Kodiak leaders weigh three‑way split of operating costs as school district finishes North Star move

Kodiak Island Borough officials and Kodiak Island Borough School District leaders on Tuesday discussed a proposed three‑way cost‑sharing plan to keep the North Star gym and restrooms available to the public after the district completes its move, and reviewed storage, maintenance and leasing questions as part of planning for the building's future.

The meeting combined an update from the school district on a compressed four‑day move out of North Star and a discussion of a borough‑led three‑year plan to preserve limited public access while exploring compatible uses. "We are very confident that we will be, be be finished at Northstar by the June thirtieth," Kodiak Island Borough School District Superintendent Cindy Mika said, describing the district's packing and pallet system and a team of staff hired through June to finish furniture moves and maintenance tasks.

Why it matters: North Star contains a widely used gym and other spaces the borough and community want to keep available for recreation, emergency sheltering and potential nonprofit uses. Preserving those functions has near‑term operating costs and longer‑term capital needs; officials said decisions will affect district storage, community programs and future school capacity.

District move and storage The school district described an intensive packing and pallet system led by project manager Geralyn Urban, director of child nutrition services, that moved most classroom materials in a four‑day period. Officials said elementary staff and district directors staged, shrink‑wrapped and transferred pallets to receiving schools and that classroom unpacking was already underway by the end of the move week. District staff hired through June are completing leftover furniture moves and maintenance; the district's goal is to finish all pull‑out work at North Star by June 30.

The district said three gymnasiums currently hold surplus furniture and materials; some items were transferred to other local educational entities and nonprofits, and staff are sorting what will be retained in consolidated storage at North Star for either a surplus sale or longer‑term safekeeping.

Plan to preserve gym access and estimated costs Amy Williams, Kodiak Island Borough manager, presented a potential three‑year framework that would keep the gym and restrooms available for parks and recreation programming, set minimal janitorial and security standards, and limit uses to those that would not structurally alter the building. The plan lays out two cost‑sharing options: a borough/district two‑way split or a three‑way split with the City of Kodiak.

Officials discussed a working estimate of about $90,000 a year to cover utilities and janitorial costs for the spaces in question; under a three‑way split that figure would be roughly $30,000 per partner per year, participants said. "We are interested in the cost of utilities and what janitorial services will look like," Williams said as she described conceptual budget and operational items the borough is reviewing.

Key concerns: budget uncertainty, capital repairs, internet and leasing process Speakers stressed the district's current fiscal uncertainty and the need for each governing body to take the proposal to its full board. Assembly members noted the district had already set aside money in its budget — officials referenced roughly $70,000 — but also warned that the state's pending actions and enrollment shifts could change fiscal capacity. Officials repeatedly said the plan should be considered year‑by‑year and brought back to each board for approval.

Several participants raised capital maintenance and facility‑preservation concerns. One assembly member warned that "there's over a potentially a million dollars on the roof," noting large future capital needs that could affect long‑term decisions about keeping the building in public ownership.

The group discussed internet service for retained cameras and noted that E‑rate funding has specific rules that may limit how internet is provided for non‑district uses. The borough manager said disposal and leasing of any additional spaces would follow public procurement rules and be advertised rather than awarded by single source.

Storage and rental questions District leaders argued that storage of furniture intended to preserve future school operations should not be charged as rent if the district is contributing to utilities. "If we are paying part of the utilities bill... it would be, in the district's best interest not to have to pay rent for storage," Superintendent Cindy Mika said. Borough staff said specific arrangements for storage, rent and lease payments would need to be negotiated and included in any formal agreement.

Potential uses and stakeholders Participants listed potential compatible uses that would not alter the building: Parks and Recreation programming, nonprofit offices, a children's museum, daycare or after‑school programs. Representatives said the YMCA and other groups have expressed interest but would need to take proposals to their own boards. The borough manager said the borough would solicit and compile potential user groups publicly if the basic framework is approved.

Next steps and timing Officials said they are aiming for an effective date of July 1 for any interim operating arrangement, but that each body — the borough assembly, the school district board and the City of Kodiak — must take the proposal back to their respective boards. Participants proposed placing the item on the June 16 agendas and continuing discussion in a work session later in the summer as necessary. The borough manager said the borough would draft a framework, manage advertisement of any leases, and bring recommendations back to the assembly.

Formal actions The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn that was moved and seconded and carried unanimously.

Ending The group agreed to continue coordinating with the City of Kodiak and to bring a clarified proposal and budget numbers to each governing body for formal consideration; no final long‑term sale or lease decision was made at the work group meeting.