Joint committee forwards $16M school bond with flood mitigation funds

The Joint Assembly-Juneau School District committee voted Tuesday to forward a $16 million school facilities bond to the Finance Committee. The bond adds flood mitigation funding to a package that includes boiler replacement and HVAC upgrades.

The committee first considered a $15.7 million bond proposal. Mayor Beth Weldon amended it upward to $16 million. The additional $300,000 will address flood control and erosion problems at school properties. Concerns grew after the August 2023 Mendenhall River flooding. That glacial outburst flood from Suicide Basin caused record river levels. It destroyed homes and severely eroded riverbanks near developed areas in Juneau.

Weldon said she wanted to make it $16 million to take care of some flood and erosion problems.

The committee approved the amended bond without objection. The flood mitigation discussion connected to the committee's review of Mendenhall River Community School bank armoring work and prior deferred maintenance costs at that site.

The bond package includes Phase 3 construction of the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé boiler replacement. It includes HVAC controls at four schools not covered by a federal Renew America Schools grant. It includes various deferred maintenance projects. Five other schools are already covered by that grant. The JDHS boiler Phase 2 construction and Phase 3 design are already funded through the district's deferred maintenance account. The Phase 3 construction portion remains unfunded.

The HVAC controls upgrade addresses aging computer systems that maintenance staff can no longer reliably access. The controls would allow remote management of heating and ventilation systems across multiple schools. They would improve energy efficiency, according to school district staff.

The bond proposal now moves to the Assembly Finance Committee for review. The Assembly could then place it on a municipal ballot. Juneau voters must approve school bonds before the district can proceed with the funded projects.