Lawmakers press Senate on school projects: Stebbins, Galena and Mount Edgecumbe funding

Members of the Alaska House Finance Committee spent substantial time questioning the Senateversion of the capital budget about school projects, asking whether line-item amounts are sufficient and how project lists were prioritized.

"So appropriating this money, I mean, does this get us anywhere near a replacement for a school?" Representative Stapp asked David Scott about a $17.5 million appropriation for a new school in Stebbins, which Scott said burned in 2024. Scott replied that $17.5 million is not the total replacement cost and explained that capital appropriations can span five years: "we over the next 5 years, we're trying to cobble enough together to get a new school in Stebbins." Co-chair Foster described the $17.5 million as a phase 1 allocation intended for planning, engineering and initial materials.

Committee members also pressed Scott about Galena (the Huntington School), which the Senate reduced from a $34 million state-share request to $5 million. Scott said the department and legislative offices negotiated reductions so the Senate could fund more projects farther down DEED's priority list; he noted that the $5 million was chosen as a compromise point but that staff would provide follow-up on what specific work could be accomplished with that amount.

Mount Edgecumbe, a state boarding school, is slated to receive $13.9 million under the Senate package, with roughly $10 million for dining hall and kitchen renovation and remaining funds for windows, furniture and appliances. Scott told members Mount Edgecumbe is eligible only against the statewide deferred maintenance funding pool and cannot compete in the Kthrough12 school list.

Lawmakers asked for written follow-up to clarify what the reduced Galena allocation would accomplish and to get details on completed work at Mount Edgecumbe to avoid duplicative appropriations. No formal action or vote occurred during the session.