Three bond proposals totaling nearly $100 million proposed by the Anchorage School District - one of which includes $12.5 million for the phase four renovations at Chugiak High - are on Tuesday's municipal election ballot.
"I believe this is a very responsible bond package," said Carol Comeau, ASD superintendent, when school board members first reviewed the bond proposal earlier this year. Comeau noted that the district did not seek bond approvals in 2005.
The three combined bond proposals would cost property owners $18.85 a year per $100,000 of assessed value to retire the bonds and $1.68 per year for operation and maintenance of the added facilities, according to school district projections.
While some of the proposed projects - including the Chugiak High renovation - do qualify for up to 70 percent state reimbursement, limits placed by last year's state Legislature upon this year's reimbursements allow the school district to seek up to $62 million for projects approved by voters through Oct. 31.
This means that, if approved, only 42 percent or $41.9 million of the $99,865,000.00 being sought via local bonds would be state reimbursed, according to district financial planners.
"It's tough because several of our projects do qualify for the 60 to 70 percent reimbursement, but because of the overall dollar limit placed by the Legislature, we cannot seek that amount," said Roger Fielder, district media relations specialist.
Yet district personnel made the most of what they could get, Fielder said, noting planners have identified enough projects within just a few thousand of the $62 million to make the most of the state's current reimbursement policy.
He said district facility and budget planners are hopeful voters will approve the three measures Tuesday.
"All of these are critically needed projects," Fielder said. "As of right now, the state Legislature does not have a reimbursement plan for any voter approved bond projects after Oct. 31, so we are quite hopeful that voters will favor these."
What parameters will guide school bond reimbursement after Oct. 31 is a subject that has not yet been addressed in this legislative session, said Sen. Fred Dyson, R-Eagle River, who chairs the state Senate Health, Education and Social Services standing committee. But it's still early in the session, Dyson said, and he does expect state lawmakers will have to address the issue before this term's end.
Regardless of moves from Juneau, Anchorage voters will have their say regarding the three current proposals.
The Chugiak High renovations are included in what will appear on the ballot as School Bond Proposition 11 for $48.2 million.
It includes complete renovation of classrooms located in the older section of the school with lower ceilings. This section is physically closest to the Glenn Highway behind the school's Registrar's Office.
The area, which currently contains 18 classrooms, the band room and two computer rooms, will have 11 classrooms, two computer rooms and a large commons area for group instruction, according to district construction planners.
Bond approval would also mean the end to the school's old sunken band room. The room would be filled in after the rest of the existing academic wing is demolished, according to Edie Knapp, district project manager in charge of the phase four renovation project.
"It's not feasible to have a classroom at that lower grade," she said.
If approved, Knapp expects final design work for the phase four renovation to be completed over the summer with the project going out to bid in late fall 2006.
Amsden said bidding in the winter months for spring construction gives the district a competitive edge with better qualified contractors.
Should all go as planned, Knapp predicts the phase four renovation to begin spring 2007.
Also included in the $12.5 million is a minor renovation of phase one to add an academic commons area to Chugiak High.
Other Chugiak High projects to be completed include installation of new metal siding. The orange-colored siding located near the performing arts auditorium and on the walls facing the Glenn Highway will be replaced with a blue pre-finished metal siding.
A new Chugiak Mustangs sign is also slated to go up facing the Glenn Highway.
Still on hold are improvements to athletic fields, parking lots and traffic flow upgrades that are not included in this round of bonds, but are scheduled for phase five within the district's capital improvement plan.
Because the opening of Eagle River High School has loosened the once tight parking and traffic situation at Chugiak High, Amsden said district construction officials are holding off on pursuing those parking and traffic-related items until after the Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility finishes sewer upgrades - the first phase of which is scheduled to begin this summer.
A few smaller local projects are included in School Bond Proposition 9 for $20.8 million.
Those include:
Carpeting at Fire Lake and Ravenwood elementary schools for $180,000 and $175,000, respectively.
A $60,000 exterior closed circuit security system at Eagle River Elementary.
A $200,000 replacement of worn-out hot water heaters, pumps and associated controls at Gruening Middle School.
School Bond Proposition 10 worth $30.7 million includes renovation, expansion and design of various Anchorage area elementary and middle schools.
For more information regarding the district's bond proposals, visit the school district Web site at www.asd.k12.ak.us/Bonds/.
Reach the reporter at news@alaskastar.com.
