Poll presented to Anchorage board shows school bond trailing; one-time levy narrowly competitive
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Summary
A February poll presented to the Anchorage School District board found the $79 million school bond polling at 46% yes/54% no while a separate one-time tax levy was near the margin (about 49%–51%), with voters more likely to support consolidation when the tradeoffs include restoring sports and school nurses.
A survey presented to the Anchorage School District board on Feb. 7–10 found the districtbond measure would have failed in a snapshot taken during the polling period, while a separate one-time tax levy appeared competitive.
Everett, a survey researcher who led the briefing, said the poll of about 1,000 Anchorage adults was weighted by ZIP code, age, race, gender, education, party and respondents2024 runoff vote and that a turnout-style weight was applied to voting-intent questions to better simulate election conditions. "The margin of error on these results is 3 and a half percent," Everett said.
The topline numbers showed the Anchorage School District bond at about 46% yes and 54% no. Everett summarized the presentation by saying, "The key takeaways on this survey are that the ASD school bond would fail if the election were held at the time when we gave the survey." He added that several other municipal bonds polled above 50% and that the one-time levy was "within the margin of error."
Board member Pat Higgins asked for the field dates; presenters confirmed the survey was fielded Feb. 7through Feb. 10. In response to a direct question about the levyresults, another presenter noted a close split on the levy question in the survey: "It failed 49 to 51," the presenter said when describing the snapshot of responses on that item.
The presenters cautioned that the poll is a snapshot and that framing, outreach and ballot information can change outcomes before a real election. Everett said respondents were shown the full list of bonds on one page (rather than only the ASD items) so respondents could weigh them as competing priorities, and the poll did not offer a 'not sure' option because that choice is not on a ballot.
The briefing prompted questions from board members about timing, subgroup differences and next steps for communications and outreach; presenters and district communications staff said the results will inform targeted information to voters ahead of the April election.
The board did not take any vote during the briefing; presenters recommended using the findings to tailor outreach and to provide more granular school-level information to principals and community councils ahead of mailings and events.