School construction update

June 18, 2006

By DARRELL L. BREESE

Frontiersman

PALMER - School construction projects are being completed at a blistering pace as officials with the school district and Mat-Su Borough attempt to stay ahead of the rapid growth

throughout the Valley.

Borough Public Works Department officials face a busy summer as they work toward completing seven school construction projects. Director Keith Rountree updated a joint meeting between the Mat-Su School Board and the borough assembly as to the status of projects that have started or are planned to begin this summer.

&#8220We're going to be busy for the next two years completing various projects under way,” Rountree said. &#8220In addition to these projects, there are at least 30 other minor repair and renovation projects which will be completed this

summer as well.”

Borough code requires the school board and the assembly to meet jointly on the second Tuesday of June to review capital construction projects.

A new elementary school in the Knik-Goose Bay area approved by voters during a May special election, and the Su Valley school roof repair are among the projects Rountree summarized.

School board member Linda Menard said she was pleased to hear the rapid progress being made on the projects reported by Rountree, but believed that many more will be needed.

&#8220The Valley is the fastest growing community in the state,” Menard said. &#8220If things keep growing at the current rate, it won't be too long before the Mat-Su district has the largest number of students in the state.”

Rountree began his presentation by telling the body that the $12.6 million construction of Shaw Elementary School in Wasilla will be completed ahead of schedule.

&#8220Collins Construction is done with the project early,” Rountree said. &#8220Landscaping is the only major project to be completed and teachers have already begun to move furniture into classrooms.”

The closeout of the project and turnover of the facility to the school district is scheduled for today.

The construction of a $2.5 million gymnasium at Academy Charter School is well under way. Rountree reported the walls and roof trusses are in place. The project is expected to be complete by October.

Interior concrete, heating boilers and food service equipment installation is ongoing for the $13.6 million nutrition services facility, and Rountree predicted the project will be completed by Oct. 30.

A groundbreaking ceremony will be held today for the $19.9 million career center. Rountree and borough finance director Tammy Clayton are working on adding $2.1 million to the project for the addition of five items beyond the original plan, including the culinary arts education curriculum. This project will be completed by Aug. 1, 2007.

&#8220The most aggressive of the construction schedules is for the new Goose Bay Elementary,” Rountree explained.

&#8220In order for us to complete construction for the 2007-08 school year, we need to move rather

quickly.”

The public works department sent a preliminary design for the project to the school district on Monday and would need approval from the school board at the Aug. 1 meeting to keep that deadline.

Voters approved a $17.1 million bond in May to build the new school, which may be built on the same campus of the existing Goose Bay Elementary. The sharing of the campus failed to gain the support of the school board Wednesday but could still be used if the assembly approves it during Tuesday's meeting.

The other major project on tap is the $5.5 million renovation and repair of the Su Valley school roof. The design is scheduled to be completed by late September, and construction to begin during spring break in 2007.

&#8220Work on the central core of the school will begin first, during the spring,” Rountree explained. &#8220Then, after school lets out, work on the remainder of the school will begin.”

Other projects highlighted during his presentation include the $140,000 sewer extension to Academy Charter School, a $203,000 paving project at seven area school parking lots and $94,000 for sealing and striping parking lots and access roads at nine area schools.

Contact Darrell L. Breese at 352-2267 or at darrell. breese@frontiersman.com.