Lawmakers resolve school press box access issue

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois General Assembly gave final approval Thursday to legislation that would exempt existing school sporting venues from a requirement that all second-story press boxes have elevator access for people with disabilities.

The proposal, which will now go to the governor, was sponsored by state Sen. Pam Althoff of McHenry and State Rep. Tim Schmitz of Batavia.

School districts were worried about the high cost of retrofitting the press boxes.

The issue arose last year when Carpentersville-based Community Unit District 300 opened a new high school and renovated two others. At that time, the Kane County Regional Office of Education told the district it must comply with the 1997 rule, officials said.

District 300 estimates installing an elevator would cost between $80,000 and $100,000 for each press box in the district.

The issue was brought to lawmakers' attention because the rules regarding press box access are being interpreted differently in different areas.

Barrington High School, for example, did not have to install an elevator in the new, $4.4 million stadium it opened last year.

The legislation also creates a task force to review the accessibility code and bring it in line with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.