News from the Senate Majority
Alaska State Legislature

Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
Phone: 907/465-4582
http://www.akrepublicans.org
Broadcast Actualities: 800/478-6540

Senate Votes to Reduce Cost of Building Schools in Alaska

For Immediate Release: February 27 ,1998 Contact: Senator Gary Wilken, 465-3709.

Juneau – The Senate Friday voted to pass part of the deferred maintenance package calling for school districts to build prototypical, or identical school facilities, to realize cost savings in design and maintenance. The Senate passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 19 by a vote of 14 to 4.

"I believe the use of prototypical schools will help reduce both short term and long term costs of schools built in Alaska," said Senator Gary Wilken (R-Fairbanks). "From what I have seen in Fairbanks, we could be building eleven schools for the price we currently pay for ten. This means we can serve more children with modern facilities which will improve the educational environment for kids."

The Deferred Maintenance Task Force, after receiving testimony in statewide meetings last year, found that communities realize substantial cost savings by using one floor plan for building multiple, identical facilities.

SCR 19 requests the Department of Education (DOE) and the Bond Reimbursement and Grant Review Committee to develop plans for prototypical schools and incentives to use them. DOE is requested to report to the Legislature by March 1, 1998 if changes in current law are needed to implement this program.

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