ADA Compliance Concerns At Some Canutillo ISD Schools

By Ken Molestina

CANUTILLO — In 2006, auditors with the state found that three schools in the Canutillo Independent School District did not sufficiently comply with requirements for the Americans with Disabilities Act. Friday, there were concerns that those issues had not yet been rectified.

The spokesman for the Canutillo ISD, Alfredo Vasquez said the district is working to have the problems fixed as soon as possible. “We’re doing it as soon as we can right now, and they will be addressed. All of them will be addressed,”he said.

The problems to which he referred were improper sign postings for students with disabilities, a lack of parking spaces designated for the handicapped and not enough properly fittedrestroom facilities.

The schools identified by the auditors in 2006 were Canutillo and Aldrete Middle Schools and even the newly builtCanutillo High School.

District officials said the problems at the high school have been fixed and that workers are correcting accessibility issues to the football field at Canutillo Middle School and certain door latches at Aldrete.

“Canutillo Independent School District wants to ensure that all of our facilities are accessible to everyone,” Vasquez said.

Administrators said that although budget constraints have slowed their progress somewhat, they expect to have all of the problems correctedwithin a year or so.