Elevator failures, old relay systems highlight accessibility risk at John Hersey High

At John Hersey High School, a staff member speaking from the elevator mechanical room said the building's two elevators use relay-based systems that rely on older technology and technicians familiar with that work are becoming scarce.

"We are in the John Hersey High School elevator mechanical room. We have two elevators here at Hersey High School. It's all relay-based, and it's much older technology," the staff member said. The staff member added that when an elevator goes out of service, students who need to move between wings must be accommodated by traveling across areas that do not have elevator access.

Representatives in the segment framed elevator replacement as both a safety and security item and as an accessibility necessity for people who cannot use stairs. The district's producer noted elevators appear on Hersey's project list for the bond package; the video links equipment risk to broader capital needs the annual capital program cannot fund.