Teeter-totters used to be standard equipment on school playgrounds. But now insurance providers and government bureaucrats have decided they are too dangerous and too much of a liability for school districts.

As a result, the Re-1 school district has begun a survey of its own playground equipment.

This year, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued new regulations that recommended removing teeter-totters, metal slides, square merry-go-rounds, and other hazardous equipment from public playgrounds.

Mike Chadwick, Re-1 physical-plant director, said all of the schools in the district are being evaluated based on the new regulations.

Ben Boaz and Linda Garrett, maintenance workers at Manaugh Elementary School, have started studying their playground and could make some preliminary recommendations for Chadwick.

Specifically, they think the metal slides and metal equipment that absorb heat from the sun and may burn children’s hands or tender seats may need to be replaced. They also said that the school’s jungle-gym bars are too close together, the tires need to be replaced on the tire wall, and little fingers could get pinched in the plastic hanging walkway.

"We’re trying to make it as safe a place as we can for the children and the community," said Boaz.

Gravel levels underneath play areas are supposed to measure at least 8 to 10 inches, but Manaugh’s does not even reach a quarter of an inch.

Rob Lee, principal of Manaugh and Lakeview elementary schools, said that the process began when their insurance providers met with maintenance staff to discuss the safety of playground equipment.

"We’re asking, is this as safe as we can be, or can we do some modifications to make them safer?"

He said they would consider making some fairly inexpensive modifications right away by adding more gravel to play areas. But the school would have to ask the school board for additional funds to replace or repair outdated but expensive equipment.

Chadwick said that some of the equipment in the district is probably at least 50 years old.

"We shouldn’t have to take it all out. We can modify some of it to be able to come to today’s standards, but some of it we’ll have to remove," he said.

Chris Burkett, director of the Cortez Parks and Recreation Department, said the six playgrounds in the city are maintained and checked frequently for needed repairs. A few years ago, the city removed a large metal spiral slide because it was above the height requirements. They also had to remove the climbing net at the Dolores Road playground.