schools didn't make the cut

The $79 million school bond and the education tax levy are both going down after another round of ballot counting this week. About half of voters rejected the bond, and the tax levy meant to hire 80 new teachers is trailing by nearly the same margin.

Those repairs would have gone to aging buildings across the district, some of which haven't seen real upgrades in decades. This is the first time in recent memory that Anchorage has turned down a school bond.

Road and park bonds on the same ballot are cruising through with comfortable margins. That tells you something about where priorities are landing right now. It's a tough signal for families and teachers watching the results roll in.

If this stands after certification on April 28, the district will need to figure out repairs with no new money.

The ballot spoke, and schools lost.