planning and facilities for the district. “Resurfacing in parking lots, new ramps--we want to make sure there is access to the buildings.”

The improvements will be paid for with money the district receives from the state for student attendance. The $275,000 needed to fully comply with the federal law is not a stiff price tag considering how many sites need adjustments, Grady said.

“That’s fairly minimal seeing as how we have 33 sites,” he said.

The Educational Service Center is the first facility that will be upgraded because it services the most people, Grady said. Structures at the secondary schools and adult education are next on the list.