By SUZANNE DOWNING
March 13, 2026 – The Anchorage School District is likely illegally campaigning in favor of upcoming school bonds by using taxpayer-funded resources for advocacy, rather than neutral voter education. The bonds will appear on ballots being mailed to Anchorage voters next week, with ballots due back to the Elections Office by April 7.
At issue are large 4-by-8-foot signs installed next to school properties, which clearly promote a “yes” vote on the bonds instead of providing balanced information, and refers to “Our School.” The messaging crosses the line from education into advocacy, in violation of the Anchorage ethics code, which restricts the use of public funds and assets for political campaigning.
By focusing only on positive aspects of the bond package and avoiding discussion of tax implications, the district is presenting a one-sided pitch that is indistinguishable from a campaign advertisement. Installing promotional signs near school district property with public resources amounts to the district using taxpayer money to persuade voters to approve additional taxpayer spending. If a politician put a sign in these locations they would be removed by the city because they are illegally placed in the rights of way.
4 thoughts on “School district crosses line, illegally advocates for passage of school bonds”
I guess the Anchorage School District must now have to file on APOC the same as the Alaska Policy Forum was found guilty of providing information on ballot proposition. How many taxpayer funds were used to promote this ballot initiative? Seems as if the ASD has plenty of money, but still cannot teach our children how to read.
ASD always displayed its massive signs
For it to be illegal action is another tell-tell sign Alaskans don’t know the rules and order just like Republican and Democrat elect leaders don’t know the rules and order of the office to regularly violate decorum while degrading the seat one is holding
Educational bonds might be bond fraud. There is an amicus brief at the DOJ about this topic and in the Texas Supreme Court. Makes sense how can school districts put bonds on the market when they don’t have any assets to back those bonds and they are already millions in the red? Just a thought! Check out Mitch Vexler’s discussions about this on You tube or read his amicus briefs.
https://irp.cdn-website.com/39439f83/files/uploaded/Amicus_Brief_Supporting_Property_Owners_-_President_Trump_and_Elon_Musk.pdf
Charge them & fine them.