The Senate Education Finance Committee on Wednesday heard a bill by Sen. Rich Draheim (R-Madison Lake) that will help small school districts make accessibility upgrades for students and faculty with disabilities. 

“There are a lot of small school districts around the state, including some in our area, that badly need to make ADA upgrades but simply do not have the money,” Draheim said. “It’s a difficult spot to be in – they want to comply, they know they need to comply, but the tax base and the financing just are not there. These grants will help those districts bridge the gap and make these important improvements.”

Bill details:

• Grants will go to school districts with an average daily membership of fewer than 500 students
• Grant amounts will be up to $150,000
• Grants will be used to make facilities upgrades to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.
• Qualifying schools must match the grant with local funds. 
• Grants will prioritize public school districts with average building ages older than 40 years.

The bill was laid over for potential inclusion in an education budget bill later in session.