School District assesses windstorm damage

All Mat-Su Brough Schools are back in session this week following the multi-day wind storm that ripped through the Valley last week.  But according to the district’s Superintendent, Dr. Randy Trani, multiple schools in the lower valley incurred major damage.

The majority of the wreckage is in the form of broken windows, frozen pipes and roof damage.  According to Trani, fire suppression systems were also hit hard.  Various schools experienced significant flooding.  To help with the extensive repairs, the Borough even went outside the school system for help.

“Our facilities folks have been, and still are, working around the clock.  Over the weekend we employed twelve plumbers to try to get things up and running.  We have one plumber on staff, so a twelve-fold increase.  That’s what it took to get the buildings open.  There is a lot of damage in a lot of different places.”

On January 3rd, Governor Mike Dunleavy officially declared the Mat-Su Borough a disaster area. That designation will open avenues for state assistance to help the school district pay for repairs that insurance doesn’t cover.

Colony and Wasilla Middle Schools are suspected to have suffered significant roof damage.  The extent of that damage is still unknown however.  Continued high winds have prevented the district from fully assessing the situation.

Crews are continuing to monitor electrical and water systems for on-going problems.  According to Dr. Trani, the northern schools in the district did not suffer any material damage.