$39.7m in school funds back to voters

February 17, 2006

DARRELL L. BREESE/Frontiersman reporter

PALMER - Wasilla resident Anne Kilkenny was wearing her heart on her sleeve, as were the majority of the supporters who filled the Mat-Su Borough Assembly Chambers Tuesday for public hearings about holding a special election for school bonds.

The hearts weren't in honor of St. Valentine's Day. They wore the hearts in support of the children of the Valley and education.

That show of overwhelming support helped convince the borough assembly to approve a pair of ordinances setting a special election May 2 for voters to consider a $39.7 million school bond package.

Supporter of the bonds were happy to finally have reached the point of getting the special election approved and give voters another chance to have their say.

&#8220It's time we let democracy work,” Jim Sykes encouraged the assembly. &#8220The people deserve a chance to vote on it.”

&#8220I do believe in the public process and that the people are entitled to have their chance to speak at the ballot box,” former borough mayor candidate Charlie Fannon said. &#8220I don't think that we give voters enough chances to vote on the issues. Getting this issue on the ballot is a victory for the people.”

&#8220At some point we have to stop covering our playgrounds with portables and get down to the business of educating kids in quality facilities,” said Colleen Hamblen, an administrator at a private Christian school in the Valley.

Others expressed concerns that the borough was ignoring the vote cast in October.

&#8220It's obvious that no one here understands the word ‘no,'” Robert Wright said. &#8220But I believe the voters will let you know at a special election and again in October. The voters just said ‘no' four months ago and they will say ‘no' again.”

Borough finance director Tammy Clayton estimated that if approved, the bonds will cost property owners $17 per $200,000 value of their homes. She also indicated that if approved, the funding for the schools should be in hand by September.

The school bonds will pay for the construction of two new elementary schools ($17 million each), remodeling Wasilla High School ($3.5 million) and upgrading Wasilla Middle School ($2.2 million).

Borough Public Works Director Keith Rountree told the assembly that there is the possibility of the projects being completed under the projected $17 million.

&#8220The cost model the school used in determining the cost builds in some additional funds to buffer against cost overruns,” Rountree said. &#8220I estimate, based on projected construction costs for 2007, that we can build the elementary schools for approximately $15.4 million each, resulting in a considerable savings. But it is hard to accurately predict how much construction costs will change, I don't have a crystal ball.”

Rani Roby isn't as concerned about the cost of building the schools as she is about what is being produced. She is the mother of four students attending classes in three of the schools that will directly benefit from the bonds.

&#8220I have two sons who are very smart and were A students last year, who now hate school because of the overcrowding and having classes in portables,” Roby said. &#8220We chose to build our home near Goose Bay Elementary School because it was close and a good school at the time. Now it is bursting at the seams and my son is suffering, I'm sure that others are suffering as well.”

Betty Vehrs attempted to include money to repair Su Valley High School's roof included in the bond package, after hearing a report from school board member Cheryl Turner - who just returned from Juneau on Tuesday - that the Valley's state legislators were not going to be able to provide funding for that project as they had led people to believe as recently as last month.

Vehrs suggested lowering the construction cost for the two elementary schools from $17 million to $15 million, based on the estimates Rountree provided.

&#8220It seems to be a good way to get money for the project that is our top priority,” Vehrs said. &#8220If what Mrs. Turner said is true, then we need to take action ourselves.”

Her attempt received a 3-2 vote, but was not passed because it failed to get the required four votes necessary for approval.

Assembly members Talis Colberg and Cindy Bettine denied the amendment, questioning the validity of Turner's statement and the fact that the money for Su Valley falls short of the $5.5 million estimated to be necessary to repair the school.

Borough Clerk Michelle McGehee said it will cost approximately $83,000 to hold the special election.

Vehrs said she hopes she's wrong about her belief that the timing for the election is too close to the October election, when similar bonds were rejected.

&#8220All along I've said we need new schools,” she said. &#8220I hope all the people who are here tonight can rally enough support to pass the bonds in the May election and prove me wrong.”

Contact Darrell L. Breese at 352-2267 or darrell.breese@frontiersman.com.