New school site gets nod

Feb. 9, 2007

By Russell Stigall

Frontiersman

PALMER - The new South Palmer elementary school approved by voters in May's special election appears to be headed for South Wasilla instead.

Turner Company, a Palmer developer, is donating 15 acres of land for the proposed new school on Nelson Road at the outskirts of The Ranch, Turner Company's 800-home development in the Fairview Loop area. Turner Company is owned by Rex Turner.

Gary Gearhart of Turner Company said Tuesday during the Mat-Su Borough Assembly meeting that the developer plans to turn the plot over to the borough &#8220ready to use.” The borough would then get the site graded to construction standards and with full

utilities.

Tuesday night, the assembly unanimously voted to accept the Nelson Road site for the new school.

That site vied for acceptance from the borough with three other sites. Two of those sites were rejected early, leaving plots on Nelson Road and Springer Loop Road.

&#8220There is no five-star school site here,” said Ron Swanson, director of community development. But, he said, the Nelson site was the better option.

The usability of the sites were close enough that assembly member Bill Allen amended resolution 07-012 Tuesday to state that both sites met &#8220the needs to serve the growing population in the area.” Allen's amendment also instructed Borough Manager John Duffy to try and acquire the Springer Loop site in case it can be used for future school construction.

The Springer Loop site is owned by Kevin and Dina Sorensen of Palmer.

During the citizen comment period at Tuesday's assembly meeting, Kevin Sorensen said he was unhappy with the way the selection process was handled, and he found it difficult to acquire information.

He said he was undaunted by the assembly's decision, though.

&#8220I have a great piece of property,” Sorensen said of his 40-acre parcel on former farm land. &#8220I don't have to have a school there.”

Turner Company's Gearhart said the donation of the land was not entirely altruistic.

&#8220We said, ‘Well, it's to our benefit also,'” Gearhart said.

The subdivisions bordering Creekside Preserve, like Garden Terrace and Clouds Rest, already have to bus their elementary-aged children to Snowshoe Elementary, Gearhart said.

With the addition of The Ranch's 800 families, the need will grow.

The nearby elementary school would be attractive to current and future Ranch residents, and to residents of other subdivisions in the area and families nearer Snowshoe, Gearhart said.

Construction on the elementary school is scheduled to start this summer. Its doors are slated to open in the fall of 2009.

Though the Nelson Road site was selected by a site selection committee and accepted by a vote of the Mat-Su Borough School Board, it is not without controversy.

Cheryl Turner, school board member, said during the citizen comments portion of Tuesday's meeting that she changed her mind since she voted to approve Nelson Road.

&#8220I don't feel I was given full disclosure of information,” Turner said.

The access route to the Nelson Road site is slow and winding.

&#8220Even on the map, you can see the turns and the curves,” Turner said. &#8220I wouldn't want my child on that bus.”

Turner said she didn't think she could change the site location at this point.

&#8220As far as a school board vote, it is more of a ceremonial vote than a vote of full consideration,” she said.

But she told the assembly she has reconsidered her vote.

At Wednesday night's school board meeting, the board unanimously rescinded its vote from the previous meeting approving the Nelson Road site.

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

frontiersman.com.