Built in 1985, the original design utilized wood timber retaining walls to provide erosion control, with entrance walkways passing through the terraced sections. The 37-year-old wood timber retaining walls have decayed and are in various stages of failure. As the timber continues to degrade, erosion is becoming an increasing concern and walkways are being impacted. The heavy equipment required to maintain the siding can no longer be utilized on the school’s front section due to the probability of the ground sluffing away under the weight of the equipment. This project will also bring the ramp up to current ADA standards, increasing safety and accessibility, while reducing maintenance during winter conditions.

The turf and track were originally constructed in 1968 by volunteers for the first football game in 1969. In 2014, artificial turf was installed along with a new 8 lane track. With this improvement, facility use has increased. Larger events are also hosted, which has increased the need for a restroom nearer to the facility.

The school was constructed in 1972 and did not locate the office in proximity of the main entrance. Over the years, security has come to the forefront and access and visibility are primary aspects of providing for a safe and secure learning environment. The 50-year-old facility has never been remodeled. Three lunch periods are required to provide food service in its current configuration. The main entrance, office, commons, and food serving area will be renovated to provide improved operations, better visibility to increase security control of the site.

The limited number of bays and storage area in the shop creates many inefficiencies that limit automotive maintenance capabilities. Vehicles disassembled for service tie up bays until work is completed. Emergency or unplanned higher priority repair needs require towing disassembled vehicles out of a bay to allow those emergency repairs to proceed. Also, repair delays due to waiting on parts require towing vehicles in and out of the bays to allow other work to proceed. Mobilizing for repair jobs adds hours to repairs due to large tools being stored outside of the shop. These inefficiencies create a backlog of repairs and preventive maintenance tasks that in turn create additional inefficiencies. Vehicles in need of repair are taken out of service while waiting for open bays, negatively impacting the efficiency of the vehicle users. The backlog also limits mechanic availability to service other equipment, such as school generators, tractors, and snow blowers.

This is the next roof replacement phase for metal roofs constructed in early to late 1980s that have exceeded their expected useful life. Nikiski North Star: In the winter of 2019, significant ice damming occurred, causing water to backup and penetrate the 35-year-old roof that has exceeded it's 20-year expected life. This caused saturation of the insulation and filled the soffits with ice, resulting in interior building damage. As a temporary measure, heat trace was installed along the eves to minimize ice damming and protect the structure. Operation of the heat trace and loss of insulation has increased the utility cost at this site. This project will replace the damaged roof and upgrade the insulation to reduce the operational costs at this site. Mountain View Elementary School and Hope School: Both constructed in 1987, the 35-year-old roofs have exceeded their 20-year expected life. This project will replace the roofs and upgrade the insulation to reduce the operational costs at the sites.

Older school traffic patterns were designed for most student transportation to be via bus. Practices have changed over time, and a much larger percentage of student transportation is by private vehicles. This change in traffic patterns has resulted in backup of traffic onto adjacent roads and highways, and many times requires foot traffic across bus or car lanes. Highest Priority: Chapman School, Homer Middle School, Kenai Middle School, Mountain View Elementary

The Nikiski and Seward High School tracks were constructed in the 1980’s and the surface and base asphalt have exceeded their expected life and are now deteriorating. They have numerous heaved, broken or separated sections, and present safety concerns for use. The football fields are grass fields with high maintenance costs. The project consists of removing the sod, excavating and back filling with structural fill, installing the drainage tile and installing the turf field with sand and rubber infill. An artificial turf field would enable the school district community to use the facility for a greater portion of the year by allowing use much earlier in the spring and much later in the fall than is currently possible. Additionally, artificial turf fields can handle a significantly greater amount of use than natural turf fields without risking damage.

This project comes as part of the feasibility study that was completed for Soldotna area schools that indicated the need for replacement of the 62-year-old Soldotna Elementary school. The school was first constructed in 1960 and was added on to in 1962, 1968, 1975 and 1987. The facility is deteriorating and only one section of the school has a slab on grade construction. With the relocation of the Montessori school a compact and efficient structure is possible, this will result in a reduced operational cost including maintenance efforts to maintain 62-year-old building systems. This project will construct a new elementary school of approximately 32,984 GSF.

The school was constructed in 1980 with an exterior insulation finishing system that has developed numerous cracks in the panels and system in the past 37 years. Localized patching has found failed moisture barrier behind the siding to protect the structural wall components, and steel framing has rusted. In addition, moisture that leaks behind cracked siding collects and leaks into the building and damages interior finishes. Cracked portions of the pre-cast siding also pose safety concerns as pieces have fallen. The project will replace the exterior insulation finishing system (siding) on the Soldotna High School, including the moisture barrier, to provide exterior closure that will protect the structure for many years.

A feasibility study was completed for Soldotna area schools that indicated the need for replacement of the 62-year-old Soldotna Elementary School and relocation of the River City Academy, Soldotna Montessori Charter School, Connections Home School, and District Office to the former Soldotna Preparatory School facility and necessary improvements required to meet educational requirements, alleviate overcrowding in the Borough Administration Building and extend the life of the facilities. The Borough Administration Building is currently overcrowded, and relocation of the School District administration will alleviate the situation and provide a better work environment for both the Borough and District employees. This will also address the overcrowding at Skyview Middle School and Connections School and prepare the way for the replacement of a smaller (consolidated) Soldotna Elementary School facility. In 2019 the Soldotna Preparatory School was surplused due to low enrollment and consolidation of School District program services. The currently vacant Soldotna Preparatory building is a durable structure that includes recent roof and boiler replacement and retains much of its useful life. In August 2020, the Borough and the School District hired an architectural and engineering team to confirm viability for future use and alternatives for repurposing. The Kenai Peninsula Borough currently expends approximately $300,000.00 annually to maintain and preserve the Soldotna Preparatory School Facility. The facility is currently underused, and this repurposing project would address multiple School District, Borough and community issues while make the building operational cost expenditures much more effectively applied. The project will also serve to address both Borough and School District needs without expanding Borough infrastructure and thus creating more efficient facility use. Minor remodel is required to accommodate the relocation of District Office Personnel, River City Academy, Connections School, and Soldotna Montessori Charter School to the site.

School bonds are a way for school districts or the government to borrow money. Investors buy the bonds and the Borough will receive cash in the short term. The Borough will then agree to pay the investor back over a fixed period of time with interest.

Proposition 2 is the KPB/KPBSD School Facilities Rehabilitation and Improvements Bond initiative. The Borough is requesting the authorization of up to $65,550,000 in bonds to pay for projects for KPB/KPBSD school facilities.

The average age of Borough facilities is 46 years. 38% (16 schools) of our school facilities have building sections exceeding 50 years old. While general maintenance for KPB school facilities has been funded through the years, replacement and improvements have not had enough funding to keep pace with the useful life of the facilities.

The cost to issue the bond will be paid from the proceeds of the bond, which is estimated to be $200,000-$300,000. The total bond issuance will be no more than $65,550,000.

The property taxpayers of the Kenai Peninsula Borough. The current budget projection indicates the bond can be supported without a mill rate increase for up to three years.

Voter approval for Proposition 2 authorizes for each $100,000 of assessed real and personal property taxable value in the Borough (based on the estimated FY2023 areawide assessed valuation) an annual tax of approximately $45 to retire the debt.

If the State of Alaska lifts the debt service reimbursement moratorium, that amount will drop to approximately $25 for each $100,000. The current budget projection indicates the bond can be supported without a mill rate increase for up to three years.

For a list of the projects, please review the Proposition 2 summary at: https://www.kpb.us/images/KPB/CLK/Elections/Propositions/Proposition_No._2_-_School_Rehabilitation_Bonds.pdf

For election information, contact the KPB Clerk’s office at https://www.kpb.us/assembly-clerk/elections/election-seats or 907-714-2160.

As the items on the bond package are addressed, more local funds and labor will become available to address the needs of the remaining schools and facilities district-wide.

There is a KPB / KPBSD steering committee that makes recommendations to both the school district and Borough administrations. These are then taken to the school board and the Borough Assembly for approval.

Renewal replacement schedules are followed up by maintenance facility condition inspections to set priorities.