Legislature(1993 - 1994)
09/30/1993 01:30 PM House TMB
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
MILITARY SCHOOLS TASK FORCE
PUBLIC HEARING
September 30, 1993
1:30 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Eldon Mulder
Senator Loren Leman
Bonnie Carroll
Captain Dennis Porter
Colonel George Vakalis
Lt. Colonel David Melcher
Janet Stokesbury
Barbara Martin
Nancy Miller
Patty Norheim
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Terry Martin
Representative Ed Willis
Sue Wilken
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
Second Public Hearing of the Military Schools Task Force
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE JEANNETTE JAMES
Alaska State Legislature
P.O. Box 56622
North Pole, Alaska 99705
GREG BRANCH
Architectural Planning and Design
Anchorage School District
P.O. Box 196614
Anchorage, Alaska 99519
TOM ANDERSON, Staff
Representative Terry Martin's Office
716 W. Fourth Avenue, Ste. 650
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
SANDY BURGESS, Elementary Supervisor
Anchorage School District
P.O. Box 196614
Anchorage, Alaska 99519
SHEILA PETERSON, Staff
Commissioner's Office
Alaska Department of Education
801 W. 10th, Ste. 200
Juneau, Alaska 99801-1894
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 93-3, SIDE A
Number 005
REPRESENTATIVE ELDON MULDER called the meeting to order at
1:38 p.m. He welcomed Representative Jeannette James who
was participating by teleconference hook-up in Fairbanks,
Sheila Peterson of the State of Alaska, Department of
Education who was participating by teleconference hook-up in
Juneau and Patty Norheim, Chair of the State Board of
Education who was participating by teleconference from
Petersburg.
Number 044
In addition to Representative Mulder, those present in
Anchorage were Colonel George Vakalis, Lt. Colonel David
Melcher, Captain Dennis Porter, Tom Anderson on behalf of
Representative Terry Martin, Barbara Martin, Greg Branch,
Janet Stokesbury, Sandy Burgess, Nancy Miller, Bonnie
Carroll and Senator Loren Leman.
Number 080
REPRESENTATIVE MULDER thanked the Anchorage school district
for the tour earlier that day. He explained for those not
present on the tour, that the task force toured the schools
on Elmendorf Air Force Base and on Fort Richardson.
Number 097
REPRESENTATIVE MULDER opened the floor to any questions
which might have arisen as a result of the tour.
Number 103
SENATOR LOREN LEMAN raised the question of which projects
contained on the base school project list provided by the
Anchorage school district need to be completed before the
Anchorage school district is willing to assume ownership of
the schools.
Number 116
GREG BRANCH, ANCHORAGE SCHOOL DISTRICT, stated that he was
not in a position to answer.
Number 126
REPRESENTATIVE MULDER noted that on the tour, the Anchorage
school district provided a project list which expanded upon
the 1990 project list. The additions resulted in a new cost
estimate which exceeds, by about one-third, the previous
cost estimate.
Number 138
JANET STOKESBURY, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, ANCHORAGE SCHOOL
DISTRICT, stated that because the project list is still in
the draft stages, she is not able to identify those items on
the list which are mandatory.
Number 138
REPRESENTATIVE MULDER asked Ms. Stokesbury for the total
revised cost estimate.
MS. STOKESBURY responded that the revised cost estimate is
$35.8 million for the six schools.
Number 148
REPRESENTATIVE MULDER asked Ms. Stokesbury for an estimate
of the time needed by the Anchorage school district to
determine which items on the list must be completed to
effect a transfer. As Representative Mulder explained, he
shares Senator Leman's concern that the task force and the
school district may have differing views as to which items
are essential to effect the transfer. In his opinion, the
most important thing is to effect the transfer, because then
there will be a mechanism in place to upgrade the base
schools in the future.
Number 166
MS. STOKESBURY explained that several school district
administrators had already looked at the list and determined
there were some items which were not mandatory. However, it
would probably take another week or so to arrive at a
definitive answer.
Number 173
REPRESENTATIVE MULDER reiterated that this information is
critical for the task force to properly perform its job.
Number 178
CAPTAIN PORTER, ALCOM, noted that he had come up with a
figure of $35,761,000 with the revisions as opposed to the
earlier estimate of $23,623,000. He expressed concern about
the substantial change in the amount of money at issue. He
also questioned what amount of money, in addition to the $23
million, is necessary for the Fairbanks base schools.
Number 199
BARBARA MARTIN, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR BUSINESS AND
FINANCE, FAIRBANKS SCHOOL DISTRICT, indicated that the total
estimate for the new elementary school construction in
Fairbanks is $14.76 million. Therefore, a little over ten
million is still needed for the new Fairbanks school.
Number 205
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES commented that the Fairbanks estimates
may be on the high side as far as the task force's purposes
are concerned.
Number 212
COLONEL VAKALIS, GARRISON COMMANDER, FORT RICHARDSON,
pointed out that the United States Department of Education
(USDOE) has committed money to address life and safety
hazards. He expressed concern, however, that there are a
number of items on the Anchorage school district's project
list for each school which do not concern life and safety
hazards. Since the USDOE will not pay for these additional
items, he asked where the money is going to come from to pay
for these additional items.
MS. MARTIN observed that she thought most of these items
were a part of the original memorandum of agreement.
Number 238
CAPTAIN PORTER responded that there was no clear record as
to what the USDOE agreed to pay for. His interpretation of
the original agreement is that it included more than just
life and safety hazards. It is a gray area; however, and he
sees the bottom line as what the USDOE will pay for now.
Number 261
COLONEL VAKALIS reiterated that the task force needs to
examine what is affordable and what is the absolute minimum
that the school districts will accept to effect the
transfer.
Number 268
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES expressed concern that too many
restrictions were being placed on the transfer. She
emphasized that the Fairbanks North Star Borough and the
Anchorage school districts need to take some risks here by
getting the transfer effected and then focus on the upgrades
in the normal budgetary process.
Number 278
REPRESENTATIVE MULDER noted his agreement with
Representative James. He further noted that there were a
lot of nodding heads among the group in Anchorage. He added
that it is important to keep sight of the fact that the
military bases in Anchorage are the economic base of East
Anchorage, and that they have an immense economic value to
our community and state as a whole. He expressed concern
that if the community as a whole fails to meet its education
obligations, it would diminish Alaska's ability to keep
these bases open. At a time when decisions about base
closures are being considered, he reminded the task force
that it needs to make every effort possible to bring these
schools into the school districts as quickly as possible.
Number 308
REPRESENTATIVE MULDER identified LISA FITZPATRICK who is
working with the task force. He then asked Ms. Stokesbury
to bring the task force up to speed on the status of Ursa
Major School.
Number 314
MS. STOKESBURY stated that the Anchorage school district
received a letter from the federal government last week
indicating that the grant was forthcoming and that the
transfer of title could be effected. Under the terms of the
grant, the school district can draw ten percent of the $4.9
million but it must spend the ten percent within three days
of drawing the funds. A meeting is set for next week to
finalize details.
Number 332
REPRESENTATIVE MULDER questioned whether there were any
problems with Native claims issues in relation to the
transfer of the land.
Number 335
MS. STOKESBURY indicated that she was not aware of any such
problems. The municipality is going forward with getting a
lease for the land along with securing a signed memorandum
of understanding. She explained that even if it takes time
to get the lease signed, the memorandum of understanding
will take its place in the interim.
Number 344
REPRESENTATIVE MULDER noted that one of the Native
corporations has placed a claim on the Fort Richardson land
so that if Fort Richardson were ever to close down, the
corporation would have first opportunity to take those
lands. A lease overcomes that problem.
Number 355
COLONEL VAKALIS commented that similar claims have been
filed with respect to the Fairbanks bases as well.
Number 359
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES stated that she thought the state had
also filed claims against the land.
Number 361
REPRESENTATIVE MULDER asked if anyone had any questions.
Hearing none, he brought up an issue raised at the last
meeting concerning the use of volunteer assistance.
Number 384
SENATOR LEMAN stated that he met with Senator Ted Stevens
and his staff nearly three weeks ago. At this meeting, they
discussed the task force and the issue of volunteer service.
Apparently, Senator Stevens felt the idea of volunteer input
was a good strategy.
Number 407
REPRESENTATIVE MULDER requested that Senator Leman follow up
on this issue with Senator Stevens.
SENATOR LEMAN added that Senator Stevens had commented to
him that it was an awkward time in the United States
Congress to be asking for money for military base schools,
given the competition among states vying for military bases.
Both he and Senator Stevens felt this was all the more
reason to pursue the volunteer idea.
Number 422
REPRESENTATIVE MULDER confirmed this was the same
information his office had received from Senator Stevens'
office. Representative Mulder also described to the task
force a conversation he had with General Ralston wherein
General Ralston suggested that, rather than looking to the
U.S. Department of Defense (USDOD) for base school funding,
the state take its concerns to Secretary Riley at the USDOE.
Representative Mulder added that Secretary Riley had been
invited to this task force meeting.
Number 457
COLONEL VAKALIS noted his agreement that the issue of base
school funding really was not a Department of Defense
(USDOD) issue.
Number 464
REPRESENTATIVE MULDER noted the need for the community and
the school district to communicate their concerns to the
USDOE.
Number 467
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES commented again that the state needs to
take risks here by committing funds to the schools.
Number 473
REPRESENTATIVE MULDER agreed, but pointed out that it is an
easier burden to carry if it is a cooperative effort. He
suggested that a fifty-fifty split with the federal
government would be a fair split.
Number 500
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES agreed, but stated that the legislature
needs to commit that money first before approaching the
federal government and asking for money.
Number 507
REPRESENTATIVE MULDER re-raised the issue of identifying the
projects which are essential, as those items will determine
the size of the problem.
MS. MARTIN responded that the Fairbanks school district
feels that it is important to bring the schools up to the
same level as the schools which the school district already
owns.
Number 535
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES noted that all of the schools in the
North Star Borough are not equal at this time.
Number 540
CAPTAIN PORTER pointed out that the worst case scenario
using today's numbers is that a total of $46 million is
necessary to bring these schools up to speed. Of this
amount, the USDOE is obligated to pay approximately $28
million pursuant to the 1990 agreement. He suggested that
the state agree to pay half of that $28 million over a two
year period and allow the USDOE to reimburse the state over
a period of time.
Number 571
SENATOR LEMAN noted that the state is facing a potential
$600 million deficit depending on the price of oil.
Therefore, it is not clear that the state has the money to
leverage the transfer.
Number 593
COLONEL VAKALIS said that the USDOE needed to be held to its
earlier agreement.
Number 605
REPRESENTATIVE MULDER asked the school districts to indicate
whether they could have an answer for the task force by
October 12, 1993, regarding the minimum amount of funds
needed to effect a transfer.
MS. STOKESBURY said yes on behalf of the Anchorage school
district.
Number 614
MS. MARTIN, on behalf of the Fairbanks North Star Borough,
indicated that she would make every effort to meet this
deadline.
Number 616
REPRESENTATIVE MULDER requested that the school districts
make an effort to produce a list for the task force before
the next meeting.
Number 629
NANCY MILLER, PARENT ADVOCACY COMMITTEE, asked if there was
anything that could be done to speed up the process.
MS. STOKESBURY indicated now that the groundwork had been
laid with Ursa Major, things should move more smoothly in
the future.
Number 646
COLONEL VAKALIS pointed out again that the USDOE only gets a
limited pot of money each year. He raised the question of
what the Anchorage school district and the municipality
would consider as a good faith commitment from USDOE in the
way of an I.O.U. in order to get the transfer effected. He
added that all parties need to make concessions here.
Number 670
MS. MILLER proposed that the USDOE take care of one school
each year for the next eight years.
Number 679
COLONEL VAKALIS stated it was his understanding that the
USDOE was committed to fixing what they had previously
agreed to fix. However, even with this commitment, there is
no guarantee as to when that money will come.
Number 695
MS. STOKESBURY indicated that she thought it would be
necessary to take this matter back to the Anchorage
assembly, because the assembly passed the original
resolution that the schools be brought up to this undefined
code standard. Clarification of the assembly's intent would
have to be done by the assembly itself.
Number 702
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES pointed out that the task force members
are presumably advocates for the upgrade of the base
schools; as advocates, members need to push this issue with
local school boards and assemblies. She pointed out that
even if the USDOE agrees to pay money down the road, there
is no guarantee this commitment will be fulfilled.
TAPE 93-3, SIDE B
Number 000
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES continued that since the federal
government has already come up with some money, she believes
that the state should come up with at least as much money to
show a good faith commitment on its part.
Number 017
REPRESENTATIVE MULDER again requested that the school
districts explore their minimum requirements to effect the
transfer as quickly as possible.
Number 036
MS. STOKESBURY noted that it might not be possible to come
up with a definitive answer by the October 12 meeting in
light of the fact that the matter would have to be brought
to the Anchorage school board before the issue was presented
to the Anchorage assembly.
Number 057
CAPTAIN PORTER pointed out that there are two distinct
issues with respect to the USDOE: 1) there is the existing
$3.9 million commitment; and 2) there is the matter of
getting future monies. He suggested that the task force use
the $3.9 as leverage against the state with respect to
Taylor and Pennell schools in Fairbanks, which are top
priority needs schools.
Number 102
REPRESENTATIVE MULDER asked for clarification on the amount
of money necessary to complete the new elementary school in
Fairbanks.
Number 109
MS. MARTIN responded that it requires an additional $10.2
million.
Number 112
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES indicated that she believes the $14.6
million estimate is high. However, she agreed that the
added amount will come in somewhere around $10 million in
order to complete the new elementary school on Eielson AFB,
which is to be constructed because Taylor and Pennell are
not fixable. However, she noted that it wouldn't be
necessary to come up with all that money in one year.
Number 130
REPRESENTATIVE MULDER asked what additional amounts are
necessary to bring the other Fairbanks base schools up to
the point where they can be transferred.
Number 132
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES indicated she thought the amount was
somewhere around four or five million dollars.
Number 139
REPRESENTATIVE MULDER noted that Ms. Martin was passing out
an updated handout on the projected costs of upgrading all
the Fairbanks schools.
Number 145
MS. MARTIN explained that the numbers on this handout are
taken from the capital improvement plan that Fairbanks
submitted to the Alaska Department of Education earlier
this month. The total costs associated with the new
elementary school are $14.7 million. The current estimate
for upgrading the junior/senior high school is $9.8 million.
The last project is Anderson elementary school for which the
projected cost is $2.5 million. These figures include
inflation factoring and they include program needs, as well
as life and safety concerns.
Number 196
REPRESENTATIVE MULDER requested confirmation from Ms. Martin
that she would get more definitive information for the next
meeting regarding the amount of money needed to complete the
projects which would be required by the Fairbanks North Star
Borough before the transfer could be effected.
Number 214
MS. MARTIN asked Ms. Stokesbury whether the school district
had received the Army Corps of Engineers' report regarding
the Elmendorf and Fort Richardson schools.
MR. BRANCH responded they had, and that the information was
incorporated into the Anchorage school district's report.
CAPTAIN PORTER elaborated further that he had requested the
school district to incorporate the information into their
report and write General Ralston a letter explaining how
that was done. Several weeks ago, he requested the wing
commander in Fairbanks to request that his army corps of
engineer unit examine the life and safety issues in the
Fairbanks schools. He added that, ideally, this information
should be published since there are other people out there
who are interested in the issue.
Number 255
REPRESENTATIVE MULDER asked for clarification as to the time
table on this review.
Number 257
CAPTAIN PORTER responded that the Anchorage base schools
have already been inspected and the report is completed. He
does not have a time frame with regard to the Fairbanks
inspection and report.
Number 269
REPRESENTATIVE MULDER asked for details on the Fairbanks
base school tour scheduled for October 12, 1993.
Number 275
MS. MARTIN indicated that she was awaiting information on
the travel schedules of those coming from out of town for
the tour. Barbara indicated that she expected the entire
tour would take about three and one half hours due to the
driving time involved.
Number 288
REPRESENTATIVE MULDER stated that, assuming the plane
arrives at 9:00 a.m., the tour can take place in the
morning, the group can assemble for lunch, and the meeting
can begin at about 2:00 p.m. He requested that anyone in
need of transportation contact his office.
Number 344
REPRESENTATIVE MULDER welcomed PATTY NORHEIM to her first
task force meeting and asked her if she had any comments or
questions.
Number 349
MS. NORHEIM indicated that she had no questions, but she
would appreciate receiving any additional information that
might be provided to her.
ADJOURNMENT
Number 360
REPRESENTATIVE MULDER adjourned the meeting at 2:43 p.m.
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