Education news
Complying with Jarod's Law could cost Fairfield big dollars
School bleachers don't meet safety standards and will require changes.
Comment: How should the district proceed to comply with Jarod's Law?
Related articles: Coming into compliance proves costly for schools
Lakota inspections will be biggest challenge due to size of district
Sunday, March 23, 2008
FAIRFIELD — With the upcoming inspections of the Fairfield City School District, officials are debating what may be a costly safety update.
Per the stipulations of Jarod's Law, the school's football stadium bleachers are not in compliance. While the bleachers are inspected yearly and are safe, business manager Rob Amodio said the new law requires the district to enclose the bleachers and add a center railing.
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Fairfield's track team practices at the high school's stadium March 20, 2008, where the bleachers are not currently in compliance with Jarod's Law, which emphasizes more attention to safety detail.
The bleachers at Fairfield's stadium are seen March 20, 2008.
Get latest headlines via RSS feedsHowever, by making changes to the structure, it may also affect modern building code that older structures do not have to meet unless they are altered. The bleachers were built in the 1950s.
"Our goal is to be in total or full compliance after our first inspection," Amodio said.
However, that may not be possible unless the district spends thousands or even millions of dollars.
"There's always a learning curve, and with anything, there's always a cost," he said.
The district has already spent $24,000 in repairing its indoor bleachers.
To replace the bleachers would cost nearly $2 million, and Amodio said this presents a problem if they want to move the stadium down the road. To repair them, though, may not be possible. The price tag, still about $150,000 may put them in a non-compliance situation. Also, he said manufacturers in the area are afraid to sell the parts of do the remodeling for fear of liability. Architects Steed Hammond Paul are trying to marry the codes, he said, but at this point nothing is certain.
Legal Council John Clemmons said it may take a court decision to fix the building code and Jarod's law problem if enough schools are struggling with the same issue. However, in the meantime, he said Fairfield will do everything it can to avoid any legal situation.
"We always want our buildings and structures to be safe, and we feel they are safe," Clemmons said.
The biggest challenge for both the schools and the health departments, he said, will be the costs incurred from the unfunded mandate. Fairfield has enough money in the budget to remodel if it can meet code, but the funds to rebuild are not there, Amodio said.
"The Butler County Health Department has been tremendous with the source of information and knowledge," Amodio said. "I feel like we are partnering with them on this. I think our district's done a really nice job with the education of what Jarod's Law really is. We've tried to really simplify these pretty thick and complex regulations."
Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5067 or lhilty@coxohio.com.
Comments
By cypeAceta
May 11, 2008 3:47 AM | Link to this
When a fellow says, “It ain’t the money but the principle of the thing,” it’s the money. — Kim Hubbard
http://odisparksuc.easyjournal.com
By NLD
March 27, 2008 11:52 PM | Link to this
Allright allready!!! So it’s an html! But it’s a good one!
By NLD
March 27, 2008 11:49 PM | Link to this
that is….
web.mac.com/nldadabo/ iWeb/Site/Page%201.htmlBy NLD
March 27, 2008 11:42 PM | Link to this
Attention Fairfield City & Township residents…. Go to this site
web.mac.com/nldadabo/iWeb/Site/Page%201.html
We need citizens to step up to build a new Fairfield Community Stadium on the FHS campus, using tax deductible donations and corp. sponsorship, and no funds from any taxation. Together…We can make it happen!
By NLD
March 27, 2008 11:17 PM | Link to this
None of this will be cheap to do. Some of our facilities have aged. We’ve had to “make do” with many of these buildings and athletic facilities due to limited funds. BREAKING NEWS!!!…all of these facilities are going to cost more today than yesterday. It’s a real tribute to most of our maintenance staffs for their efforts in keeping up the repairs on these facilities. It means we’ve gotten our moneys worth. Safety is priceless!
By NLD
March 27, 2008 10:58 PM | Link to this
Ok folks, what’s more cost effective, having the facilities inspected for safety or having a Stan Chesley sue all of us for permitting these unsafe situations to exist! We are the owners of these school facilities, that is, we the taxpayers. You wouldn’t permit an unsafe deck on your house for your family or guests to occupy. So why should our schools or any public owned facility be any different.
By NLD
March 27, 2008 10:47 PM | Link to this
Jarods Law was passed after a small child was crushed to death in a Lebanon school by unsecured cafeteria tables.Some state legislators were moved to pass a law that would require the state health dept. to have all schools in the 614 state districts inspected for unsafe situations and facilities that students, staff and the general public would have access to.
By Helga
March 24, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this
Thank you, Journal-News, for making sure you reference a law that you do not explain at all.
Who in the world is Jarod, and what is this law of his?
I guess we are just supposed to know all of the background on every story.
I have had students that try to write papers without providing background. It is infuriating to read dribble that has no relevance.
If you wrote about that law in the past, then this reader missed that story.
I give you an “F” grade.
By Man of few words
March 23, 2008 10:15 PM | Link to this
I expect the MCSD to use this as an another excuse for a levy increase.
By School parent
March 23, 2008 8:24 PM | Link to this
Seems to me this might actually improve conditions in most of Middletown’s buildings. The custodial staffs in most have a lot to be desired when it comes to cleanliness in the buildings. I have seen FILTHY buildings even in the new ones. Hey central office, why isn’t this addressed?? How can you call these buildings clean when there it is obvious they aren’t and the custodians DO NOTHING during the day when I have been in the buildings volunteering.
By MJ
March 23, 2008 5:25 PM | Link to this
Sounds like a typical government over reaction, that is going to cost tax payers Millions of dollars, to an accident.
By MJ
March 23, 2008 5:25 PM | Link to this
Sounds like a typical government over reation, that is going to cost tax payers Millions of dollars, to an accident.