Funding for new schools rejected

October 7, 2005

JOEL DAVIDSON/Frontiersman reporter

MAT-SU - Depending on whom you talk to, Tuesday's election was either a great victory for the taxpayers or a blow to public education.

Official results won't be known until early next week, but with all but roughly 2,000 votes counted, it appears Mat-Su taxpayers oppose financing three proposed elementary schools.

Total cost for the schools was listed at slightly more than $40 million, but the state agreed to reimburse $24 million of that. Even so, many residents opposed the bonds.

&#8221People are just tired of seeing their taxes go up,“ said Dennis Oakland, co-founder of the Mat-Su Taxpayers Association, a group that pushed strongly for a tax-cap initiative on this year's ballot.

The initiative, which aimed to limit the amount the Mat-Su Borough could increase taxes each year, was deemed unnecessary when the Borough Assembly voted in August to voluntarily adopt a similar tax-cap ordinance.

While not opposed to public education, Oakland said he thought the school district, which accounts for approximately 80 percent of the borough's annual budget, needs to be more efficient with its funds.

&#8221They have plenty of money, and they better start working more efficiently before getting any more,“ he said.

School district officials, however, said rising enrollment, commitment to smaller class sizes, increased special-needs students and vocational education programs all put added strain on school-enrollment capacities.

Now, with nearly 15,500 students - 800 more than last year - the school district added enough students this fall to more than fill another new school. If the growth continues and new schools aren't approved soon, Chief School Administrator Bob Doyle said class sizes will likely increase.

While many Mat-Su schools are under or right at official enrollment capacities, Doyle said changes in public education have required more classroom space than in the past.

&#8221You don't put 25 kids in a welding class,“ he said, adding that special-education students and students in vocational-technical classes often need more space than students in standard classroom situations.

&#8221You need to look at the unique characteristics of your program,“ he explained. &#8221A special-needs child doesn't get the same area as every other kid.“

Penny Nixon, also a founder of the Mat-Su Taxpayers Association, said he thinks the school district needs to re-establish the public's trust over how it spends money before residents agree to pay for additional schools.

&#8221One of the best ways to overcome the trust hurdle is to show that you absolutely produce something,“ he said. &#8221The public supports good education, we're just not seeing it.“

Current School Board President Mike Chmielewski, however, said he thinks the general public does support current education efforts and new schools - they just didn't show up to vote.

&#8221I'm still struck each time I look at an election like this and see the small number of voters that determine the situation for an entire community,“ said Chmielew-ski, who is trailing Cheryl Turner in his bid for re-election. (See related story, Page A1.) &#8221I believe the community is much more supportive of education than is reflected.“

Pat Purcell, who has a nearly 1,000-vote lead

for School Board Seat D, said she thought the public

was simply sticker-shocked by all the bond proposals for new buildings, which included $15.6 million for new libraries and $4.6 for a new animal shelter.

&#8221There was just too much money at stake, and by the time voters got to the school bonds they had had enough,“ she said. &#8221Had the school bonds been all there was, it might have been different.“

Despite the failed bonds, the district will still add two new schools over the next couple of years.

Previously, voters approved a new Wasilla-area elementary school, which is slated to open in 2005. A new vocational-technical high school is also set to open in 2007.

But even with these new schools, education officials say more are needed.

&#8221The schools are needed, and they will be passed eventually,“ Chmielewski said. &#8221Once the pain is big enough, people will be willing, ever so reluctantly, to step forward and approve bond measures and taxes. It's just unfortunate that it has to roll that way.“

Contact Joel Davidson at

352-2266, or joel.davidson@ frontiersman.com.