Roof repair back in play

Governor adds fix to budget

February 24, 2006

JOEL DAVIDSON\Frontiersman reporter

WASILLA - Advocates for replacing the faulty roof at Susitna Valley Jr./Sr. High School had cause for minor celebration this week, when Gov. Frank Murkowski included a $5.5 million amendment for the project in his capital budget.

Supporters now say they hope members of Mat-Su's legislative delegation can convince their Juneau colleagues to place the roof money in the emergency supplemental budget, a move that would free up the funds in spring, rather than mid-summer. This would allow construction crews to complete the roof replacement toward the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year.

If roof funding remains in the regular capital budget, construction timelines would be pushed back and much of the summer building season lost.

Attempts to secure money to replace the structurally unsound roof have taken Su Valley residents on a six-month roller-coaster ride, filled with mini-victories and disappointments.

At the start of the current school year, administrators from the Mat-Su Borough School District recommended that the school board close the Su Valley school, after an architectural report revealed structural flaws in its 33-year-old roof. The report indicated that heavy snow loads could cause the roof to collapse.

After school and borough officials helped establish a temporary snow-removal plan, the school board allowed Su Valley to remain open this year. The plan all along, though, was to replace the dangerous roof, either through voter-approved bonds or emergency funding from the state.

School board and Mat-Su Borough Assembly members decided against placing the school roof money on the emergency spring bond special election ballot, after Mat-Su legislators vowed to fight for funding at the state level.

Last week, however, Sen. Lyda Green, R-Mat-Su, said convincing legislators to approve state funds for the school would be a &#8220tough sell,” especially since the Mat-Su Borough had the opportunity to ask voters to approve bonds for the project.

Borough Mayor Tim Anderson, Borough Manager John Duffy and assembly member Talis Colberg flew down to Juneau last week. They spoke with Mat-Su legislators and others, including a key meeting with Sen. Green and Murkowski's budget director, Cheryl Frasca. Anderson said the meeting with Frasca gave borough officials a chance to explain the importance of the roof.

&#8220She had questions about why it was a life and safety issue if students are currently using the building,” Anderson said. &#8220I believe we gave her a good explanation.”

This week, Su Valley residents, led by assembly member Betty Vehrs, began calling Mat-Su legislators and sending e-mails asking them to continue fighting for roof funding. By Tuesday, Murkowski had asked the Legislature to include money for the Su Valley school in the capital budget.

Sen. Charlie Huggins, R-Mat-Su, said the new developments were a victory for Su Valley residents, but work remains to try and convince his legislative colleagues to support transferring the money into the supplemental budget so construction can begin this summer.

&#8220We have a starting point now,” Huggins said. &#8220Before, we had nothing. Now the challenge for us, the delegation, is to work to move the timeline up for the availability of that money.”

Huggins said he's not sure how legislators across the state will vote on transferring the money from the capital budget to the emergency supplemental budget, but he's determined to push for such a move. &#8220Do I know the sentiment across the House and Senate? No. Do I think I can convince them? Yes,” Huggins said.

Contact Joel Davidson at

352-2266 or joel.davidson@

frontiersman.com.