Middle school elevator is out of service; $145,000 repair ordered

What happened

The Gallagher Middle School elevator, which the facilities director described in March 2026 as nonfunctional, will be repaired under a contract awarded on May 7, 2026 to Atlantic Elevator South for not more than $145,000. Only one company bid. In December the chair told the committee the elevator had already taken about $27,000 of repairs over four years and that a full replacement would cost about $1.5 million; at the April joint session members were told elevator work meeting accessibility rules at both secondary schools could total about $2.6 million. Parts are expected to take 10 to 14 weeks, with the work treated as an emergency project in the state application.

Why it matters to families

A broken elevator in a middle school is a problem for any student, staff member or visitor who cannot use the stairs.

The evidence

The May 7, 2026 approved minutes record the 5-0 award to Atlantic Elevator South Co. Inc. not to exceed $145,000; the March 19, 2026 minutes record the elevator as nonfunctional with repairs estimated at $150,000, and the December 18, 2025 minutes record the repair history and the $1.5 million replacement figure.

The source