Anchorage Voters Decide on School Funding Measures

0:00From Anchorage, this is your March 13th update. Anchorage voters will decide in April on two key ballot measures to fund the school district. Proposition 9 is a one-time $12 million property tax levy to hire 80 classroom teachers and three kindergarten-payer professionals for, special education. Proposition 1 seeks nearly $80 million through a bond for urgent repairs and safety upgrades at multiple schools. The bond targets big projects like $27.4 million for structural work at Romeg Middle School and $19.6 million dollars for the roof at Lake Otis Elementary. Other fixes include secure entries, hazardous material removal and equipment upgrades. Lake Otis, though, is set to close as a neighborhood school next year due to budget woes. Public reaction has been mixed with confusion overspending on Lake Otis repairs if it's no longer serving local kids. A district poll shows the bond trailing and likely to fail while the levy sits within the margin of error for passage.

1:02Folks at board meetings have called the plan inconsistent. Facing a $90 million shortfall, the school board approved cuts like bigger classes, fewer sports, less nursing support and closing three. Elementary schools including Lake Otis. The Building One Steadhouse Rokaschule German Immersion Charter School, which uses a district-wide lottery, repairs are still needed for safety, board members say. Ballads mail out March 17th and must be postmarked by April 7th. Bonds are the main way to cover maintenance since state funds focus on teaching. Without approval, repairs could stall or shift to other budgets. A quick thank you to our sponsor of today's episode. It looks like a pillow, it sounds like headphones, built for comfort and sound, S-O-L-I, solely pillow.com.