Mat-Su School Board votes to accept donated 13 acres

Voters have not yet approved construction of KGB elementary

January 22, 2006

JOEL DAVIDSON\Frontiersman reporter

MAT-SU - The Mat-Su School Board, on Wednesday, unanimously agreed to accept the donation of 13 acres from local developer Chuck Spinelli, which was offered to the Mat-Su Borough last month for the express purpose of constructing a new elementary school in the Knik-Goose Bay area.

The school board's acceptance of the land, however, is contingent on whether the borough and Spinelli can agree on the scope of each party's responsibilities to provide jointly beneficial infrastructure such as roads, drainage, water and sewer.

The school district estimates the new school would cost about $17 million. That money has not been approved by Mat-Su voters, a fact that school district and borough officials hope will change through a proposed special spring bond election.

In October, Valley residents voted down two school bond packages, totaling $40 million, which would have paved the way for constructing three new elementary schools in the Valley's rapidly growing core area.

School board members said that they want to give voters another chance to better understand the justification for new schools and then reconsider approving them.

Earlier this month, the school board forwarded a request to the borough assembly to ask residents to vote again on their willingness to help pay for a similar $39.7-million bond issue for two new elementary schools - one in the Knik-Goose Bay area and one in Palmer. The board also requested that renovations to Wasilla High and Wasilla Middle schools be included in the bond.

The state has agreed to pay up to 70 percent for one school and 60 percent for the other. The borough is still considering whether to approve the special election, which could cost an estimated $85,000.

Contact Joel Davidson at

352-2266 or joel.davidson@

frontiersman.com.