00SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 19                                                                                   
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 Legislature recognizes the critical role that local school                                        
07 districts serve in the state in meeting this most important constitutional responsibility; and                          
08  WHEREAS the Alaska Legislature understands the challenges school districts face to                                   
09 ensure Alaska's children have skilled teachers, quality curriculum, and safe schools; and                               
10  WHEREAS continued growth is projected in Alaska's school age population that will                                    
11 increase the need for new schools and place further pressure on school district budgets; and                            
12  WHEREAS prudent stewardship of state resources requires that every effort be made                                    
13 to get the best value for each state dollar spent; and                                                                  
14  WHEREAS use of prototype school designs has enabled the Anchorage, Fairbanks,                                        

01 Kenai Peninsula, and Matanuska-Susitna Borough school districts to more quickly and                                     
02 economically respond to their district's need for new schools and realize cost savings;                                 
03  BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska Legislature encourages school districts to use                                        
04 prototype school designs wherever feasible so future school classrooms can be constructed                               
05 quicker and funds maximized; and be it                                                                                  
06  FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to develop                                            
07 a prototype school designs for core school functions that could be used by school districts; and                        
08 be it                                                                                                                   
09  FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to develop                                            
10 incentives for school districts to use prototype school designs in school construction funded                           
11 through the educational facilities maintenance and construction fund (AS 37.05.560); and be                             
12 it                                                                                                                      
13  FURTHER RESOLVED that, if statutory changes are necessary to implement these                                         
14 incentives, the Department of Education is requested to report suggested statutory changes to                           
15 the legislature by March 1, 1998, so the changes can be considered by the Second Regular                                
16 Session of the Twentieth Alaska State Legislature.                                                                      
17  COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to Shirley J. Holloway, commissioner of                                      
18 education, to the Alaska State Board of Education, and to the school board of each school                               
19 district.