KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
Despite the failed bond on a new high school in October, the Kodiak Island School Board continues to discuss the matter. The district’s director of operations updated the board on plans to enable a second public vote of the high school initiative at the school board work session last night, with modifications.
Superintendent Steward McDonald said he wasn’t giving up on a new high school after the October vote, that the re-vamped plans will save the borough as well as taxpayers money, bringing the total cost down from an estimated 115-million dollars to just 80-million, and that an architect has been retained by the district to help with the planning.
— (High School 1 45 sec. "Is there any way … possibly even further.")
Director of Operations Scott Williams explained to the board how the renewed plans developed and said that the new plan would include both renovations to the existing school and some new construction, including turning the existing pool into a larger-capacity gymnasium.
— (High School 2 49 sec. "Through my evaluation … do need new construction.")
Williams described renovation, as opposed to demolition and re-construction of a completely new high school, as a positive scenario for both the school district and taxpayers in terms of cost.
— (High School 3 19 sec. "Trying to limit that new … the more we can renovate.")
Williams said potential renovation is still in the planning stages, but agreed with McDonald in hoping to see the issue up for public vote again by next fall.
