Maintenance tops school wish list

MAT-SU - Maintenance projects dominate the Mat-Su Borough School District's six-year capital improvement wish list, but some Valley residents say they wish Big Lake Elementary was getting more money, sooner.

District administration presented its CIP list to the school board earlier this month, outlining around $30 million in projects district officials hope the state will help fund during the next six years.

The top priority for next year - a $12-million nutrition services facility that would provide school lunches and other food to all schools. Unlike CIP lists of past years, however, most projects on this year's list are repairs of existing buildings rather than new construction.

The No. 2 project for next year is $1.2 million in sprinklers and piping at Palmer Junior Middle, followed by $500,000 for fire alarm upgrades at Su Valley High and Iditarod and Snowshoe elementary schools.

Big Lake Elementary came in No. 9 with a $150,000 project slated for 2003 that would replace siding and doors at the school. This, according to a group of Big Lake residents who showed up at the recent school board meeting, is too little, too late.

"That is a cosmetic matter versus the safety and health issues we have," said Anna Von Reitz, a vocal spokesperson for Big Lake Elementary who is leading the fight for more improvements at the school.

Reitz said she had invited school board members to visit the school, but none had come.

"If you won't come to the school, we'll bring the school to you," Reitz said as she instructed several supporters to show photographs of the 30-year-old school to board members.

Reitz described rotten carpet with asbestos tile beneath it that kindergartners nap on, inadequate fire escapes and dangerous electrical wiring.

At one point in her presentation, Reitz threatened the school board that she would call OSHA, the Department of Environmental Conservation and the state fire marshal to inspect the building.

"That would almost certainly mean a school closure," she said.

She went on to say that the Big Lake area has a case for a class-action lawsuit against the district if nothing is done.

School district officials, however, told a different story.

According to Michael Schwartz, facilities coordinator for the district, most of the complaints pertain to the original, smaller portion of the building, which he says is not even needed to house classes. The newer, two-story addition, Schwartz said, is similar to other school facilities in the district. And throughout the building, he said, basic safety standards are being met, including fire escapes and electrical wiring.

"There's nothing seriously wrong with the systems in there," Schwartz said.

As for the rotten carpet, he said much of it has been replaced, more new carpet will soon be installed and the asbestos tile has already been removed. Schwartz added that the asbestos tile is not considered dangerous.

Schwartz went on to say that other improvements could be made at the school, but that they would need to be lumped with similar projects at other schools. The state Department of Education, to which the district submits its CIP list, requires projects to be at least $150,000.

Schwartz said the district aims to group together similar needs, such as fire alarm systems at several schools, in order to obtain state funding and save money by buying materials in larger quantities.

As for the $150,000 the district is trying to line up for the school, Schwartz said it is needed.

"The siding has been in sad shape at that school for years," he said.

While the district and community may have differing perspectives on the building's adequacy, school district spokesperson Kim Floyd said she applauds the group's efforts.

"They obviously have strong community support for their school," Floyd said. "That's fantastic. We should hope that for all our schools."

And Big Lake Elementary may not be alone in its need of basic repairs.

"Maintenance has not been a high priority for either the school board or the [borough] assembly . . . When we have been bonding, we've bonded for new schools," said Assistant Superintendent of Finance Bob Doyle. "You will see an increase in deferred maintenance across the board, not just at Big Lake Elementary."

Doyle said he is hopeful that both the state and local voters will support putting more money toward keeping existing buildings in good condition.

While only the first year of a six-year CIP list is binding, and the projects for the next five years are still up for discussion, the existing plan includes millions of dollars in fire alarm upgrades, floor and carpet replacements, new roofs, new lockers and bleachers and other repairs at schools around the district between now and 2007.