For more than a decade, ASD bonds have focused on strengthening school safety. Thanks to Anchorage voters, that effort is now more than halfway complete.

Proposition 1 continues that work by completing secure school entry systems and upgrading essential building systems across 20 schools.

Upgrades include roof replacements to address leaks and heavy snow loads, heating and ventilation systems, electrical and fire detection systems, structural and seismic improvements, back-up generators, accessibility improvements, and student nutrition facility improvements so schools can continue providing healthy meals to students every day.

These are safety and maintenance upgrades to existing schools, not new construction.

Roofs do not last forever, especially in Alaska.

Heavy snow, ice, wind, and temperature swings wear them down over time. If roof issues are not addressed, they can lead to leaks, water damage, and disruptions to classrooms.

Replacing roofs on schedule, in addition to routine repair and life extension projects, helps prevent bigger and more expensive problems later. It is basic, responsible maintenance.

School entrances were once designed for convenience. Today, safety is the priority.

After the start of the school day, access is restricted. Visitors are identified through a camera and voice intercom system before entering a secure vestibule. From there, they check in through the main office rather than entering directly into school hallways.

Many of our schools were built decades ago and were not designed with these features in place. Proposition 1 would help modernize entrances with updated door hardware, access control systems, and secure vestibules where needed.

These systems help schools manage building access during the day while still allowing for rapid evacuation if needed. It is about strengthening safety while keeping schools welcoming for families.

The following schools are on this year's bond:

Elementary:

• Airport Heights
• Aurora
• Bayshore
• Girdwood
• Gladys Wood
• Huffman
• Mountain View
• North Star
• Rabbit Creek
• Russian Jack
• Turnagain
• Tyson
• Williwaw
• Willow Crest

Charter:

• StrEaM Academy

Proposition 1 supports ASD Student Nutrition by upgrading their facility so schools can shift toward more ingredient-focused, whole foods and rely less on processed options.

Healthy meals help students stay focused and ready to learn.

ASD is feeding more students than ever before. By the end of this school year, we will have served more than 3.6 million meals. This investment helps us keep up with that growing need.

Power outages happen, especially in Alaska.

Back-up generators help keep lights, heat, and safety systems running if the power goes out. They also protect food storage and allow some schools to serve as community shelter locations if needed.

It is about preparedness.

The regular operating budget pays for teachers and programs.

Large building repairs and infrastructure upgrades are generally paid for through bond funding. The State’s funding system is designed to pay capital costs separate from operating costs by creating a system that pays for a portion of the bond debt for municipal districts and sets aside additional funding for major maintenance for Rural Education Attendance Areas (REAA).

For the first time in more than ten years, ASD expects about 50 percent state reimbursement for eligible bond projects.

That means the state is expected to cover roughly half of qualifying costs, which significantly lowers the impact on local taxpayers.

The estimated cost is about $7.82 per $100,000 of assessed property value per year. It is the smallest projected tax impact in more than a decade and is 40% less than last year’s bond.

ASD has been steadily paying down debt while maintaining schools.

• More than $163 million in overall debt has been reduced since 2010
• More than $85 million in bond debt has been paid off in the last two fiscal years
• More than $150 million in bond debt is scheduled to be paid off over the next five fiscal years

The District also receives annual independent audits, which consistently show strong financial stewardship.

Lake Otis closed as part of the ASD Rightsizing plan to better match enrollment and long-term sustainability. It did not close because of building problems.

The building will continue serving students. Rilke Schule German Immersion School, with 500 students, is relocating there. This building will remain an active ASD school site.

If students are learning there, the building still needs to be safe and well maintained.

We know this has caused some confusion.

When Campbell STEM closed as part of Rightsizing ASD, planned projects at that site were reviewed.

Bond dollars are not spent on empty buildings. Any remaining bond funds will be redirected to security and safety upgrades at other schools that are serving students. This will allow other schools to receive capital improvements without another bond.

The purpose of the funds does not change. They are simply applied where students are learning every day.

Proposition 1 takes care of buildings and equipment.

Proposition 9 takes care of the people inside them by supporting educators and reducing projected class size increases. This proposition would reduce some of the class-size increases that were recently passed in order to get a balanced budget for next school year.

You can learn more at: https://www.asdk12.org/hot-topics/school-levy

They serve different purposes, but both support students.