HCS CSSCR 19(FIN): Relating to the use of prototype designs in public school construction projects.
00HOUSE CS FOR CS FOR SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 19(FIN) 01 Relating to the use of prototype designs in public school construction projects. 02 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 03 WHEREAS art. VII, sec. 1, Constitution of the State of Alaska, requires the state to 04 establish and maintain a system of public schools to meet the educational needs of children 05 throughout the state; and 06 WHEREAS the Alaska State Legislature recognizes the crucial role that local school 07 districts serve in the state in meeting this most important constitutional responsibility; and 08 WHEREAS the Alaska State Legislature understands the challenges school districts 09 face to ensure Alaska's children have skilled teachers, quality curriculum, and safe schools; 10 and 11 WHEREAS continued growth is projected in the state's school age population that will 12 increase the need for new schools and place further pressure on school district budgets; and 13 WHEREAS prudent stewardship of state resources requires that every effort be made 14 to get the best value for each state dollar spent; and
01 WHEREAS use of prototype school designs has enabled the Municipality of 02 Anchorage, Fairbanks North Star Borough, Kenai Peninsula Borough, and Matanuska-Susitna 03 Borough school districts to more quickly respond to their district's need for new schools while 04 realizing cost savings; and 05 WHEREAS the use of prototype school designs reduces future maintenance cost by 06 improving a school district's maintenance program through the use of standardized building 07 components, systems, and products; and 08 WHEREAS school districts experience substantially fewer problems during the school 09 year in a prototype school, thereby reducing the school district's costs and improving the 10 learning environment for teachers and students; and 11 WHEREAS public facilities should be designed to accurately reflect the unique needs 12 of our subarctic and arctic environments, and northern design principles can help minimize 13 annual operating and maintenance costs; 14 BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature encourages school districts to 15 use prototype school designs wherever feasible so future school classrooms can be constructed 16 more quickly and funds maximized; and be it 17 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is requested to direct the Department of 18 Education to develop prototype school designs in consultation with engineering and 19 architecture design professionals, including their statewide and regional organizations, who are 20 familiar with the unique regional climatic conditions in this state as well as other conditions 21 that affect application of appropriate school designs; and be it 22 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is requested to direct the Department of 23 Education to identify components within prototype building designs that can be standardized 24 and can be incorporated into the school design in those instances where a prototype design 25 may not be appropriate; and be it 26 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is requested to direct the Department of 27 Education to consult with the bond reimbursement and grant review committee established 28 under AS 14.11.014 in developing incentives for school districts to use prototype school 29 designs in school construction funded through the educational facilities maintenance and 30 construction fund (AS 37.05.560); and be it 31 FURTHER RESOLVED that, if statutory changes are necessary to implement these
01 incentives, the Department of Education is requested to report suggested statutory changes to 02 the legislature by April 1, 1998, so the changes can be considered by the Second Regular 03 Session of the Twentieth Alaska State Legislature. 04 COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to Shirley J. Holloway, commissioner of 05 education, to the Alaska State Board of Education, and to the school board of each school 06 district.