The stairs at Grand Junction High School are notoriously steep and long, and students have been risking injury going up and down.
Since the start of the school year, at least two people have fallen down the stairs, and even more have slipped. GJHS senior Tali-Zorah Pavlisick slipped on the upper part of the main stairway leading up from the second floor during a release period in December.
“One of my feet got caught on the step, and my foot didn’t hit in the right spot, and I kind of just rolled down the stairs,” said Pavlisick.
Many students have been seen slipping on the steps leading to the second floor from the commons. Pavlisick, in particular, tripped at the top of the stairs and fell nearly all 30 steps back down. Footage of the fall was caught by school security cameras, which was later given to Pavlisick, who posted it on her social media accounts. She was not injured by the fall.
The south stairs, near the gym and the band hallway, also have the same issue. Some students have mentioned that they are slippery as well. Students bringing in outside grime on the bottoms of their shoes is a factor in the danger of the steps, as is the unusual shape of the steps, according to GJHS head custodian Jason Garrison.
“I see people slip like every day coming down to the commons,” said GJHS junior Eli Haan.
This can cause some students, like Pavlisick, to miscalculate their steps and trip while they traverse the stairs. This is similar to going downstairs and catching the step with the heel of their shoe.
“Just pay more attention to your feet,” said Pavlisick.
When a student is injured at GJHS, the school has injury statement forms available from any assistant principal. Nobody has filled out a form due to any stair-related incidents.
