02/10/1993 09:10 AM Senate STA

  SENATOR LEMAN introduced  SB 18  (APPR: WEST ANCHORAGE  HIGH                 
  SCHOOL) as the next order of business.                                       
                                                                               
  SENATOR  ELLIS,  prime  sponsor  of  SB  18,  explained  the                 
  legislation appropriates approximately $26 million on repair                 
  and  renovation,  life  safety and  other  concerns  at West                 
  Anchorage High School.   He related that when he  toured the                 
  facility last year, he  was shocked to see the  shape it was                 
  in.                                                                          
                                                                               
  Senator Ellis said he is fully aware that the legislation is                 
  not  likely to pass from Senate  Finance to the floor in its                 
  current  form.   However,  he  and  the  Chair  are  working                 
  together to gain  a profile  for this project  to allow  the                 
  parents, staff and students  to make their case  through the                 
  legislative process.  He said he's hopeful that it will pass                 
  on to the  Finance Committee where  it could be rolled  into                 
  other measures.                                                              
                                                                               
  SENATOR LEMAN noted  a work session  on SB 18 scheduled  for                 
  Saturday, February  13.   He  then directed  attention to  a                 
  proposed committee substitute which will add  $9,050,000 for                 
  Romig Junior High School, which is the adjoining junior high                 
  school that feeds West High School.  He said the purpose for                 
  this is to broaden the scope of discussion on Saturday.                      
                                                                               
  SENATOR TAYLOR questioned  if the  $25,896,000 was just  for                 
  repairs  at  West  Anchorage  High  School.   SENATOR  ELLIS                 
  acknowledged that was  correct and that  it was for Phase  I                 
  and Phase II of the project.                                                 
                                                                               
  Number 445                                                                   
                                                                               
  SENATOR ELLIS moved that CSSB 18  (STA) be adopted.  Hearing                 
  no objection, it was so ordered.                                             
                                                                               
  GARY BADER, Division of Administrative Services,  Department                 
  of Education, said the  department is aware that there  is a                 
  statewide need for school construction, and the Governor has                 
  proposed a plan  which the department hopes  the legislature                 
  will  seriously consider.    He said  the  department is  in                 
  opposition  to  SB  18  because  it favors  a  comprehensive                 
  approach over a piecemeal approach.  He clarified  that they                 
  are not in opposition to the project.                                        
                                                                               
  SENATOR  LEMAN  stated  CSSB  18  (STA)  would  be  held  in                 
  committee and reminded members that the meeting in Anchorage                 
  on Saturday would be a work session, not a formal meeting.