Board OKs bond package

April 10, 2005

Joel Davidson /Frontiersman reporter

Citing rapid student growth and increased strain on existing school facilities and services, the Mat-Su Borough School Board on Wednesday night approved a list of critical bond projects it hopes to put up to voters on this year's October ballot.

If the Mat-Su Borough Assembly places the bond package on the ballot and voters approve the $86-million proposal, the district would then build three new elementary schools and one new high school.

More than $10 million would go toward capital improvement projects on a number of existing schools. While it is still uncertain whether state legislators will pass House Bill 13 and thereby extend the state's bond debt reimbursement program to local boroughs, the school board and district decided to move ahead with a bond package anyway.

"Regardless of whether bond debt reimbursement is offered by the state, the school board must consider and pass on to the Assembly a recommendation for bonds for the fall 2005 ballot," Chief School Administrator Bob Doyle wrote in a memorandum to the school board. Doyle's memo acknowledged that the district will open a new Wasilla-area elementary school in 2006.

By that time, with the district adding 500 students every year, he said the district will already need three more 500-student buildings.

Joel Davidson may be reached at 352-2266 or joel.davidson@ frontiersman.com.