Frequently asked questions about school bonds - 2004

Main | General | Prop. 5 | Prop. 6

Proposition 5 - School Renovations, Construction and Site Acquisition

• Why is a new middle school needed in northeast Anchorage?
• Why are new schools and classroom additions needed when districtwide student enrollment is dropping?
• What is planned for Clark Middle School?
• How much longer before the high school renovations are complete?

Why is a new middle school needed in northeast Anchorage?

Northeast Anchorage is one of the most densely populated areas of town, and continues to grow rapidly. The three existing middle schools in the area, Central, Clark and Wendler, are all overcrowded. Central is at 139 percent of capacity, Clark is at 117 percent and Wendler is at 124 percent. In addition, many of the elementary schools in the northeast Anchorage area are overcrowded. The new middle school is proposed as a grade 6-7-8 school, similar to Mirror Lake Middle School in Chugiak. The new school would reduce crowding at the elementary schools and middle schools in northeast Anchorage.

 

Why are new schools and classroom additions needed when districtwide student enrollment is dropping?

Overall student enrollment has dropped slightly from a peak of 50,029 during the 2002-2003 school year (see graph below). However, the district still has more students than classroom space, and uses more than 130 relocatable classrooms to accommodate the overflow of students. Also, while some areas of town have seen enrollment stabilize or even decrease slightly, other areas are rapidly growing. We change attendance boundaries when possible to balance enrollments, but that isn't always a feasible or adequate solution.

What is planned for Clark Middle School?

The district will work with the community to determine the best way to accomplish a major renovation or total replacement of the 45-year-old school, and to coordinate the school project with the city's comprehensive plan, the Mountain View Cultural Arts Center development, and the overall revitalization of the neighborhood around the school.

How much longer before the high school renovations are complete?

The high school renovations at Bartlett, Chugiak, East and Service were planned as multi-year "phased" projects to allow renovation work to take place at the same time students were using the schools. Chugiak will be completed in 2008, East and Service in 2009, and Bartlett in 2010.