Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Construction topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee hears bill to exclude on‑base schools from SCAP space calculation
Summary
Sen. Leonard Christian introduced SB 5901, which would exclude instructional facilities on military bases from a district's SCAP inventory so districts hosting bases aren’t penalized for inaccessible on‑base space; OSPI and affected districts testified in support, but the fiscal impact is currently indeterminate.
Senator Leonard Christian, sponsor of Senate Bill 5901, told the Senate Early Learning & K‑12 Education Committee that the bill would prevent school facilities located on military bases from being counted as available instructional space when the state calculates eligibility for the School Construction Assistance Program (SCAP).
Alex Fair Fortune, staff to the committee, said the measure would require state assistance to equal the approved project cost minus any federal funding for the project and noted two districts—Clover Park and Medical Lake—have facilities on military installations. For members’ information, staff reported the fiscal impact is indeterminate, though OSPI provided a rough estimate of $16 million to $18 million per fiscal year with an earliest potential effect in fiscal 2029.
Tyler Munch, testifying for the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, said federal Impact Aid is not guaranteed and that SCAP currently assumes districts receive federal funding, which can cap state support and force districts to rely more heavily on local dollars. "Impact Aid is insufficient to cover these costs," Munch said, adding that prior federal funding interruptions delayed payments and highlighted the instability districts face.
Charlie Brown, speaking for Clover Park School District, and Kimberly Hedrick, superintendent of Medical Lake School District, urged support. Hedrick said Michael Anderson Elementary on Fairchild Air Force Base was built for about 600 students but currently serves roughly 400 behind a security fence, and that exclusion of on‑base inventory could free up an estimated $14 million in state support for off‑base renovations at Hallett Elementary.
The committee limited extensive questioning and did not take a final vote on SB 5901 at the hearing. Committee staff noted the bill had a public hearing and testimony and that further steps, including fiscal analysis or subsequent committee action, remain pending.
