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Officials discuss $5M–$15M school bond packages to address roofs, HVAC and security
Summary
Committee members and school district staff reviewed potential bond packages to fund roof repairs, HVAC upgrades and school security improvements, including a consolidated camera system, and directed staff to work with the school board to refine package options ahead of bond deadlines.
The Juneau City and Borough Assembly GSD Facilities Committee reviewed options for school bond packages ranging from roughly $5 million to $15 million intended to address roofs, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, and safety and security upgrades across district schools.
School district staff presented priority lists from the district’s six-year capital improvement plan and a deferred maintenance planning list. Director Germaine and Miss Koch outlined roofs, HVAC and safety/security as the three primary categories that could constitute bond packages. Staff said the district currently operates a deferred maintenance fund that is voter-authorized through FY 2028 and described an annual one-time deferred maintenance allocation.
Committee members discussed candidate projects and sequencing. Staff described the priority roof projects as a partial reroof at Juneau-Douglas High School (JDHS), Glacier Valley roof sections that leak and remaining roof sections at SAIC Gastro not previously replaced. The district reported a recent boiler failure at JDHS that has been patched and is being addressed with deferred maintenance funds; the full boiler-room renovation was estimated in materials as a larger multi-million-dollar project.
Security upgrades discussed include moving toward a single, city-standard camera platform (Verkada was cited as a prospective vendor) to unify existing systems that are split across multiple platforms. Miss Steininger raised a legal/finance question about bondability of software licensing; staff clarified that “software licensing is not allowed, but purchase and installation of equipment and front-end workstations is an allowable capital expenditure.”
The committee also discussed grant opportunities. Miss Koch and school staff noted a Renewing American Schools grant (through the Alaska Municipal League) that currently funds an audit/first phase for HVAC work but does not guarantee construction funding and typically requires a local match.
Committee members asked staff to return with clearer, scalable bond-package proposals that could be used to present $5 million, $10 million and $15 million ballot options. The committee agreed that staff should coordinate with the school board to refine project rankings and cost estimates so the assembly can review bond-package language ahead of upcoming ballot and budget deadlines.
