Anchorage Daily News

The Anchorage Assembly voted Tuesday to put two school bonds totalling about $43.7 million before voters on the April 1 ballot.

If voters approve both bonds, someone who owns a $200,000 home would pay about $4.27 more in property taxes. That's assuming the state also kicked in money to help pay for the schools.

Teachers, parents and students crowded the Assembly chambers, calling on the panel to support the loans, which would fix, rebuild or redesign three schools in particular: Chester Valley and Sand Lake elementary schools, and the Girdwood K-8 School.

Joy Speziale told the Assembly there's no room in the children's bathrooms for her 4-year-old son's wheel chair at Chester Valley Elementary School.

Books on the top shelves at the Sand Lake Elementary School library are covered in plastic to protect them from the water leaking through the roof, said student council president Taral Clayton, who is 12.

"The carpets are gross and disgusting," she said.

Over at Girdwood K-8 School, the school psychologist works in a closet, said teacher Betsy Connell.

The Assembly voted unanimously to put the school bonds on the ballot.

Assembly members said they've been hearing about problems at some of the schools for years. "We're sort of well-versed and sympathetic," said Assembly chairman Dan Coffey.

The first bond is for $34.3 million. It would add a gymnasium and art room at Chester Valley elementary and pay for demolishing and then replacing the oldest portion of Sand Lake elementary. Both schools would be completely renovated.

The bond would also pay for re-designing Girdwood K-8 School so it can accommodate more students.

The second school bond is for $9.4 million, and would fund a mix of renovations and repairs throughout the school district, such as roof replacements, track renewals and electrical projects.

Late Tuesday night, the Assembly was debating whether to put several road bonds before voters too.

Those would add up to another $57 million. If approved they would ask voters whether they want to borrow money to pay for -- for example -- road construction projects, replacing the roofs on city buildings such as the Loussac Library and Sullivan Arena and an ambulance replacement program.

Also Tuesday, the Assembly approved a resolution supporting a proposed state law that would require people to prove they are U.S. citizens or legally in the United States in order to get an Alaska driver's license. It passed 8-2.

Find Kyle Hopkins' political blog online at adn.com/alaskapolitics or call him at 257-4334.

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