Insurance settlement for burned school not expected in time for fall term

June 12, 2007

By Russell Stigall

Frontiersman

MAT-SU - The timeline is short to find a replacement school for Su Valley students by this fall.

Su Valley Jr./Sr. High School, estimated to be worth $13.5 million. It is insured, but the Mat-Su Borough and Mat-Su Borough School District are not holding out hope a settlement could come in time for the 2007-2008 school year, borough Assembly Member Tom Kluberton said. Working through the borough's insurance, the contractor's insurance and subcontractor's insurance could take a long time.

&#8220We'll all be old before we see a payout,” Kluberton said.

The fire marshal's report about what caused the fire is still in the works.

The borough and school district are searching for funds for the interim, Kluberton said.

The Su Valley Parent Teacher Student Association has decided to adopt a plan to use the nearby Senior Center and Baptist Church as offices, cafeteria and auditorium for a small campus of portable buildings to house students come fall, Kluberton said. The PTSA chose the senior center because it already had many needed amenities and is close to the school's existing site.

School bus routes and times wouldn't have to change, Kluberton said.

The site also has enough acreage to put up about 20 portable buildings, Kluberton said.

Su Valley already has nine portable buildings spared from the fire. Due to high demand for portable classrooms in the district, any portable Su Valley does not already have will have to be built and purchased or leased, Kluberton said.

Scott Schwald, the district's maintenance director, estimates Su Valley would need around $1.2 million to build the portables and improve the septic system to accommodate the students, Kluberton said. However, the Su Valley Parent Teacher Student Association said the cost could be lower. Another $800,000 may be needed to replace text books, desks and other school supplies. The indoor court at Talkeetna Elementary will absorb Su Valley volleyball and basketball practices.

The portable buildings will be home for Su Valley high school students for at least two years, Kluberton said. The borough does not have emergency funds sufficient enough to cover the costs to buy and furnish the portables. The borough and school district may have to approach the state for emergency funds; however, the public process to allow the borough to receive state funds or set up bonding could take too much time.

&#8220Maybe the kids are out for a year, that just cannot happen,” Kluberton said.

Su Valley expects 185-200 junior and senior high students when school resumes for the new session Aug. 20. Kluberton said the borough and school district must place orders for portable classrooms in the next two weeks to avoid the Su Valley students' school year starting without a school.

&#8220The big trick will be getting them in on time,” Kluberton said. &#8220If we're lucky we can make it.”

Kluberton said transferring Su Valley students to the Talkeetna Elementary building would not be a good alternative to a portable campus.

&#8220The [student body] is so broadly distributed and you'd be making such an untenable comment for so many kids, it is really going to hurt,” Kluberton said.

Cheryl Turner, a Mat-Su School District board member, said the board hasn't had a chance to discuss Su Valley's options.

&#8220The last school board meeting was just a day after the big fire. Many of us were in shock,” Turner said, adding her fellow board members share similar observations. &#8220We want to do right for Su Valley and that area up there.”

Turner said she would like to see a replacement high school that addresses Su Valley's growing population.

&#8220Things like a swimming pool added and a double gym so the junior high and senior high teams can practice at the same time,” Turner said.

Steve Hicks with the Su Valley PTSA sent her a copy of the association's proposal. Turner said she would support the plan.

Turner visited the school site shortly after the fire, and said the school district does not have enough emergency funding to cover Su Valley's current needs.

&#8220That north end has come to the task of emergency tragedies,” she said. &#8220It is a very unique community up there. They have every tool available to them to make the school year this fall for their kids. It is a community that can handle this.”

The school district and borough will discuss Su Valley PTSA's plan to the borough assembly at 6 p.m. tonight at the Borough Assembly Chambers in Palmer.

Contact Russell Stigall at 352-2267 or russell.stigall@frontiersman.com.