Town and community meetings set for December

School district involves public in decision-making process

By BECKY STOPPA-Frontiersman reporter

PALMER -- The Mat-Su Borough School District will hold community meetings to address overcrowding at two area elementary schools. The first is scheduled for Dec. 8 at 4 p.m. at Goose Bay Elementary School. The school is currently 20 students over its building capacity. The second meeting is scheduled for Dec. 10 at 6 p.m. at Larson Elementary School. Larson is 29 students over capacity.

Kim Floyd, the school district's public information specialist, said the district hopes to have a large turnout for both meetings.

"We want the community involved in the decision-making process. It's a chance for people to give their input before we go back and make decisions," she said.

The new Wasilla-area elementary school, scheduled to open in fall 2005, will help reduce the number of students at Larson. The district is, therefore, looking for short-term solutions for that school. At Wednesday's school board meeting, Chief School Administrator Bob Doyle said extending Meadow Lakes Elementary School's boundary is one possible solution. But, Floyd cautions, when the new school opens, the boundaries would have to be changed again. She said adding portables is another possible short-term fix.

While short-term solutions will do for Larson, long-term solutions are needed for Goose Bay.

"They are bursting at the seams, and there is no new school planned for that area at this time," Floyd said.

Doyle says re-opening the Point MacKenzie school might be part of the solution for Goose Bay. But Floyd says at least 10 students would need to enroll at Point MacKenzie for that to be a viable option. Though that number is low, she says future development in that area might warrant such a move.

"When we look at the future of what's happening out there with the possible development of a Knik Arm crossing or a port, there may be enough growth to support [re-opening the school]," Floyd said.

Another possible alternative for Goose Bay would be to re-draw the boundary lines and send some students to Big Lake Elementary. With an enrollment of only 303 students, Big Lake is 212 students below capacity.

Floyd said portables are a possible solution for Goose Bay as well. But, she said, there may be other options.

"We want to hear from the community any alternatives that we may not have considered. We welcome all suggestions," she said.

In addition to the community meetings at Goose Bay and Larson, the school district will conduct two town meetings in December. Floyd said these meetings are opportunities for the community to let the district know what it expects from schools in terms of programs and services.

"We'll be asking, 'If it weren't for budget restraints and other adult issues, what is it that we would want for our children,'" Floyd said.

She says that by coming together as a community and answering that question, we can begin to work toward making those ideals a reality. But, she says, part of achieving those ideals will depend on helping the state solve its budget crisis. Doyle said part of the focus at the town meetings will be to find ways, as a community, to help our legislators solve the state's budget crisis.

"As long as there's a billion-dollar gap at the state level, it's going to be hard to ask for additional funds," he said.

The town meetings will take place Dec. 4 at Wasilla Middle School and Dec. 11 at Palmer High School. Both will begin at 6 p.m.