At a September 2025 meeting of the Abbott Loop Community Council, Dave Donley was caught on video explaining why he believes police have a presence at Clark Middle School.

Click to watch the video clip.

His reasoning? Not safety data. Not specific incidents.

“Just because of the demographics at that school.”

Yup. He said the quiet part out loud.

Clark Middle School is one of the most diverse schools in the United States. It is a place where families from all backgrounds come together to learn and grow.

When Dave uses “demographics” as shorthand for why a school needs a police presence, he is telling all of us exactly how he views our children.

I believe we should invest in our schools, not profile our students.

At the local level, this means ensuring Anchorage makes its full local contribution to our public schools. While state funding is critical, the Municipality has a responsibility to use every tool available—including funding to the cap within the MOA budget—to stabilize our classrooms and prevent the devastating program cuts and increased class sizes that threaten our children’s future.

My strong commitment to our students, staff, and the long-term stability of the Anchorage School District is why I have earned the sole endorsement of the Anchorage Education Association (AEA).

If you haven’t yet donated, I encourage you to do so today. We can’t afford to let Dave Donley’s backward thinking gain a foothold on the Assembly.

Thank you!

Janice