The last successful bond passage was in April 2007. Following that success, the district committed to hold this year’s bond package to the same amount or less than the amount of school bond debt retired last year, approximately $44 million.
Bond issue projects come from the district’s approved ten-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The district uses several factual sources to determine which projects are suitable for this Plan: condition survey of the facility’s site, major systems (such as mechanical and electrical) and finishes (such as flooring and walls); assessment of facility’s ability to meet districtwide educational specifications; demographic history and projections; and input from the community on their educational goals and needs. Once they have gathered this information, the facilities department makes recommendations to the superintendent and administration. They, in turn, give direction on the nature of future improvements to the facilities department. Facilities summarizes the project scopes and develops estimates of costs to complete the projects.
The project is then placed on the draft CIP for review by the Capital Request Advisory Committee (CRAC) which is comprised of public representatives from all school attendance areas and the community at large. CRAC meets regularly, reviews facility needs and makes bond recommendations to the superintendent. CRAC makes recommendations to the superintendent.
The superintendent makes a recommendation to the Anchorage School Board, which then holds public hearings. Following board approval, the request is forwarded to the Anchorage Assembly. The school board and district administration provide extensive information about the proposed projects to the assembly. The assembly holds public hearings to gather testimony and more information. The assembly has authority to change proposed bond issue projects before they approve them to be placed on election ballots. Both the school board and assembly hear public testimony prior to approving bond propositions. |
