Since 1992, Troy High School’s elevator has been reasonably functional, yet some students believe it requires some attention. The school’s elevator is used every day by mostly injured or disabled students and staff. Assistant Principal Kerry Brennan claims that the elevator “is not the nicest…but it is definitely not the worst.”
The elevator’s location, next to the main staircase, has especially raised concerns among students. The area surrounding the main staircase is known for being overly congested and has led to students getting injured or pushed, often making it dangerous for students on crutches and wheelchairs to pass through.
However, students with injuries are given passes to leave their classes five minutes early to avoid the crowd. “It’s not very safe for the kids who do have injuries to use the elevator because it will just be hard for them to get their way through,” senior Sarah Naga articulates. The times Naga had to use the elevator were “just not a fun experience” and often felt unsafe. “It was just very squeaky and wobbly,” she admits.
Brennan explains that the half-billion-dollar bond proposal that was passed in the Troy School District a few years ago, will contribute to improving the school’s amenities, potentially including the elevator. “Currently, the plan is to look at re-building the front of our school, including the main office, vestibule and the main staircase. I will be sure to suggest that the elevator gets some love, as well!” she clarifies.
When speaking about the functionality of the elevator, Junior Benjamin Ward expresses that, “It doesn’t work and then people that can’t walk up and down the stairs just aren’t even able to use it.” Ward injured himself while playing during the football season, and claimed that the elevator was often broken down and struggled to “get out of the way of traffic.”
Senior Kareem Rashed believes the elevator isn’t unsafe, but inconvenient, he explains, “Sometimes it didn’t open, so when it’s broken, I couldn’t go upstairs or downstairs.” Rashed recently tore his anterior cruciate ligament [ACL] and was on crutches, consequently forced to use the elevator during passing time.
Despite these conversations about the elevator circulating around the school, Brennan claims she was “unaware of students feeling unsafe in the elevator.” Brennan worked at Oakland University, where she was paid twice a week to work as maintenance supervisor. “I have been stuck in OU’s old elevators more times than I can count, so the thought of the elevator breaking down at Troy High doesn’t bother me at all,” she compares.
Brennan informs that until any construction and improvement takes place, students should try to keep the crowds moving to the best of their ability in order to avoid a “super congested and inconvenient passing time” for their peers who have to use the elevator.
With the help of the bond money that Troy High School received to refurbish and develop the school Brennan assures an environment that is “more open, free-flowing, and fun for students and teachers.” Students can anticipate a likely upgrade in the elevator, as well, in the near future.
