Schools review HQ bids

"If we can't show this is going to be a benefit and affordable in our current budget, which is approximately $1.7 million a year for all our leases, we're not going to recommend (a move)," she said. "We don't know if there will be any proposal viable for us. But we are trying very hard to consolidate where possible in the hope we would be able to come up with some efficiencies."

Interestingly, a reader wrote a letter stating,

"...Our current lease agreement is at 99 cents per square foot including utilities and maintenance, fixed for six years. The current prevailing lease rates in Anchorage are between two and four times that amount. A new administration building or lease will cost taxpayers millions more than they are paying now. And the voters know it. They voted no twice.

Fred Cosentino

Anchorage

We shall see how true Carol is to her word.

Update: Carol has held to her word.

Superintendent Carol Comeau on Friday said all proposals that have come in to lease a new office building were too expensive and the School District will remain headquartered in its DeBarr Road building through 2010.

However, it was done with some criticism.

"(Fischer) was obviously pleased," Spaan said. "He obviously enjoys having the school district as a tenant -- a good tenant. He was ecstatic."

Comeau was not.

Her disappointment was evident as she listed all the reasons consolidating offices made sense.

Folks, Carol is disappointed about not being able to consolidate offices. The expense would have been more to consolidate than what is done presently. That should tell you something about Carol.