Budget cuts: Ann Arbor schools to cut high school busing, charge kids for 7th hour
The Ann Arbor Public Schools Board of Education met Wednesday for a study session on the budget. The trustees tweaked various proposals and attempted to identify cuts and new revenue to guide the administration on the board's priorities prior to next week's public hearing.
Danielle Arndt | AnnArbor.com
Parents of Ann Arbor high school children will have to find another way for their ninth- through 12th-graders to get to school come fall, and students interested in taking a seventh-hour course could have to pay up to $500 per semester, based on a budget discussion the Board of Education had Wednesday night.
The Ann Arbor school board spent the evening tweaking, pulling and prodding every last dollar it could from a list of 30 proposed budget reductions for the 2013-14 academic year.
More than 70 employee positions still are on the chopping block, as well. And new employee groups were added. To try to cut fewer teachers, school board trustees asked central administration to look into cutting office secretaries and perhaps staff in the student support services department.
The Ann Arbor Public Schools needs to reduce its operating expenses — through a combination of cuts and increased revenue — to the tune of about $8.67 million by June 30.
Trustee Andy Thomas described the process as similar to a giant waterbed, "where you push down here and it pops up over there," meaning for every cut pulled off the table, the money must come from somewhere else. And, he said, often a savings in one area can result in an expense in another, if the district is not careful.
At the end of the board's five-hour study session, the majority of the administration's proposals — which were brought before the board on April 24 — remained on the table in some form. However, the trustees' deliberation did result in some cuts being lessened and others being given back to the schools or program directors for more freedom on how to come up with the cost savings.
The purpose of Wednesday's session was to give the administration a clearer picture — prior to the first public hearing on the budget May 22 — of what the board was amenable to cutting. The district legally is required to conduct two public hearings on the budget prior to approval. The second will be June 12, when the board also is expected to vote on a budget.
Among the items the board agreed to leave as-is in the proposed budget were:
- Eliminating high school transportation, $466,000.
- Closing the middle school pools, $70,000.
- Eliminating some counselors (3 full-time equivalents for $300,000).
- Freezing library purchases for a year, $100,000.
- Reducing noon-hour supervisors, $71,000.
- Most of the proposed cuts to athletics (for a total savings of $512,685).
- All of the proposed cuts to building operations and maintenance.
- Reducing the central office personnel by 6 FTE and restructuring, $477,540.
Despite the five hours trustees spent in deliberation over the budget, they could not come up with a way to save the 32 teacher FTEs the administration proposed eliminating for a savings of $3.2 million.
Originally, there were a total of 80 employee positions on the chopping block for next year. The board agreed to reduce 1 grounds employee, 15 custodial staff and 1 crew chief with little fanfare.
Trustee Simone Lightfoot asked about how the staffing cuts would affect the complaints AAPS receives about trash on school property, stressing she still wants the district's facilities to be clean and well maintained. Executive Director of Physical Properties Randy Trent said these reductions would require the district to get rid of 648 trashcans on school grounds.
AAPS board President Deb Mexicotte took to the white board Wednesday at the Balas Administration Building to facilitate the trustees through a process of weeding out cuts and deliberating new funding sources for the 2013-14 academic year budget.
Danielle Arndt | AnnArbor.com
"The idea is we would be relying on most people to be respectful and would have to encourage ... people to be responsible for picking up after themselves," Trent said.
He added the reduction of custodians would be at the elementary schools, where classroom cleaning still takes place daily. The district went down to cleaning classrooms at the middle and high schools every other day, while continuing to pick up trash and clean the bathrooms every day. This is the schedule the elementary buildings will transition to.
More than 50 of the recommended position reductions are classroom teachers, including the 32 undesignated FTE, 5 FTE for the seventh-hour option at Huron and Pioneer high schools, 3 FTE for Skyline's trimesters, 3 FTE for fine arts and physical education, and 10 FTE for reading intervention specialists in grades 1 and 2.
In the administration's initial list of potential cuts back in December, reducing 3 FTE at Community High School to eliminate the school's block scheduling also was suggested. It would have saved the district $300,000.
Trustee Glenn Nelson proposed putting that $300,000 back on the table, as well as Pioneer and Huron's combined $500,000 savings through the elimination of seventh hour, and charging tuition for students who want to be able to take seven classes instead of six.
Schools officials have said the per-pupil foundation allowance that the district receives from the state is only for six classes per semester, 12 per year. But Nelson noted how the board has heard repeatedly from the community about the value of a seventh class option at these three high schools, and how it allows students to take four years of music, four years of foreign language or additional Advance Placement courses to earn college credit that a traditional six-hour school day does not allow.
Board members estimated in order for block scheduling at Community and seventh hour at Huron and Pioneer to be self sufficient, the district would have to charge between $300 and $500 per student per semester. But Thomas said that still is far less than a college course.
In addition, the board was interested in going to Skyline High School leaders and asking them to find a way to generate a savings of $300,000 within their building so they could keep their trimester schedule. The central administrators proposed moving Skyline to a semester schedule. Thomas said whether Skyline believes it can operate its trimester program with three fewer FTEs or needs to make cuts in other areas, it doesn't matter to him, as long as the net reduction is $300,000.
Officials said Wednesday the fine arts and gym teachers could be reduced through attrition and restructuring and would not result in a cut to the programs themselves.
The board agreed to cut five reading intervention teachers instead of the proposed 10.
The Pioneer Theater Guild also may get to keep its theater technician position. The board recommended approaching the theater group to find another way to save $50,000, the estimated cost of the position. Community, Skyline and Huron's theater programs do not have a technician, however, they do have part-time stage managers.
Vice President Christine Stead asked where the 32 undesignated classroom FTEs would come from. Officials said about 4 FTEs have been identified at the elementary schools but the rest, most likely, would be reduced from the high schools, considering the middle schools saw significant teacher cuts the past several years and already are pretty lean.
Because of the district's budget situation and having drawn down its "rainy day fund," the district may be forced to lay off teachers for the first time. The district only has received about 15 retirement notices so far for next school year. It typically sees 40 to 50 retirements annually.
None of the school board trustees are comfortable cutting that many more teaching positions, given that AAPS has reduced its teachers by 65 FTE since the 2008-09 school year, the district's enrollment has remained stable and its class sizes continue to grow and be a concern among parents. As a result, the board brainstormed other items to put back on the table or new items for the district's administration to look into.
Among the possibilities discussed were:
- Principal sharing among six elementary schools for a savings of $300,000. Nelson proposed this and said he recognizes that principals are worth more than $100,000 a piece. But he recommended a lead teacher model, where at the schools with shared principals, there would be a teacher designated with some additional leadership responsibilities, requiring extra compensation for the teacher.
- Eliminating the district's additional .5 physical education requirement for graduation — an estimated savings of $450,000. Officials explained the state requires just one P.E. class to graduate, but AAPS requires an additional semester.
- Reducing the number of office secretaries by about 10 FTE for an estimated savings of $600,000. Officials reported there are about 111 office professionals in the district.
- Allowing digital billboards to be installed on school property at Huron, Pioneer and Wines Elementary School for $100,000 in advertising revenue. Some school board trustees were not in favor of this at Huron or Wines, but would be OK with it at Pioneer due to the University of Michigan Big House being located across the street and neighbors being used to those lights.
The school board also agreed to most of the athletic cuts, except asked the athletic directors to find another way to reach the approximately $512,000 in savings that did not include cutting middle school baseball, softball and seventh-grade basketball. Officials said this likely could be done by increasing the pay-to-participate fees a little more, such as charging students $50 for a second sport. Right now students only pay a one-time fee for up to five sports seasons.
AAPS has a general fund budget of approximately $189 million for the current school year. The district's third quarter financial report recently showed the Ann Arbor Public Schools is $3.8 million over budget, which is expected to drain the district's fund equity, or primary savings account, to $6.8 million by the end of the school year.
The Board of Education authorized on May 8, for the first time in the history of AAPS, the district borrowing money to make payroll during three periods of low cash flow that officials are projecting between now and December. The board previously was given the false impression that AAPS only had to have about $9 million in its fund equity in order to avoid borrowing. But trustees found out last week that minimum balance actually is closer to $16 million.
The district will be borrowing a total of about $10 million through a line of credit through a bank.
The board started Wednesday's study session with an update from the state's so-called revenue estimating conference, which took place in Lansing earlier in the day. Lawmakers estimated that revenues to the Michigan School Aid Fund and general fund could be $500 million greater than projected.
However, Nancy Hoover, executive director of finance and chief financial officer for AAPS, said K-12 education is not expected to receive any of this money and the push in Lansing has been for the extra funds to go toward roads.
She said if public schools do receive a portion of the $500 million, it will go toward off-setting retirement costs, which Hoover said would stabilize the budget a bit and help prevent the district's contribution per employee to the Michigan education pension system from rising above 30 percent.
Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.
Comments
aamom
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 1:56 p.m.
While I didn't support closing Roberto Clemente in the past, if we are getting to the point where we are cutting busing and seventh hour for the ENTIRE high school population to cover the cost of a small school for 89 kids, perhaps it is time to reconsider.......
Momma G
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 1:12 p.m.
Why is there no discussion about putting all OP's on the 10.5 month schedule. During the summer months, I'm sure they aren't that busy. With the technology, there is no need for a front office OP, either. I don't know how many times I've walked into the Administration Bldg only to see this person reading the newspaper.
Colorado Sun
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 5:30 a.m.
Let's recall the trustees who want to keep the $5,000 food allowance. Such as Deb Mexicotte. It is about as outrageous as the Detroit Public Schools chauffeur controversy back in the 1980s.
buzzy
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 4:12 a.m.
Eliminating high school busing and offering fee-based 7th hour courses sends what I hope to be an unintended message about what the board thinks about closing the achievement gap. These budget reductions appear to be systemic barriers that will make it more difficult to close the achievement gap that disproportionally impacts black and brown children.
towncryer
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 7:50 p.m.
and low-income white children.
martini man
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 1:03 a.m.
The answer for this problem is soooo simple ..RAISE taxes !!!! Would any liberal disagree with this ????
DonBee
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 8:21 p.m.
Ms Margolis posted this in another thread. The head counts for AAEA (teachers) = 1,324; AAEA OP (Office Professionals)= 113; AAEA P (Parapros)= 280 I note her number includes 2 more Office Professionals than the number discussed at the board meeting. If we have 1324 teachers and roughly 16,500 students (ratio of 12:1) why do we have classrooms with 35 students in them? What do the 280 Parapro's do and why is there ZERO discussion of this group? I am not making accusations here, but really asking questions. Some of the board discussion makes little sense given these numbers.
ThinkingOne
Sun, May 19, 2013 : 4:59 a.m.
Pardon my severe typ0... 'Also, I am NOT saying this to criticize you in particular'... It sounds like we may be closer than it first appeared. 'Like it or not, someone has to ask the questions, and so far not a single board member has said: "I sat down with Mr. Comsa and had a discussion about staffing, I am satisfied we are doing the right thing. I honestly doubt that any board member has had that discussion.' If your goal is to determine / prod a discussion among the board & the administration about overall effectiveness of their use, then that is certainly proper and a good thing. If you expect to go to a board meeting and have a total breakdown of the entire para pro structure so that the average layman can understand it, and then have that debated on the aa.com forums, then that is where I think the tendency to micro-manage comes in. It certainly seems like you are in the former, rather than the latter. As I have said before, I do not have any connection with Ann Arbor Schools currently. But these issues appear to be the types of things that most school districts will be facing sooner or later, so I want to keep informed of what is happening here, now.
DonBee
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 4:45 p.m.
ThinkingOne - I understand most of the legal requirements for IEPs, I am not a lawyer so I doubt I understand all the nuances. I do understand the impact of an IEP on staffing, I also understand that in some cases grouping students with similar issues, works both in favor of the students and staffing requirements (e.g. the now disbanded targeted resource rooms). The question I am asking of the board and the administration - not you or other commenters, is "Did you actually look at these areas?" "Do the numbers make sense?" Right now from the outside looking in, I don't understand a ratio of 2 Classroom teachers to 3 non-classroom teachers based on the ratio of students in classes to teachers and the total teacher counts. I have not seen anyone discuss in any board meeting anything about ParaPros other than they overran the budget by 27 last year. So I am wondering if, the administration and the board have actually asked the SISS staff what the count is, based on IEPs for next year? If all the board and administration does is "surf" the averages, then we will end up with another budget overrun next year. I am not re-assured that anyone has actually done the math on counts, and needs. The same goes for Office Professionals, has anyone actually rationalized the need for these people, are the working harder or smarter? I am not trying to micromanage, I am trying to find out if anyone has really taken a hard look at this set of numbers, the utilization and how things could be better for all involved. Whether you realize it our not, this group of people represents the LARGEST single cost to the district. Like it or not, someone has to ask the questions, and so far not a single board member has said: "I sat down with Mr. Comsa and had a discussion about staffing, I am satisfied we are doing the right thing. I honestly doubt that any board member has had that discussion.
ThinkingOne
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 3:57 p.m.
The easy answer as to why there is limited discussion on the group is probably: Needs are dictated by the students' IEP's. These are redone a minimum of every year. Some may no longer need a dedicated parapro. Others that hadn't before may need one going forward. New SE student may move to the district. And it is pretty much written in stone that if it is in the IE than it shall be done. It's not like class sections that may vary depending upon what 30 to 50 students do. For every single IEP there may be a change of one staff member, and that change may not be known yet. Also, I am saying this to criticize you in particular, but in general I think we are starting to get into the micromanaging territory. Special Ed and IEP's have very detailed legal requirements and I don't think very many of the people commenting here have any real expertise in these issues. We can and should ask if this area has been looked at and the schools are comfortable that they are meeting legal requirements in an efficient manner. But I personally wouldn't be able to judge their response in an educated manner.
DonBee
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 3:12 p.m.
ThinkingOne - I understand averages don't tell the whole story. But, for class sizes people are quoting - there are about 2.6 teachers per classroom. Does that mean that 2 teachers are classroom teachers and 3 are specialists? I don't see that ratio in any grade school, I see for 12 classrooms, maybe 3 specialists full time in the building and 2-4 part time (art and 5th grade music for example). So the ratio would be something like 2 classroom for every specialist. I understand ParaPros do a lot, but I don't see any discussion of do we have the right ones, are the used effectively, and are we grouping students in the right way to maximize the use of ParaPros. For instance they are freeing up 7-1/2 ParaPros with the dismantling of the targeted resource rooms for K-2 for autism (yes they are dismantling these rooms) - but the students are being scattered to about a dozen schools from those targeted rooms. Do the 7-1/2 that are released cover the needs of those students in the dozen schools (and probably 30 classrooms) they will end up in or will they need to add more ParaPros to deal with the requirements of the IEP's? As I said, I am not making accusations, I am asking questions, because I don't think the board has taken any time to look at this, and beyond the 9 person HR department that AAPS has, I doubt anyone in the administration has either. You and I can talk in aggregate and averages, but without more detailed information, we don't know if the staffing is being done well or poorly and I doubt any board member has done more than look at the averages.
ThinkingOne
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 4:12 a.m.
Don I cannot believe you do not know the answer. It's the same reason people drown in rivers that 'average' 6 inches deep. Averages don't really tell the whole story. Example: Let;s say a child has a learning disability and goes in a small group to see a specialist for an hour a day. Specialist sees many small groups in the day, but has a class average of ZERO because all the children seen are actually counted with their main class. Start counting math specialists, reading specialists, speech therapy, librarians, special ed requirements etc and you have many classes with very low numbers - even zero. The bottom line is that student-per-teacher ratio is not the same as average class size. Of course, some of this is offset by say a PE class, or an orchestra class, where you might have 100+ students and 1 teacher. Parapros are usually the teacher's aides for special ed students. Many students require their own parapro for the whole day; under some conditions a class may need just a couple of parapros for the entire (small) class. This is a cheaper option than hiring extra teachers. They actually do quite a bit - another group of unrecognized hard workers.
Jrileyhoff
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 12:51 p.m.
I hope AAPS takes into account the loss of revenue from student parking permits. Surely they won't charge students who drive themselves because busing was eliminated.
alarictoo
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 3:57 p.m.
Where did you think their revenue increases were coming from? O_o
barb
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 12:41 p.m.
The bus thing is very concerning. I have not kept up with every article but has the board spoken to bus drivers, the schools, etc..? Have they done a survey to see how many incoming freshman would be relying on buses? Have they gone to some of the farthest places and walked it themselves? I think this is going to have an adverse affect on the achievement gap and attendance. Personally, I can drive my kids to school, and I imagine I will be taking others, but I am thinking about other students whom this will effect and I just think this is a big mistake. As someone else posted, lets see the budget for consultants.
sweetdaddy1963
Fri, May 17, 2013 : noon
I'll say this again for the people who can't hear cut all middle school athletic , again all middle school athletic let us parents handle that with travel team's period. And why are we paying Rec& Ed to play sports when we don't use any of their facilities ? I don't understand this process? That money should be going directly to the school for expenses.
thinker
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 11:21 a.m.
I am very concerned about closing the middle school pools. Not only is this where kids learn to swim--a safety issue- but where they develop a possible interest in pursuing it further as a high school or college sport. Also, are lessons still offered there for younger swimmers? And won't the pools and equipment deteriorate if not used, so that if it is decided to reopen them, the cost of refurbishing would be prohibitive? Get rid of one unnecessary staff person or administrator to keep them open!
aimready
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 10:36 a.m.
I'm confused about the inequities in cuts. 5 FTE from Huron and Pioneer both, and only 3 from Skyline? Danielle, are there plans for staffing cuts at Community? I see forum's been preserved. I understand that this is part of the "unique" Community experience at part of its excellence, but I would argue the same for Pioneer and Huron about 7th hour. No doubt about it, we will feel some real pain. I'm not saying that, in our current climate, cutting 7th hour wasn't a good decision. But I do not like feeling that Pioneer, once again, is bearing an unequal load. (See data re: classes above 30.) Would love to be corrected on this, if I am wrong.
hattrix
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 1:13 p.m.
Absolutely. I understand that Community is a great school and has much to offer. However, it is continually Pioneer and Huron who get the cuts. Meanwhile, Community sends a large number of kids to these other high schools for AP classes, music, etc. At some point, they have to give something up. And the busses to the other high schools doesn't really fit what I'm referring to.
grimmk
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 7:49 a.m.
This is not the same school system I had when I went to school. I am utterly appalled. Cutting Library funds?! NO BUS service for high school kids?! Do you know how far some kids will have to WALK?! Making them PAY FOR SCHOOL that is and should be free?! Come on! You are now making it nearly impossible for some kids to graduate! Charging $500 for a school course?! Is this public school or NOT?! Why not just ask a major brand like Coke or Pepsi to complete re-decorate all the schools with their brands? That'll save you a lot of money and think of all the endorsements! Come on! This is not the way! Shame on you!
MyFiveCents
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 2:56 a.m.
With so many courses now available online to schools through Michigan Virtual High School and other resources, couldn't the 7th hr courses be offered virtually? If students do not have a computer and Internet at home, there are alternatives: the library, a friend's house, smartphone, before school, during lunch, etc. The benefit is they can log in any time and usually don't have to do it daily.
mike gatti
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 2:33 a.m.
How can our schools be in trouble with so many experts available to tell the schools how to work. I don't remember the ballot being so crowded during elections. Many people seem to be experts on school frugality and "livin in their means" and belt tightenin'. How with all of the knowledge posted here are the schools or the state or county or city having any problems. If only....
tmo
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 2:22 a.m.
Danielle, Are buses to and from Community to other high schools part of the busing that will be cut? Or is this sacred cow exempt?
say it plain
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 4:41 p.m.
yes, @grimmk, so why do Community students need to escape to the big schools at the cost to us all of 250K per year?! That's amazing, that we spent that figure all these years to transport them mid-day around to the other schools. A glaring example of inequities and wastefulness.
grimmk
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 7:52 a.m.
Hey, that doesn't behoove you. Community is a great school.
Danielle Arndt
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 3:29 a.m.
tmo, this actually was cut last year (so it went into effect in September). You can read the story here: http://www.annarbor.com/news/education/counselors-professional-development-funds-could-be-restored-in-ann-arbor-schools-budget-passed-wedne/. Eliminating the mid-day shuttles between Community High and the comprehensive high schools saved AAPS approximately $230,184.
belboz
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 2:07 a.m.
Sadly, the residents only have themselves to blame. Skyline was voted on, and is now being paid for. Board members who agreed to a 5 year contract with the largest expense (teachers), locking it in when clearly the finances are no where near stable enough, were voted on. How can we expect change if we keep getting what we voted for? A City Government that sits idly by, watching the destruction, was voted on. Schools exist for the education of the children, not the pensions and salaries of the staff. It is time to make the employment of all AAPS staff to be at will, as is the case with the rest of society. Locking in contracts, when we don't have the money to pay them, is outrageous. I hope people think about this when they next vote.
Jon Saalberg
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 1:13 a.m.
Why you mention Skyline, I don't understand - the opening of Skyline merely relieved the absurd overcrowding that existed in the other large high schools. Skyline is a necessity not a luxury.
DJBudSonic
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 11:59 a.m.
Yes it seems few remember the horrible project management and cost overruns that accompanied the Skyline building. Would love to dig in the Ann Arbor News archive and bring that part of the story back from the dead. It might indeed change how people vote.
zucker
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 2:01 a.m.
Everyone wants to protect their interest. I see a lot post here talking about cutting something "over there". How many will say lets cut something "over here" even if it's something I really want but realize it may be best for the district. Also, I see a few posts bashing athletics and challenging the numbers of participants. The three comprehensive high schools each have more than 500 (minimum of 1500 total) students playing sports. That is more than the number of students who take a 7th period or attend Community high school. So it seems to me that more students benefit by having athletics offered and supported. Furthermore, find a study that shows participation in sports lowers graduation rates, increases drug use, increases teen pregnancy, and lowers self esteem...... I'm still waiting???
DonBee
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 12:41 p.m.
zucker - I know for a fact that one of the high schools struggles to fill its teams and that they encourage the same students to play multiple sports. While I could agree there are 500 slots at the average high school, I doubt there are 500 individuals that fill them. Based on what we have been told by coaches recruiting our children over the years, the coaches want students that already have good grades, and good attendance, as well as strong family support. So I might buy 500 slots and 300-350 students in those slots, but I do not buy 500 students.
say it plain
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 3:37 a.m.
We challenge your numbers on participation, for one.
Ann Arbor Parents For Students
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 1:51 a.m.
I just learned from a parent in our school that a few non Ann Arbor kids (from Dexter and Ypsilanti) are able to go to Community High School as School of Choice students (they went to a AAPS middle school). Maybe charging these families who do to pay Ann Arbor School Taxes to attend Community High School since they are taking spots from Ann Arbor tax payer kids. Seems really wrong that they are getting to go to Community High School for free.
ThinkingOne
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 3:50 a.m.
Five cents I believe that school districts can declare which schools are open to schools-of-choice. It isn't an all-or-none option. but you are correct that tuition cannot be charged.
Ann Arbor Parents For Students
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 1:05 p.m.
I know that we cannot charge them for spots. I was just trying to make a point. Being the the waiting list and pay XXX in Ann Arbor taxes and knowing there is a non-resident paying no taxes to the AAPS (other than the state allowance) is very upsetting!
say it plain
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 3:35 a.m.
I presume it is not about Community having voted to "open slots" in a schools-of-choice program...Community already has more than its available capacity desperately competed for by Ann Arbor district students... It must be that these kids from out of town got to participate in the lottery Community holds because they were treated, once in the AAPS system, like all other students enrolled in AAPS middle schools. These students should really just not be eligible for the lottery, pure and simple. Plus, AAPS should just admit that there is much bigger demand for Community, and make more of that kind of school, or move it to a bigger building like Skyline (which, if AAPS were listening to what their constituents wanted in the first place, would have been multiple smaller schools instead of the giant one with the glorious expensive fields and courts and so on)
MyFiveCents
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 2:42 a.m.
If a school votes to open slots, then those slots HAVE to go to out of district students; it is also illegal to charge tuition to school of choice students.
Ann Arbor Parents For Students
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 1:44 a.m.
AAPS gets 7 million in Recreation Grant money (according the budget). Why isn't this used for high school and middle school sports vs. Rec & Ed? Seems like Rec & Ed should be self sufficient.
DonBee
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 12:36 p.m.
Ms. Kraut and AAPFS - Rec and Ed has been within dollars of self sufficient for years, that has been the policy since AAPS kicked the AADL out and kept their millage. What is not typically discussed is the amount that Rec and Ed transfers to AAPS to pay for use of sports fields - it may be that Rec&Ed is actually making money for AAPS for those field rentals.
Ruth Kraut
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 2:41 a.m.
Rec & Ed is self sufficient.
say it plain
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 12:43 a.m.
Danielle, when you recover from the sleep deprivation and trauma of sitting through the latest BOE meeting, please please please consider doing what some commenters/readers have suggested AA.com do: a story on the *real* money spent on varsity sports by AAPS when we are sacrificing so much of the core mission to educate our kids. Kids can't get the credits they need, they have to endure huge classes, they can't get the classes they need and want to take. But if AAPS is really going to move to zero-based budgeting, won't they need to actually categorize each athletic line-item? Or could they just continue to note field-house maintenance expenses as "facilities", for instance, with no more elaboration?! And did AA.com tell us of the AAPS athletic department counting each team 'slot' as a separate student participant to increase the numbers of students they could claim as "participating in varsity sports programs" as @AMOC states?! That is truly gross...the numbers of actual individual students who do varsity sports must therefore be half what they've claimed then! We're spending *how much* to support the weight-rooms and field time and so on for something like 10-15% of the student body?! Cuts should come from there first, obviously! Getting rid of two of the three ADs alone could almost pay for continued block scheduling at Community, for instance, where they use the money to 'build community' and allow their students to have an easier time with dual enrollment. Sure, there are many students there who *also* participate in varsity sports at the big schools, but perhaps if their funding for 'core' program components *ever actually* gets put on the chopping block, they'd agree with prioritizing education over sports.
thecompound
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 1:58 p.m.
thanks for explaining @say it plain, and i completely agree with you, i just misinterpreted what you were saying :)
say it plain
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 1:49 a.m.
One of my points was that at Community they never seem to have their programs on the chopping block, so they never have to consider whether they prefer keeping their programs, or cutting from say the sports programs at the big schools...which, ironically (given their alleged commitment to 'alternative' education), they *also* get to participate in! Yes, I do think that spending the money on the educational style they use at Community is worth while...much more so than on the sports programs at the big schools. But I also wanted to point out that for some weird reason, AAPS is content to let Community students have it all...the small alternative school *and* whatever they want from the big schools too, sports a big-ticket item among them. I don't get that. And I agree with @Chris Curtis that there is very likely some un-equal costs for Community students that gets hidden in the accounting, at the very least because there seems to be no accounting for how much of the resources of the big schools the students make use of. Indeed, the busing AAPS had done for years and years to facilitate Community students getting to and from all their big-school activities was costing a quarter-million a year, but hidden under general transportation costs. Scandalous!
Charles Curtis
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 2:45 a.m.
So the standard HS need to cut more so that community can continue to get an un-equitable amount of funding? I'd love to see what is spent at community per student compared to Pioneer/Huron on academics. But Im sure their is no breakdown for comparison. Id really love to see what is spent across district on academics, music, athletics and theatrics at all HS's
thecompound
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 1:32 a.m.
"Sure, there are many students there who *also* participate in varsity sports at the big schools, but perhaps if their funding for 'core' program components *ever actually* gets put on the chopping block, they'd agree with prioritizing education over sports." I'm confused, or I am not comprehending this correctly. Only being able to take a seventh hour class if you pay seems like something is being put on the chopping block at the big schools.
Jimmyc
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 12:14 a.m.
I do not understand where all the money goes. A2 has one of the highest if not THE highest foundation grants from the state at about 9300 per pupil. Why are they so far in the hole? Dexter, Saline, Milan, Chelsea, are smaller districts and perhaps don't have the same expenses. But Plymouth-Canton is an equitable district in terms of size, gets about 2000 less per pupil and has no where near the budge problems that A2 does. Deplorable, just absolutely atrocious to see such waste and then cuts to necessary services.
DonBee
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 8:09 p.m.
JimmyC - AAPS is in the top 20 of over 500 school districts for foundation grants from the State of Michigan. It is not the highest but it is very close to it.
shakespearenut
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 5:05 p.m.
Plymouth-Canton schools saves a lot of money having all three comprehensive high schools located on the same piece of land. This was throughly researched by AAPS about ten years ago during a similar budget crunch.
JRW
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 10:56 p.m.
Gee, I'm not reading about a lot of salary cuts to administrators. I wonder why. All the cuts so far seem to avoid the Balas building. The district needs to get realistic about closing and merging schools, such as closing Northside, which is underenrolled and merging those students with adjacent elem schools. Close Clemente and merge it with Stone or Tech or whatever it's called now. Close Community and sell the building, which is sitting on high priced real estate. Create a program at Pioneer for "community" students. AAPS can't afford the luxury of a dedicated building for such a small population. The district also needs to get serious about evaluations. There are underperforming principals and underperforming teachers. Those should be on the chopping block, and cuts if needed, they should be made based on performance, not seniority.
DonBee
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 12:31 p.m.
grimmk - In the last set of detailed numbers that AAPS provided on the costs of the high schools, Pioneer was the lowest cost school per student. Huron and Community were very closed to tied in the next spot. Pioneer and Huron are "money burners" because they have more students, but on a per student basis they do pretty well for Ann Arbor.
grimmk
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 7:57 a.m.
Close Community? Over my dead body. Just because you or your kids didn't get does not mean that Community is part of the problem. It is a SMALL school. And closing it would do more harm than good. Look to the big schools. They are the $$ burners.
thecompound
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 4:09 a.m.
Wow. ONLY successful school? I know this concept is hard for some to understand but not everyone who thinks moving Community should at least be something to really assess financially (and not by the "figures" from the last article) are disgruntled parents who's gifted snowflake didn't get in to Community. If closing Pioneer can make the district a gazillion dollars, then go for it if it benefits the MAJORITY of the student population. I am so tired of this "sacred cow" elitist attitude with "the only successful school".
Thoughtful
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 3:47 a.m.
Pioneer also sits on very high priced real estate, including a very large parking lot. Community is just the building, not the lot, and it is the ONE successful school AA has going. Why move it anywhere because someone's kid didn't get in, so the place will tank? Close Pioneer. Sell it and build an addition to Skyline.
Charles Curtis
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 2:39 a.m.
But who rates minimally effective or ineffective teachers, the union? And who do they protect?
zucker
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 2:08 a.m.
JRW It really is that simple, but too many "issues" get in the way smart decision making. I would add that Skyline was a huge mistake, and that the AAPS needs to figure out a way to rectify that bad decision. Maybe move some programs or administrative offices over there as well.
DonBee
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 12:17 a.m.
JRW - The senior administrators took a 3 percent pay cut. No one lost their job, and there is no plan for anyone in senior administration to lose their job.
Jimmyc
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 12:17 a.m.
State law requires that teachers who are deemed minimally effective or ineffective will be the ones who are laid off first and recalled last.
huh
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 9:59 p.m.
Charging money for 7th hour classes is extremely unfair to those with financial disadvantages. The school system needs to be fair to ALL their students, and they need to know that not every family can afford to pay for a 7th hour class. I am a high school student that has to work for all the money I spend because my parents barely make enough to fulfil the requirements of a "Low-income family". We are right at the borderline and we don't get any help from the government. While all these cuts are happening, the people running this system are getting their salaries raised. I know this because my dad drove buses for the Public Schools for countless years, and that's exactly what happened. Drivers got their salaries cut while their managers got theirs raised. We are getting our priorities mixed up. The main goal of an education system is to educate children. Taking that 7th hour option away is the complete opposite. There are too many required courses that we don't have the chance to take the classes we are truly interested in. Board of Education, you guys are making one of the worst mistakes by charging students to take a 7th hour.
aamom
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 12:31 a.m.
I wonder if the Ann Arbor Education Foundation (I think that is what it is called) would give scholarships to those kids who can't afford the 7th hour but want it.
towncryer
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 9:56 p.m.
Danielle, How much is spent on consultants? What about the PEG consultant? How much longer is his contract and how much is it? Do they hire UM to consult on anything, especially pertaining to the achievement gap or discipline gap?
towncryer
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 11:10 a.m.
Is this one of those things that needs to be FOIA'd to get answers? And then will we be told that it is private personnel information that cannot be released or they only had a handshake contract thus nothing on paper?
thecompound
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 1:25 a.m.
Was Singleton's contract renewed or is it finishing out the prior contract? All the "equity training" in the world will do no good if the kids can't even get to school!!
aamom
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 12:29 a.m.
How much does he charge again? Enough to have kept the middle school pools open at the very least?
Wake Up A2
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 11:19 p.m.
Glenn is back.
MyFiveCents
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 8:36 p.m.
I have seen parents on the comments before suggesting to charge a fee for busing, so it seems as though they were willing to pay these fees. (Of course, due to state laws that is not possible. )Basically, parents will now have to pay for busing if they don't want to provide for it, but monies will go to the AATA. I am not sure what the rates are, but with approx 180 school days, that means parents need to budget 360 rides. If each ride is around 50 cents, parents may pay $180.00. I am wondering if the AATA would be able to do some sort of grant to provide free/reduced fares to lower-income students?
DonBee
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 12:15 a.m.
MyFiveCents - The AATA system is already subsidized 84 cents out of every dollar comes from tax revenue (state, local and federal) not from Fares.
MyFiveCents
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 10:26 p.m.
DonBee, I totally agree, and I recognize that this is only an option for a certain percentage of students. I was trying to focus more on the part that there were parents who were vocal about being willing to pay...but maybe for those who are on the route and cannot afford it, I am wondering if there are federal grants out there that the AATA and AAPS could look into over the summer to help subsidize some students. And, if grants did exist, and were large enough, could they open New routes knowing customers existed. Of course, as with so many things, lots of ifs... Last, for those who live quite a distance for the schools, maybe finding an AATA stop would be closer. I have to be honest, I have not utilized AATA's services; therefore, I cannot speak to whether or not this would work. Obviously, this whole situation is not easy.
DonBee
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 9:09 p.m.
MyFiveCents - That works great for the families that live on AATA routes, though for some students it might mean two transfers between buses to get where they are going.
Now Found
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 8:08 p.m.
The question of cutting secretary positions should be followed by examining their salaries. At some local schools, the secretarial staff members earn more than the teaching staff. If you don't believe me, just do a FOIA on it and be surprised. Many of the secretaries lack four-year degrees and have little or no direct impact on academic instruction. If several teachers in neighboring public school district are only making $34,000 (and they are), let's take a look at salaries for secretaries and see if we can't do some trimming there.
Bulldog
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 1:40 a.m.
How about the secretaries with schools of 400+ students etting paid the same amount or more maybe as a school secretary with 300 students?
Elizabeth
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 7:06 p.m.
Charging a fee for 7th hour may widen the achievement gap. I recall from my time at Huron that many students in 7th hour were those students that were behind on credits due to previous failures or other reasons like transferring schools (things which I would guess disproportionately affect minorities). Enrolling in 7th hour allowed many of these students to graduate on time with their class. As a compromise, could the district investigate offering a fee waiver for students on free/reduced lunch? I am not surprised that the subset of the community that the board has been hearing from are those that want a 7th hour to "take four years of music, four years of foreign language or additional Advance Placement courses." We must also remember the members of the community that we do not regularly hear from! Perhaps the high school guidance counselors could be consulted about unforeseen effects of certain budget cuts.
DonBee
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 12:27 p.m.
Zucker - Consider this. In the 2011-2012 school year the district spent approximately $6 million on outdoor maintenance, mostly for athletic facilities, all out of the facilities budget, they spent $3 million from the general fund, and another $11 million from the sinking and bond fund on new athletic facilities. That is $20 million for a program that supports approximately 1000 students playing sports (AAPS has dodged request to provide accurate numbers in all cases - so the numbers are best guesses from the audit report and other board documents). That means it is not $500 a student, but rather $20,000 a student playing sports. I would love to have someone who has the accurate numbers give me better numbers, right now these are an educated guess based on the available published data. Add in booster money and pay to play fees and the number probably rises to closer to $25,000 a student. And yes, in the way AAPS thinks the sinking fund and bond fund money don't count because they can't pay salaries with them.
zucker
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 2:18 a.m.
DonBee I typically agree with you but you may be short sighted on this athletics issue. Yes it does cost the district to operate an athletics department. But just consider for a moment that if you cut sports, you will lose students in droves to neighboring districts. That $10,000 walks. And My guess is, a small portion of the $10,000 is used, maybe $500? So it's a small cost when you just look at the potential loss if that student walks.
DonBee
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 9:08 p.m.
Elizabeth - Ask yourself this question: What value is the board putting on education when 7th hour will cost $500 and Sports will cost $250? Where the district is not willing to kick in any money to support 7th hour, but is willing to hand the sports teams $2,500,000 in addition to pay to play fees, booster money, money from the facilities budget to maintain the fields and other sports venues, and money from the sinking fund and bond funds to build new sports venues?
Wake Up A2
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 7:04 p.m.
If they want revenue then why arent they saving their grant writer? 40k investment for a 300k return....much better PR then an electronic sign....what important programs did they save? Many that would have been chopped already but I guess those will be chopped next year without them. Nothing like setting you up for future failure.
hattrix
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 6:28 p.m.
Why is there no mention of raising parking fees for the U of M football parking in the Pioneer lot? This seems like a great place to raise some additional revenue. When is the last time those fees went up? It's definitely a bargain considering the location.
ThinkingOne
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 3:36 a.m.
Haven't parked at Pioneer for UM football for many years. Last year when we walked by it was listed at $50. Not likely to start parking there again. People think it is a great location. It is if you are in certain portions, which require you to get there way early. However, you could end up parked on the grass southwest of the tennis courts, over by Seventh. For a five minute walk you can park for free along Scio Church Rd.
UpperDecker
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 1:42 p.m.
Yes I believe they do charge for Basketball, however it is a bit less than for football.
barb
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 12:34 p.m.
Do they charge for basketball parking?
DonBee
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 12:21 p.m.
hattrix and Mr. Curtis - The total parking fees bring in $1 million dollars. If they were raised by 50%, which some people have said would be reasonable given location, that would make them $1.5 million. With the changes to the B1G, the UofM may lose a home game, which would reduce the parking fees by about $125,000. I have yet to hear the board discuss this, nor do I see it in any discussion from the administration.
Charles Curtis
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 2:34 a.m.
Have you seen the fees? They have crept up and kept pace with UM charges, although I wonder about the accounting of all those fees?
alarictoo
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 5:43 p.m.
"Allowing digital billboards to be installed on school property at Huron, Pioneer and Wines Elementary School for $100,000 in advertising revenue. Some school board trustees were not in favor of this at Huron or Wines, but would be OK with it at Pioneer due to the University of Michigan Big House being located across the street and neighbors being used to those lights." Let's see... If we look at a map, easy to do with Google, we can see that: A. Placing a sign at Huron where it will not inconvenience neighbors presents no problem. The most likely location for the sign would be near the corner of Fuller and Huron Pkwy, where the only neighbors are parks. B. Placing a sign at Wines where it will not inconvenience neighbors presents no problem. The only sensible location for it would be facing the freeway opposite Riverwood Nature Area and Ann Arbor Free Methodist Church (behind a heavy tree line). So, once again, some school board members need to educate themselves before expressing nonsensical opinions. The most likely area for people to be inconvenienced by the signs is the one where they say neighbors are used to it.
alarictoo
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 6 p.m.
Personally, I am curious why one is not being put at Skyline as well.
salineguy
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 5:31 p.m.
Better get those school of choice requests in quickly to Saline! http://salinecurriculum.blogspot.com/2013/01/school-of-choice-201314.html#!/2013/01/school-of-choice-201314.html Window opened May 14 - closes June 14. If you have to drive your kid to High School anyway, why not come a few miles south? Not a bad place at all. Be kind of like all the out-of-state UM students who show up every August. We'll help out a neighbor in need; always have. Sad that I am posting this, but reality is not always easy to confront.
pittsfieldfamily
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 2:15 p.m.
Saline School of Choice is definitely worth a look. I believe next year will be the first time the traditional high school is offering lottery opportunities for new, incoming out of district students as well as increased spots for middle schoolers. We've given it a try this year at the elementary level because our assigned A2 elementary/middle schools have among the worst test scores and reputations in the district and have been very pleased with Saline. We had talked about reconsidering A2 for high school but, with the pending cuts, I don't see that happening, unfortunately. AAPS loses a **lot** of potential revenue by neglecting certain areas of the district, prodding families to use different educational opportunities for their children. Some of these families have traditionally returned to AAPS for high school but I suspect if busing is cut -- our neighborhood is 15+ miles from the assigned A2 high school and nowhere near a public bus route -- there will be less incentive to stay within the district. It's a shame, really, but if I'm going to have to drive anyway, driving to some place like Saline -- whose HS is ranked 4th in the state and which is, frankly, closer -- isn't a bad option to consider ...
Thoughtful
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 7:41 p.m.
I will keep it in mind if my middle schooler doesn't get into Community, which may rank lower than the recent poll than Saline, but has a HIGHER Act score.
aamom
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 5:58 p.m.
I wish it were that easy. I've got friends who aren't happy over there either. Same with Dexter. This is bigger than just a local problem.
EyeHeartA2
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 5:46 p.m.
I just want to know why it costs $1200 less/kid in Saline? Must be that you have no athletic budget? or No bussing? or No Pools? Yep, that's it
Bruenhild
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 5:01 p.m.
Why do Skyline and Community get to keep their scheduling? Seems to me that if there are cuts being made in the name of equity, AAPS would put all the high schools on one schedule. It would save money that could be better used elsewhere. As a current Pioneer student, it seems that my school and Huron take the brunt of these cuts. As always, AAPS could close Community and sell the building to a tax-paying business. While yes, Community is unique and special and whatever else, the rest of us are paying the price of keeping such an institution.
DJB
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 2:39 a.m.
Science classes at Community are the same size . And I do believe they will also charge for 7th hour.
barb
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 11:14 a.m.
"I went to Community" "I hope my middle schooler gets into Community next year". Who is being biased in these comments??
grimmk
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 8:07 a.m.
Right because Community has only, what 600 students? Of course it will be smaller! When I went to Community we only had 500 students. So the ratio argument is null. Everyone's class room size has gone up over the years. You can't fit the same number of students in to Community as you do Pioneer or Huron. Besides, those classrooms were made for high school students. Community used to be an elementary school. Smaller rooms. Less space. So if anything the bigger class sizes is just the same as Huron's or Pioneer's.
Thoughtful
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 3:36 a.m.
Skyline has the lowest student teacher ratio, and ANY kid can get in- they took everyone last year in their lottery. Community has nowhere near the number of electives offered, yet any kid could take any elective offered there as well. If you want the lowest ratio in the district go to Skyline and quit complaining.
Bruenhild
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 12:15 a.m.
The worst part is, I think, is that everybody knows it. My science class is bursting at the seams; students often sit in the back, at the lab tables, because there's just not enough room. We all know how there's 35 of us in one classroom, while across town, there's maybe half of that in a possibly equally-sized classroom. We're told that our academic departments have no money for paper, while some kid who "got lucky" on a lottery gets preferential treatment.
CLX
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 9:37 p.m.
I agree - I can't help but think that the Pioneer students get less so that Community (and perhaps Skyline) can get more. Parents should be more outraged that Pioneer class sizes are so much larger and that they have fewer choices.
RUKiddingMe
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 4:55 p.m.
Why do I not see a decision to NOT spend money on the wind turbines that have been acknowledged to be a known massive financial loss? Why do I not see selling unused land that the school system owns (for some unknown reason)? There should be a freeze on all non-essential expenditures period. Until I hear that they have decided not to put any money in those wind turbines, I can't assume they're serious about being fiscally responsible.
aamom
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 11:40 a.m.
I thought the city was the one putting the money in and were just using the AAPS land.
Nicholas Urfe
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 4:51 p.m.
These extreme budget issues present an excellent opportunity to challenge the school district culture of witholding information and requiring FOIA requests for information that must be disclosed by law. That is a practice that must change.
Topher
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 4:34 p.m.
All that will be left is an online or possible a "blended" option - parents and community members will realize how unprepared their students would be with only online learning. It will be interesting to see how colleges and universities will have to shift to accomodate students who are even less prepared for college-level work. While online/blended/MOOCS are becoming the future I am interested to see how these options differentiate, how they address multiple types of learners, and how they motivate students who struggle with motivation. While it's nice to imagine that students have the drive and direction to lead their learning, the reality is that high school students are teenagers - guidance and mentoring relationships are essential to growth and success. Personal connections are key, not depersonalization and distance through the internet or large classes. Online learning is a convenient answer, but I'm not sure it's the right one.
ThinkingOne
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 4:49 a.m.
Don I see that you praise Michigan Virtual as an alternative to brick-and-mortar. It sounds like the type of thing that most people would expect from an on-line alternative. I also see that you are quoting the charge as $294 per credit. Even if you mean per .5 credits (ie, a semester) that would be about $3528 per year for a full course-load. If you did indeed mean a full credit hour, then that is only $1764 per year. However, under the other plans you are mentioning, isn't the state giving portions of the basic grant? That would be $7500 or more for a year of on-line classes. And you have found several of them to be unsatisfactory. This is part of the reason many people are skeptical of the legislature's push to privatize the school system. It seems to be a rush to throw out 'options' to private firms without any thought to guarantees of quality or reasonableness of cost.
DonBee
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 9:04 p.m.
beardown and Topher - 1) Michigan Virtual has real high school teachers available to support the classes on-line in chat, via email, via Skype and if needed via phone call. 2) Most of the classes have quick quizzes at the end of each lesson, so the student gets immediate feedback and is encouraged to go back and review the material they did not pick up the first time around. 3) The forums are active and allow a lot of exploration beyond the basic lessons in the class, there are a lot of very bright students in many of these classes, and the postings are sometimes surprisingly good and deep, what I would expect from a College Junior or Senior. 4) The classes are fully self paced, if you can do the work in a Geometry class in 3 weeks, do it, take the finals, pass them and move to the next class. 5) Students who have a hard time focusing in a noisy classroom, seem to be able to focus with the classes. Now have said this, I have also tried the Johns Hopkins advanced math classes for one of my students, and a couple of the MIT science classes, they were both good classes as well but pricy compared to Michigan Virtual ($294 a credit). I have also looked at several for profit on-line offerings and was underwhelmed by the quality and the depth of the classes. As to MOOCs - they are mob scenes. They are good if a professor wants to be famous, but not for much else. Michigan Virtual on the other hand has a reasonable ratio of teachers to students and teacher feedback is almost always in hand by the next morning if a student is doing evening study.
Thoughtful
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 7:38 p.m.
My kid is taking his fourth online course. Instead of whining about what he can't get at school, we take the initiative to pursue I ourselves. It allows a more flexible schedule. Don't knock it until you try it. Especially the foreign languages, and self paving, which works around big exam weeks, projects, etc. I wish I had had the opportunity.
Topher
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 6:14 p.m.
@DonBee, I'd love to know more about Michigan Virtual Classroom. I am skeptical, but I should seek out more opportunities to learn more. I know that you've found success (I believe you've mentioned in previous posts) with your students. I do think some Online options work for some students - it completely depends on the goals of the online opportunities and what students get out of them (I imagine a math class would work better than a literature class that teaches skill-based close reading and analysis).This being said, last year I checked out the "Poetry Slam" competition that the Michigan VIrtual High School held - the winning video of the poem was more like an elementary school acrostic - not demonstrative of learning and cringe-worthy, not for its content, but for the apparently low quality and the fact that it was posted online as the winning poem. But then again, this is only one example. I also have experience in online learning as I am currently taking online classes, as the State of Michigan requires teachers to further their learning (a great concept). For the amount of money that I pay for these classes, the return I get in regard to my learning is a joke. Perhaps I just have high expectations of teachers, teaching, and the learning that could/should be happening.. In 2011, Governor Synder claimed that 16% of Michigan high school graduates are college-ready. I'd be interested to hear where your 50% comes from. @ beardown - I agree that MOOCS are a joke. From my understanding they're all lecture-based (not really good for differentiation, especially with high school students). Essentially it's simply delivery of material (the old concept: teach has knowledge, students take knowledge from teacher). The NYTimes Opinion section had an interesting analysis of them here: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/21/opinion/sunday/grading-the-mooc-university.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
aamom
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 5:54 p.m.
I am grateful I didn't have to go to high school online.
beardown
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 5:35 p.m.
Have you looked at the MOOC completion rates? A recent article put them at 7%. MOOC's are a nice fad, but hopefully they will become what they should be. A nice way to learn something new, but not actually get any credit for. And online classes are just replacing the old form of distance education, dvd and vhs. Which replaced the older version of satellite campuses. They were keep changing, but never actually take over the education system.
DonBee
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 5:34 p.m.
Topher - It has been reported that roughly 50% of students who show up for college need at least 1 remedial class. Many colleges are now doing those remedial classes on-line and self paced. If you have not experienced a Michigan Virtual on-line class, I would highly suggest you try it before you "dis" all the online options. AAPS offers some Michigan Virtual classes for credit and could significantly increase the number and diversity of classes offered, while reducing the costs by moving to this model for AP and small attendance classes.
UpperDecker
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 4:27 p.m.
Does this mean they are going back to using a normal swimming cover instead of the high-tech oil cover that requires far more money in order to operate?
macjont
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 3:44 p.m.
37 years ago, my wife and I decided to return to Ann Arbor (from Hawaii) to live and raise our family. We did so, in large part, because of the quality of the Ann Arbor Public Schools. When our two sons graduated from Huron High School (1997 and 1999 respectively), we were very pleased with our decision. Each of our sons received high quality educations that equipped them to go on to earn undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees and to establish themselves in the adult professional world. Since their graduations we have watched our public schools, here and elsewhere, suffer repeated attacks resulting in continually diminished quality. It has been a sad experience, and I am afraid the end is not in sight.
macjont
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 4:53 p.m.
As implied by my post, we are beyond having a "direct" interest in the problem (our children live elsewhere and we are about to leave the state). Consequently, those needing the "good luck" are those remaining behind. Still very sad.
sHa
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 4:04 p.m.
No jobs = no income = less taxes for the State of Michigan = less money available for schools. Escalating school costs + benefits + salaries = more money needed for schools. Good luck.
grye
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 3:37 p.m.
Sell the Community HS building, move the program to Skyline. Increase the class size minimum at Community to equal or more than the largest class size at any other school. Skyline needs to go to a semester schedule to allow for continuity across the school system.
David Paris
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 3:25 a.m.
Why not sell Skyline, instead? Looks to me like Ollie overbought!
DonBee
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 8:54 p.m.
EyeHeartA2 - Those are the official capacities, and if you see the way they cut up the insides of the schools, you would understand why I don't think they could absorb the additional students. Mr. Trent was very careful to make sure that no one could fold Community into one of the other buildings, I marvel sometimes when I walk through the schools at the new walls and offices that were built to make the space unavailable for classrooms. Pioneer and Huron were never built to handle the number of students in the buildings before Skyline was built. The district messed up by building Skyline as a comprehensive high school instead of a magnet school. If they had done that, then it would have been easy to fold the Community program into Skyline along with 1 to 4 other magnet programs. Skyline then could have opened in one year to all classes, instead over a 4 year period so that the teams at the other schools were not messed up by transferring key players to Skyline. aamom - There is room with re-districting to consolidate one or more grade schools, or potentially one or more middle schools. Better in my mind would be to fix the administration in the schools with low attendance and bring back students who have used schools of choice or charters to get out of those buildings. In one building the administration by my calculation is costing AAPS about $1.8 million annually in revenue, because families have decided any other school is a better choice, and because of the limited ability to change schools in district, most are outside of the district now.
PhillyCheeseSteak
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 7 p.m.
aamom - Scarlett Middle School, with 515 students, has the lowest enrollment of the AAPS middle schools with <58% capacity. That school has a capacity of 893. At the elementary level, Northside has about 230 students but the capacity for 425, running at <55% capacity. I'm really surprised and disappointed that the BOE isn't reconfiguring and consolidating our schools to maximize efficiency, instead choosing to cut programs.
aamom
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 5:53 p.m.
@DonBee, is there really enough capacity at the middle schools to close one? Tappan appears to be bursting at the seams every time I'm there. I suppose if they fill in the pool they could make more classrooms there, but I don't think they have the money to do that.
EyeHeartA2
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 5:44 p.m.
@Donbee; Those may be the official numbers, but don't believe for a minute that each high school could suck up another 160 kids. Pure propaganda. I'm surprised that you, of all people, would believe it.
aamom
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 5:36 p.m.
I don't necessarily agree with, but understand your suggestions except for the class size. Why would community's smallest class size need to equal the largest everywhere else? Not following you there......
DonBee
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 5:31 p.m.
Gyre and Bruenhild - WIth the construction of Skyline - Huron and Pioneer were reconfigured to hold fewer students. Millions of dollars were spent, moving walls, and getting rid of portable classrooms. There is no room at any of the major high schools to drop an additional 100 students, let alone 475 students. Now if they close one of the middle schools, or one of the large elementary schools, there might be enough room to move Community to one of those facilities. But do not hold your breath. The "Friends of Community" are almost as fierce a group as the Athletic Boosters are.
Bruenhild
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 5:04 p.m.
This. Or the students could just go back to their home school.
PhillyCheeseSteak
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 4:46 p.m.
Skyline is at 95.5% capacity with about 1,525 students, there is no room to add Community's 475 students.
EyeHeartA2
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 3:22 p.m.
So, last week we read how Saline Schools were better than AA. How does the funding compare? Ann Arbor = 13,788.12/pupil Saline = 12,568.71/pupil Somehow than can do more with less in Saline (like $1200 less). Maybe our school board should invite some of their members to a meeting as ask them the secret. Source: http://www.mackinac.org/depts/epi/fiscal.aspx ...and before somebody carps about the source, if you have better numbers, post 'em, along with the source.
Jrileyhoff
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 3:09 a.m.
And Saline HS is on trimesters!
Macks Pizza
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 3:22 p.m.
Not having school bus transportation for students will create potential problems for students walking. A main concern will be when it is dark in the morning. Complete set up for incidents to happen. You know the fools are out there.
gladys
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 3:08 p.m.
How about AATA giving free bus passes to high school students? For those who aren't near a bus line, add another line so the kids can safely get to and from high school. All that money the city has spent on bike lanes and natures paths and we can't find a solution for high school students getting safely to and from school? Only in Ann Arbor!
A2Girl63
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 7:06 p.m.
Not to mention south it goes to Carpenter Road to Textile, then to Munger road.
DonBee
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 5:27 p.m.
gladys - Take a quick look at the map and the boundaries for the district. It runs East almost to Gotfredsen Road, it runs west about halfway to Dexter, It runs south to the fairgrounds, and it runs North about halfway to Whitmore Lake. Some of these students will have a 7 to 12 mile walk to school if there is no transportation and the family can't provide it. Many of the lower income families live on the edges of the school district, because that is where they can afford to live. Think about crossing the overpass for I-94 by Briarwood in the dark after a snowfall the day before and with all the traffic trying to get to the mall or Costco for Christmas shopping season. In order to get home from School in the dark.
EyeHeartA2
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 4:24 p.m.
I stand corrected. I was never asked for money, so I assumed it was free. Guess not.
Blazingly Busy
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 4 p.m.
EyeHeartA2 - the buss passes are not free...
EyeHeartA2
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 3:23 p.m.
They already do that.
AMOC
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 3:03 p.m.
Continuing to spend $2.5M of general fund money on after school sports programs, the total lack of transparency of Booster Club spending, and the Athletic Department misleading the community by claiming each team slot as a separate student "participant" when reporting the percent of students "participating in athletics" even though most athletes participate in 3 or 4 sports per school year are all deep affronts to the values around education in this community. Instead of cutting a mere $500k, that should be the amount of general fund money left to create an effective intra-mural sports program with lots of emphasis on sports and activities that promote life-long fitness. So tennis, golf, track, and swimming should become "open participation" no-cut sports, while those who want to play football should sign up with self-funded clubs.
barb
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 8:06 p.m.
To clarify, I mention the UM athletes in a spokesperson capacity such as "without high school sports, etc...."
barb
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 8:04 p.m.
How about starting something like a "support an athlete" program---there may be people in the community who would be interested in sponsoring an athlete with the pay-to-play fee. Maybe some UM athletes could be spokespeople for it (if it doesn't go against any NCAA rules). There might be some people in the community who don't have a high school athlete who might be willing to sponsor one. People are more willing to give if they know exactly what they are giving to. And I imagine someone can come up with a cute slogan--be an athletic supporter, etc..
Kyle Austin
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 11:14 a.m.
The true and full cost of participating in high school sports is something we hope to be looking into in the near future. Administrators and ADs seemed to be comfortable with the proposed new pay-to-play rates at the last board meeting, saying they were in line with comparable districts, I"m surprised to see a proposal to raise them more
Charles Curtis
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 2:25 a.m.
Short sighted and under-informed post. Kids learn lots from sports that they dont learn in a classroom. Teamwork is a huge life skill to be learned and it does not really occur in classrooms. Many kids make what for them are tough choices to play sports, giving up partys, not having as much free time, learning to budge their time between school and their other interests, which are other great life skills. Many kids learn person confidence from sports and get motivated to preform in class to play sports. And most sports have many money related expenses well above the schools pay to play fee and insurance fees. AA.com has never broken down the true cost for sports in AA, but the vast majority of teams pay for their own uniforms and equipment, have extra charges or mandatory fundraisers, and there are scholarships paid for by booster clubs for many kids. Busing is also partially or fully paid for by boosters clubs for teams. I cant speak for other schools, but at Pioneer you can go to the booster club meetings are get a budget of what is spent and where its spent (unlike you can get from athletic offices of AAPS). So I have no idea what transparency issues there are for booster clubs?
EyeHeartA2
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 4:35 p.m.
In high school, you really can do 2, maybe sports max. By the time you are a Senior, really you need to concentrate on 1. I don't understand why the complaining about the booster club. They BRING money into the school DONATED by the parents and RAISED by the athletes to FUND athletics. Get over it.
kris
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 3:19 p.m.
Track, cross country and swimming are already no-cut sports... all you need are a pair of running shoes and a bathing suit to participate. Tennis and golf are more country club sports that typically require costly lessons and gear to be able to successfully compete. Where are you getting your data that "most athletes participate in 3 or 4 sports per school year"? Perhaps in middle school where there are shorter seasons, but in high school it would be rare for a kids to able to do 4 sports in a year.
Beth
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 3 p.m.
Someone had commented on an earlier article about the budget that they wondered what would happen to the Rec and Ed swim program if the middle school pools close. I'd love to hear the answer to this myself - we can't afford a membership at the Y, and my kids take swimming through Rec and Ed. This is obviously not a problem in the same league as cutting high school busing; I'm just wondering if Rec and Ed has an alternate plan.
kris
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 10:56 p.m.
I don't see why the high school pools could not be used during the regular school day or on weekends for Rec and Ed preschool swim lessons. The high school aquatics team use the pool after school and in the evenings and occasionally on weekends.
Beth
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 8:57 p.m.
Thanks for the information, Danielle. It's sad that Ms. Mexicotte feels most swimming is done privately - what about those of us who can't afford swim clubs or the Y? My kids are little, and I don't care if they're on the swim team in high school - I just want them to learn to swim now, to be safe in the water. Is there no way Rec and Ed can use a high school pool?
Danielle Arndt
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 7:56 p.m.
Oh, I forgot one important part. Closing the middle school pools will save AAPS $70,000. Getting rid of swimming and synchronized swimming as middle school sports is expected to save another $12,000 to $13,000, Rusty Fuller said Wednesday.
Danielle Arndt
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 7:52 p.m.
Hi Beth, thank you for asking this question. Let me provide some additional info about the implications of closing the pools. As of right now, there is no alternate plan for Rec and Ed classes. The Rec and Ed programs would cease. Jenna Bacolor, the director of the department, said these programs were not very well utilized and that the classes often were canceled due to problems with heating the middle school pools. Also, school officials said currently, the middle school pools are only open for nine to 12 weeks of the year to accommodate a swimming unit in the middle schools' physical education classes and the sports of swimming and synchronized swimming. Rusty Fuller, the athletics coordinator for the middle schools, said about 1,100 students go through the middle school P.E. swimming lessons and about 163 students district wide participate in synchronized swimming and 207 participate in swimming as a sport. Board President Deb Mexicotte said a lot of the swimming in Ann Arbor is done privately, and the swimming and synchronized swimming athletics teams at the high school level are no-cut sports. So the implications of eliminating these water sports on the success of the high school programs are less significant than eliminating other middle school sports because students who didn't necessary swim in middle school can still be on a team in high school, Mexicotte said. Hopefully you found this additional information helpful!
A2workinmom
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 3:25 p.m.
Maybe Rec and Ed can pay to open/maintain the pools? That would be great!
Brandon Hubbard
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 2:45 p.m.
O.k. So the biggest and most appalling thing about this is the High School Busing. Why would you stop the busing for high school kids. I go to a high school that is far away and my family is not in the financial place to afford drivers ed to get to school. My family is very upset and the AAPS will be hearing a lot of me and my family because I promise you that I WILL BRING BACK THE HIGH SCHOOL BUSING!
jcj
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 3:48 p.m.
Bravo stand up for what you believe Brandon!
sHa
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 3:07 p.m.
Eliminating busing is an attention grabber used by BOEs to get everyone's attention. Busing, or the lack thereof, always gets everyone riled up. Back in the early 90's South Lyon's BOE used the busing issue it to get a controversial millage passed. After one year of no busing, the BOE could have gotten just about anything they wanted passed.
Wake Up A2
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 2:34 p.m.
So the district keeps it's subject chairs at a cost of 1 million? They still have a director of communication? Can't folks talk for themselves? How many helpers does Mr. Trent have in his office? Savings? There are more places to look before you take it away from the students. Did the principals ever give up 3% of their money like everyone else?
Danielle Arndt
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 3:19 p.m.
Still no word on the Ann Arbor Administrators Association contract negotiations. It was said last night that if the principals union does agree to the 3 percent pay cut, it would be a savings of about $266,000. The other figure not added into the budget reductions yet last night was the $114,000 the non-union affiliated central administrators gave: http://www.annarbor.com/news/education/ann-arbor-central-administrators-agree-to-3-pay-cut/.
Haran Rashes
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 2:33 p.m.
As a Skyline parent, I am very concerned that we do not know what scheduling system our students will be on this fall. The Board is scheduled to vote on the budget on June 12. Skyline students will be in the middle of finals on that day and there will be no time for them to work with their counselors to adjust their course selection for fall. I think the Board is being negligent in not getting decisions made in a timely manner so students can properly prepare for their course selection and course load.
kris
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 2:22 p.m.
Eliminating high school busing will create huge problems that are going to cost money down the road. There will be monumental traffic back ups during drop off and pick up time....there will be a need to hire people to direct traffic flow. I also see student loitering being a problem. Realistically, how many parents can leave work at 2:30 to pick up their kids? Not all students live on an AATA bus route, particularly at Skyline. Kids will be hanging around school until they can get a ride home.
anonymous
Thu, May 23, 2013 : 4:49 p.m.
If you guys want busing, pay for it. Those of us of who aren't offered busing pay for our kids to get to school at the gas pump whether we carpool or not. I completely agree, traffic will be terrible and the City of Ann Arbor decided not to hire new police officers. Ironic.
Goober
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 3:42 p.m.
I believe the tactic being used is similar to what we are experiencing with the sequester. If true, the hope is that the voters are so outraged by the planned cut, that they agree to give or donate more money.
DonBee
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 2:42 p.m.
Kris - It will be a worse problem than you think. Think about a 13 year old trying to walk home to a house south of I-94 or North of M-14 or East of US-23 on a January day on roads like Plymouth-Ann Arbor or State Street or ... How long before a car hits one of these students walking home in the dark on roads where the traffic moves at 60 plus miles per hour and there are small shoulders and no sidewalks?
Basic Bob
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 2:22 p.m.
maybe we can get the state of michigan to lower the driving age to 13 - 9 months so the youngest freshman can drive to the first day of school.
jcj
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 3:45 p.m.
Or we could lower the voting age to 12 and they could vote against high school!
Bricks
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 2:18 p.m.
Danielle- Was there any clarification of the what the theatre technician job duties would become if it was totally funded by Pioneer Theatre Guild? Would it be reclassified as the Pioneer Theatre Guild Technician, and the duties focused only on PTG? Or is the BOE asking for Pioneer Theatre Guild to support and pay for all of the music concerts, building events, district events, etc. that this position now schedules, sets up for, and trains students to run? Thank you for info you could provide
a2chrisp
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 2:16 p.m.
Frankly, I am actually a little impressed that all of their ideas aren't terrible as usual. However, the fact remains that they continue to degrade the level of education students receive to the benefit of non-essential programs. I understand that the district is competing for students with other district, but there has to be a way of reducing costs to extra-curricular activities. What if instead of the big 3 high schools all having football teams, basketball teams, baseball teams, hockey teams, lacrosse teams etc. they all had these activities for freshman and JV but for varsity they only had one team for the high schools. Or even two? What if we did the same thing for other electives, like music, drama, art, or even language? What if the schools were to specialize in certain areas of educational electives -- such as technical, engineering, computers; arts and humanities; business and economics; environment and bio-science. Reducing duplication is just one idea. Advertising is another. Advertising and education is unseemly, but wouldn't you rather produce better students and have some billboards on the north and west corners of pioneer or the south and east at huron? Or have the football team sponsored by dominoes? What if we outsourced some educational opportunities to reduce operational costs, such as partnering with businesses to provide internships in exchange for credits? The problem here is not just money. Its not just pensions and insurance costs or reduced property taxes. The systems that we use to think about education are changing. We need to be thinking not how we can keep education from getting worse, but innovate and try to make it better. I'm not saying that the above are the answers, and they are certainly less than even half-baked, but we can't keep cutting every year. After a certain point there won't be anything left to cut.
a2love
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 2:16 p.m.
The gym is where they teach, not what they teach.....please fix to physical education or PE teacher
napoleon
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 2:14 p.m.
This is a direct result in Michigan teachers EXPLODED salary and benefits. They are the 3rd highest paid educators in the nation which TAXPAYERS pay for. The MEA years of bullying of school districts to squeeze every dime out of them they can is the cause of districts having to cut employees and/or programs along with charging fees for other services/programs/sports. Don't be fooled! When Granholm was governor she "took care" of the MEA members in exchange for votes and we are still suffering the consequences along with your school districts..
Evemis
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 5:02 p.m.
Please also consider that not all teachers in Michigan get paid at the same rate that those in Ann Arbor do. As a teacher in South Lyon I can tell you we don't get paid anywhere NEAR what some other districts pay. Please just be careful of broad generalizations...
grye
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 3:43 p.m.
You think the teachers are not worth the salary? The education requirements, the continuing education requirements to maintain certification, and the hours spent on the job in the school and on the job at home are more than jobs that pay twice the salary. This is a bargain. The job is not a cake walk. It is tougher than you can even imagine. Try it for a couple of weeks and maybe you'll have a different opinion.
a2schoolparent
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 1:43 p.m.
Cut high school busing, the next thing you know, the high-school drop-out rate will go up, especially for kids from underprevileged families. Then what does AAPS do? Spend more money to close the achievement gap that they created?
DonBee
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 12:16 p.m.
grimmk - If you are following the discussion in Lansing, one of the options for students going forward is a "cyber" school. This means your student's allocation of Prop A money would go to the online school. So families that could not afford out of their budget, could have it covered, just like public school is. The other option that is being discussed is sharing the basic allowance, where someone could be home schooled for 4 of 6 classes and then go to a local school for the other 2 and the school with get 2/6th of the basic allowance (the numbers used are for math purposes only it could be anything from 1/6 to 7/8). Instead of working to figure out how to attract this money from home schooling families and others, AAPS seems to be bunkering in.
grimmk
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 8:12 a.m.
If they can't afford to walk to school how do you think they can afford this so called online school? And how would this online school be integrated into AAPS? Are the credits transferable? What do it really mean? So many fake online schools' out there.
Thoughtful
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 3:20 a.m.
I know a certain high school student who wouldn't walk less than half a mile to summer school, but willingly walked 2 miles plus to School for football practice all summer. The former coach rewarded him by putting him on the varsity team, even though he was academically ineligible.
J. A. Pieper
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 1:19 a.m.
The drop out age is now 18, so the students are there, period. I agree that cutting busing is going to cause problems for low income students. You might be right about the achievement gap increasing, student attendance might drop due to the struggle of getting to school each day. No worries though, all the gap issues will continue to be blamed on teachers, the BOE and Administration will ignore the little fact that they cut busing, which caused attendance to drop, which increases the gap. They will take no responsibility for their actions.
towncryer
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 9:57 p.m.
I'm thinking if affordability of transportation is a problem, computers and internet might be too?
alarictoo
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 5:23 p.m.
With the online options available for high schoolers there is really no excuse for a rise in drop out rates. The major drop you will see is the drop in revenues for AAPS, which will equate to further millions they are down on their budget next year.
G. Orwell
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 1:43 p.m.
That's great! Obama is giving too big to fail banks trillions of dollars and conducting endless wars around the world and we can't find a few million to adequately fund our schools!
jns131
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 2:01 p.m.
Obamacare was overturned by the house today. Details to follow. But this is great news to those who are wondering how on earth one is going to pay for this.
jcj
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 3:43 p.m.
G. Orwell If only you had not mentioned Obama, you would have gotten all thumbs up. But all the anti war blow hards have disappeared since Obama is now the one keeping the wars going! We might be the brightest nation in the world if we would spend a portion of that money on education. The fact that we continue these wars proves our education system is lacking!
G. Orwell
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 2:51 p.m.
Dear Mr. DonBee, What you are saying may be true but that is only a symptom of a much larger problem. The problem is our corrupt political system. The federal government is out of control and spending trillions it does not have. A temporary "shovel ready" stimulus is a bandaid to cover up the massive fraud of trillions going to the banks and the military-industrial-complex.
DonBee
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 2:39 p.m.
Mr. Orwell - When the stimulus funds were handed around Michigan got billions of dollars to support police, fire, and education. They were supposed to last until this year. Governor Granholm spent it all before leaving office.
G. Orwell
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 2:10 p.m.
To be precise, the US is currently involved in 74 wars for profit and control around the world. Draining trillions from US tax payers. We can easily fund schools by ending all or just few of the wars. Where are all the anti war democrats? Are illegal wars under Obama acceptable and not under Bush? Fund schools. Not wars!
Gloriagirl
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 1:39 p.m.
Perhaps to subsidize those students who need high school bussing, parking fees should be charged to students who drive their cars to school. This would encourage car pooling or student drop off as well as helping the financially disadvantaged. Just for the sake of integrity, perhaps aa.com could review administration and BOE reimbursable expenses paid out over the last year and see if money can be saved there. Not that it would be that much but just as a matter of practice to inform the public.
towncryer
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 1:36 p.m.
I've reconsidered. I prefer a non racist environment for my kid. We will pass on Saline. ^^maybe Saline actually is a good fit. think about it.
Thoughtful
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 2:53 a.m.
We wouldn't want any parents to be burdened with getting their kids to and from school. We also don't want them to make an effort to carpool either. Just have as many kids as you can, regardless to whether you can afford them or the burden of inconveniencing yourself by their needs.
CLX
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 9:27 p.m.
We had no buses to our high school, and we paid a parking fee -- and that was 30 years ago. A parking fee is reasonable and in line with what other communities do, and $40 is nothing. Having not grown up with a busing system for our public school, I'm still a little amazed at how much people complain about the lack of busing and how entitled they feel about the school getting their child to school. There are people who could truly use that help, but I think the majority here are irritated at the inconvenience, or don't think that their kids should have to use a public bus. And yes, I work and have a kid in high school. Carpools or the public bus are pretty efficient.
ViSHa
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 6:29 p.m.
MIght as well get them used to subsidizing other people at an earlier age, lol.
kris
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 2:15 p.m.
High school students pay an annual $40 parking fee. I would suggest that this fee be eliminated since students will be responsible for their own transportation. I don't see how charging a parking fee helps the financially disadvantaged kids get to school.
PhillyCheeseSteak
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 2:02 p.m.
High school students already have to pay a parking fee.
NotABleedingHeartLiberal
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 1:39 p.m.
"The idea is we would be relying on most people to be respectful and would have to encourage ... people to be responsible for picking up after themselves," Trent said. Seriously..why don't we already do this? These pampered little entitled brats don;t even have a clue what respect is and responsibility is a foreign language to them.
WalkingJoe
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 3:37 p.m.
These pampered little brats come from pampered bratty parents. But it's not all of them, just like every group it only takes some to give the whole group a bad name.
PhillyCheeseSteak
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 2:01 p.m.
Really? Remember these "these pampered little entitled brats" are going to be paying for your social security some day!
Tex Treeder
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 1:27 p.m.
Eliminate athletic directors. That should save $300,000 plus right there, just at the high school level.
beardown
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 1:48 p.m.
I think we are heading towards that. I am a former high school athlete and loved playing, but high school sports are just too expensive. Make the athletic departments self sufficient entities and when the money dries up, then they don't play.
Nicholas Urfe
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 1:25 p.m.
Tell us more about the specifics of after school sports spending. The school district should be forced to disclose what they spend on each sport. Tell us more about the money spent on equipment for those activities but which is hidden under "gym" expenses.
AMOC
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 12:13 p.m.
Not only should the school district have to disclose what they spend on school athletics (vs. Physical Education), the Booster Clubs for athletics need to become pretty completely transparent. From appearances, they raise and spend several millions of dollars each year, and these expenditures are controlled by the booster clubs, not AAPS. This amount of money drives what can become a very ugly culture of entitlement and "win at any cost". I believe, though I don't have legal-standard evidence, that excessive "boosterism" created the atmosphere which led to the ugly brawl at the Pioneer-Huron football game that has so disrupted our community and so distracted our Board of Education from their more important job.
Nicholas Urfe
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 4:50 p.m.
Excellent point, AMOC. Someone should do a story on that.
AMOC
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 3 p.m.
Mr. Urfe - There's even more money spent on facilities and grounds maintenance that specifically support the athletic program and have no educational function. Huge portions of the districts' recent construction bond (now all spent) and sinking fund have been spent to construct and equip field houses, weight rooms, running tracks, football stadiums, etc. Maintenance expenses for all this is NOT cross-charged to the Athletic Department budget; it's hidden under Facilities.
annarboral
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 1:21 p.m.
Articles like this and financial emergencies like this emphasize the point that the AAPS BOE is absolutely clueless about handling our money. None of this should have come as a surprise. A well run organization would have anticpated any such situation and had plans in place well in advance. A business run like the AAPS and this BOE would have been bankrupt and out of business years ago. Why do we elect people with no experience running major financial organizations?
joejoeblow
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 1:05 p.m.
Good job Ann Arbor, take the money away from students who like to learn and want to have a future. Guess that money will go to the transgender soccer club (making point about priorities, not against transgender students). It grinds my gears when we pull money and support away from those who are striving to use education to get an education and spend extra on those who want nothing to do with school, making sure they can answer basic questions on national tests. I work with a lot of highly educated parents of both American and non-American origin and few of them let their kids go to public school here. I think AA has a problem, they've lost their elite public school status.
jcj
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 1:05 p.m.
The board previously was given the false impression that AAPS only had to have about $9 million in its fund equity in order to avoid borrowing. But trustees found out last week that minimum balance actually is closer to $16 million. Are they so inept that they cannot get or understand something like this? Who gave them the "false impression" ? That person should be done.
jcj
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 3:36 p.m.
Well congratulations to the private school in North Carolina. Looks like they got a real gem.
Danielle Arndt
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 3:12 p.m.
AMOC is correct, the $9 million figure was the figure Robert Allen gave all last year during the budget discussions.
AMOC
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 2:13 p.m.
Jcj - "That person" is already done. Robert Allen, the former finance director for AAPS resigned earlier this year and has already moved to a private school position in North Carolina. He was recruited there by former AAPS superintendent Todd Roberts.
jcj
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 1:37 p.m.
"false impression" like 7 million could end up costing us some real money!
Paula Gardner
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 1:01 p.m.
A quick update from AA.com: We'll be following up on this story today and in coming days, and appreciate all of the suggestions - such as the ones made by Ted Annis. Danielle may not be answering reader questions for a bit. This meeting ended at midnight, and after writing, she made a point of being available by 6 am for editing and reader questions. I'm expecting her to get a little sleep before jumping back in.
Danielle Arndt
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 7:28 p.m.
Thanks, WalkingJoe!
WalkingJoe
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 3:34 p.m.
Tell her at least some of us appreciate the job she did when she wakes up.
Beth
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 2:56 p.m.
@AAParents - teachers are "allowed" 12 days? Those are sick days. If you work with children, you're going to get sick. Would you prefer that your child's teacher came to school with the flu? Or had to send their own sick child to school because they couldn't take a sick day to care for them?
a2love
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 2:13 p.m.
Subs don't make $100 a day, they make $75
Ann Arbor Parents For Students
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 1:15 p.m.
We would also like to know the substitute costs. Since teachers are allowed up to 12 days off a years, at the most, this should be (1000 teachers x 12 days x $100)=$1,200,000. AAPS would not release this information to the local ABC affiliate for a story. Maybe you can get it!
Adrian
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 1 p.m.
This process would be much easier if we just did the sensible thing: Close all the schools and get the government out of the business of providing essential public services. Why should we, as a community, pay for something that a corporate Education Store could provide for us? I say we let the parents (who can afford it) decide where their children should be educated. We could use all those wasted resources spent on education on better tax cuts for multi-national corporations that desperately need them to continue their revenue streams to tax-free countries. I attended a budget meeting where the superintendent said that as long as you don't cut transportation and popular sports, parents don't care about school budget cuts. Does it take cutting football and bus service to make us aware that this model isn't working?
AMOC
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 12:20 p.m.
I don't understand the claim by AAPS that "the state doesn't pay for 7th hour". This might be true in at least one sense. The state of Michigan doesn't pay school districts by the hour or the credit, but by the student. School districts are required to deliver instruction for a certain number of hours per school year, and have a great deal of flexibility in exactly how to structure their school schedule and what to call those hours of instruction. Apparently AAPS is now claiming that this flexibility, which school districts asked the legislature for, is too expensive to maintain, and wants to force some families into paying extra if their students try to maximize their high school experience, while others would receive similar opportunities for free. In order to simplify scheduling for themselves and for the students, two AAPS high schools use a school day with 7 instructional periods. That gives students access to 14 possible 0.5 credit class units per school year, though up til now that was only if parents could arrange transportation home for their students after 7th hour. For whatever reason, a 3rd comprehensive high school uses a 5 classes per trimester schedule, which allows those students to take up to 15 0.5 credit classes per school year without impact on transportation options. One of the alternative high schools uses block scheduling to facilitate their school community building efforts and to better match student schedules with WCC and UM, because many of their students pursue dual enrollment. AAPS gets the same foundation grant for each of those students at each of those and the other alternative high schools in the district. How can the administration seriously that "the state doesn't pay for 7th hour" at 2 schools but pays for 15 half-credit classes at another?
AMOC
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 12:06 p.m.
Towncryer - I'm not sure. It is certainly an "equity" issue if the school board tries to charge families for 7th hour or for on-line course enrollment that totals less than 15 0.5 credits per school year while leaving that capacity free at Skyline. It looks very bad to charge one group for what another group is offered for free.
towncryer
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 10 p.m.
Could this become a legal issue?
DonBee
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 12:17 p.m.
Color me disappointed and under whelmed. The district should be able to find a way to eliminate at least 2 cabinet positions. The district should be able to find a way to eliminate ALL of the curriculum positions, since the teachers don't use most of the material anyway. Don't believe me? Go to any two teachers who teach the same subject and look at the materials they use! The district should be able do a better job of trimming the Athletic program funds - they are leaving roughly 2.5 million of a 3 million dollar transfer intact. At the same time they are not making these cuts they are quietly dismantling the autism program at AAPS for K-2. The targeted resource rooms will no longer exist, and they did not bother to tell the parents until it was too late for schools of choice. On the other hand, AAPS continues to throw money at a pre-school - that is actually the responsibility of WISD. The last public statement about the cost of the pre-school was that AAPS was spending more than $500,000 more than it was taking in to run the pre-school. I agree this program is needed, but if it really is losing money, why not hand it back to WISD and save the budget money? WISD will have to run it anyway. I am glad to see principal sharing seriously discussed, BUT the board is being way too TIMID on this topic and several others. As usual they are taking the easy way out - whack as many teachers as possible and stir up the community, build the momentum for the millage vote next school year. I suspect they will start out by claiming next year that they need to cut $20 million (similar to the $17 million they started with this year). Every year the story is the same - we need to make huge cuts and lay off dozens of teachers. The funny thing is that with the exception of 1 (yes, one) time the total revenue of the district has risen every single year!
Thoughtful
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 2:29 a.m.
If the preschool isn't self sufficient, or making a profit, either, scale it back, trim the fat, or nix it and sell the building. PLENTY of us have gotten by on the multitude of other preschool options.
Ted Annis
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 12:08 p.m.
Danielle, Please take your reporting a step further and give us readers a headcount matrix of staff, teachers actually in the class room, and teacher assistants. Also, please investigate the number of teachers that have been removed from the classroom and placed on "special assignment." Thanks, Ted Annis
Danielle Arndt
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 2:55 p.m.
Hi Ted, I can try to look into this. Thank you for the comment/suggestion.
PhillyCheeseSteak
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 12:06 p.m.
Danielle Arndt - was there any discussion at all amongst the trustees about the idea of selling the old Dixboro elementary school and property?
Danielle Arndt
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 2:54 p.m.
No discussion. But hopefully you saw this story that ran on Monday: http://annarbor.com/news/education/ann-arbor-schools-renews-lease-with-preschool-program-for-empty-freeman-school/.
My2grls
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 11:59 a.m.
How are students that live outside the public transportation system supposed to get to and from high school if they have working parents and busing is cut? Where are the extra cars going to park at the high schools (if these high schooler's parent's can afford to purchase their student's cars and pay for insurance and gas). Think of the high accident rates as these "kids" are rushing to get to school!
GirlnxtDoor
Sun, May 19, 2013 : 11:55 a.m.
I live in Scio Township and my husband & I are seriously thinking about sending our 9th grader to a charter school or another school of choice outside of the Ann Arbor district... we are also looking at our finances and thinking about private school. We purchased a home here several years ago because it is in close proximity to my job at the U, but even more so, because of the schools. At this point, we are wondering if that was the right decision. The BOE is very foolish to think that parents will continue to tolerate their inability to keep their financial house in order. Taxes here are entirely too high to keep having the same conversations each year.
ThinkingOne
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 2:38 a.m.
Thoughtful Remember,it is not just private schools anymore. It is charters and particularly schools of choice. They are free, except for the lack of transportation. (I know at this point that few charters do 9-12, but as semi-private entities if they see market potential, they will start more high schools.) Remember, many students in Ann Arbor live pretty close to Dexter and Saline. These are both highly rated school districts. Coincidentally, they both also feature strong athletic programs - another area Ann Arbor is cutting back on. I don't find the concept strange that some people might find these options acceptable. Especially those just starting high school, with the possible additional worry as to what cuts will be coming over the next 3 years.
ThinkingOne
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 2:28 a.m.
Kris I don't remember all the details, but I think it was primarily a safety issue. Lots of cars arriving at the same time, many driven by less-experienced students, into a facility that was designed around the concept that a hefty percentage of the student would arrive o a couple of handfuls of buses. If I remember correctly - and I can't guarantee 100% - the policy was changed after just a few months; I don't believe it lasted even 1 full semester. Pioneer has tons of parking thanks to the lots to support UM football; it may or may not be an issue there. Skyline and Huron, not so much. But it is not just the parking, there is all the going-to-work real-world driving going on in the mornings. Perhaps there is a reader from Brighton Schools that can recall this more clearly.
DonBee
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 12:11 p.m.
My wife and I talked it over last night. The busing reduction will not save them what they think it will, at least by a small amount. I am sure other families are having the same discussion for students who are too young to drive.
jns131
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 3:15 a.m.
AATA knows that AAPS is cutting transportation. They are trying to help out where they can. But they cannot what with the amount of children who live in the out lining areas that they do not go to. AATA would have to dive into a state budget just to get money the state does not have for transportation. This is going to be one big nightmare if the BOE thinks it can get away with this. One idea is to drop the children off at the time the parents are leaving for work. Now the hi school has to babysit the teens who are now wandering the halls because classes does not start for at least an hour. Start hi school at 6? BOE? Privatize Balas.
Thoughtful
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 7:20 p.m.
So you think parents would pay for a fortune for private school, but not be able to "afford" transportation or figuring out a carpool to get their kids to the nearby high school? Just curious.
My2grls
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 3:17 p.m.
Thinking One..good point. The parents will now be driving their kids to the private schools in the area. I already know many parents who are enrollong their children in private school for middle school next year because of the cuts. AAPS will now lose even more money per student from the state because they won't be attending our public schools.
kris
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 2:32 p.m.
ThinkingOne: could you go into a little more detail about Brighton and the bus situation?
ThinkingOne
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 2:21 p.m.
Again, Brighton - all of 20 miles away - tried eliminating HS busing a few years ago and had to reinstate it because it was a disaster. I just wonder if anyone contacted Brighton Schools to ask what the specific issues were; and if it was determined that the situation in Ann Arbor was different enough that they thought it would work here. OR if it was just done because it looked like easy money to save. Remember, if parents are now driving kids to school (or they drive themselves) then they can also drive to other schools besides Ann Arbor public.
A2workinmom
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 1:24 p.m.
It will be interesting to see how businesses deal with employees that are "late" because they are dropping their kids off at school, or need to leave early to pick them up. Businesses will somehow need to absorb these adjustments in schedules. Perhaps they will join the parents and educators that are pleading with the State to provide more funding because their businesses are affected by the cuts!
Jim Osborn
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 11:58 a.m.
They have hard choices to make, and it is unfortunate. Much of it is caused by a static amount from the state that has not changed, exacerbated by an ever increasing amount that is now paid to retiring teachers. The retirement fund was not funded properly in the past, and children are "paying" for it now. When I was a kid, we could do jobs at our school, mostly at the cafeteria, and were "paid" by free lunches. Kids fought over the privilege. I loved it since my parents let me keep the lunch money. This could be used to have kids empty waste baskets in classrooms for example. Could high school students be allowed to ride middle school buses for part of their way to school, getting off at some point? It would be better than nothing. Our school had a combined bus that was rarely used by high school students since it was not "cool" to do so.
grimmk
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 8:25 a.m.
Maybe if they were double decker buses....
Thoughtful
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 7:17 p.m.
I'm thinking middle school parents would have a cow. Too many potential issues with the age span from 11-18 years on one bus. Doubt it would fly. Also busses are too crowded.
aamom
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 4:57 p.m.
Our middle school bus is packed. They would have to run another bus and that defeats the purpose.
Jim Osborn
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 1:17 p.m.
The buses could drop high school kids at some point along the middle school route. The high school kids do not need to go all the way to the middle school, if it is further.
babmay11
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 12:51 p.m.
This seems like a good idea, and they could actually have the high schools start at a significantly later time, say 8:45 or 9, so the kids would have time to get from the middle schools to the high schools. Also it would allow a REAL solution that many in the community had talked about, letting the HS kids start later because it's better for teens to do so. Since the committee recommendation of moving the time 15 minutes was such a joke, they could actually make a real difference here and help work on 2 issues at once.
skigrl50
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 12:12 p.m.
Problem is that right now high school and middle school have different start times, but that being said - if the high school start times aren't set because of bussing, there shouldn't be any reason why they can't change them.
PhillyCheeseSteak
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 11:57 a.m.
Danielle Arndt - I'm still confused about whether the BOE is planning to KEEP or ELIMINATE trimester scheduling at Skyline H.S. for next year? (Is it part of the 7th Hour/Community H.S. Block Scheduling package?) Thank you.
towncryer
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 8:16 p.m.
Thoughtful: with your sacrifices, it's too bad Community is your zoned high school......oh wait, it's not, you entered the lottery after attending the meetings and being told about the electives, transportation, etc.... By your definition, with all the sacrifices that need to be made due to Communities size, location, limited electives, etc.. moving the program really should be a no-brainer.
Thoughtful
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 11:47 p.m.
Town cryer, I have had kids go to Pioneer, Skyline, and Community. I speak based on experience. Community has extremely few electives available, but it is worth that for my kid to attend. We also live outside AATA, so I have to drive EVERY day. But again, it is worth it. My kid is already making sacrifices. So am I. When you have a kid at Community, you can speak of it. Until then, you have NO CLUE what the sacrifices or differences are.
towncryer
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 10:03 p.m.
Why stop at Skyline? Community should have some skin in this also--that is FAIR.
Thoughtful
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 7:14 p.m.
So if class sizes are significantly SMALLER at Skyline, the fair way to make cuts is to start there. Either charge a fee for trimesters, and/or a fee for the magnet program perks.
kris
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 3:25 p.m.
Thanks Danielle...you're doing an excellent job keeping us informed.
Danielle Arndt
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 3:09 p.m.
I should also add that it is the board and district administration's belief that if Skyline were to eliminate the 3 FTEs and still operate a trimester schedule, it likely would bring its class sizes up to the contractual maximums and up to be more in line with what the class sizes are at Huron and Pioneer. Recent data showed that 26 percent of classes at Skyline High School exceeded 30 students in 2011. In 2012, just 17 percent of classes had more than 30 students. The percent of classes exceeding 30 students at Community High School is 38 percent; it's 42 percent at Huron and 51 percent at Pioneer.
Danielle Arndt
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 2:50 p.m.
Hi guys, sorry for the confusion. I've clarified this in the article. Also, please see my responses in the second thread of this comment section. Hopefully it is now a little clearer. But to summarize, the board was in favor of keeping the trimester schedule, as long as building officials could come up with a way to generate the 3 FTEs or the $300,000 in savings another way.
A2workinmom
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 1:20 p.m.
yes - please clarify! Thanks!
kris
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 12:24 p.m.
Yes I would appreciate some clarification as well on the trimester/semester scheduling at Skyline. I am interpreting that the trimesters will be retained for next year which would save the magnet programs at Skyline.
Chase Ingersoll
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 11:55 a.m.
Education is moving on faster than the old guard can keep up. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/15/education/georgia-tech-will-offer-a-masters-degree-online.html?_r=0 My public school is like a soup kitchen with the same people working there and serving up the same or more watered down curriculum year after year. The charter school is by comparison a Google cafeteria. I was in a charter school office yesterday and the administrator advised my wife to personally collect copies of all of my son's school records because it usually takes the public school 3 months to get such records over to the charter school. I'm not provided enough space here to detail all of the striking differences that one could note in a single visit, but in generally the physical environment of a charter school is that of a modern office rather than a 1970 public school classroom. Not that the public school classrooms don't have the technology in their classroom , but it's not integrated the same way and the teachers are not trained the same way on how to use it. There are striking differences in the artwork in the hallways. The way the project are coordinated on the walls is appealing - like the teacher had graphic design or decorating instruction. You don't get that feel from the halls of the public school where the children's work/projects are posted - a lack of any professional style. On a wall in the hall of the charter school the school listed the years of experience in teaching of their teachers and administrators as compared to the local school districts, putting right there in black and white that their teachers on average have 1/4 the teaching experience as teachers than those in the public school.......AS A SELLING POINT. There is a lot more, but I would suggest that readers visit these schools and compare. It is not all about the finances, it is about the structure of the organization and people those organizations attract or run off.
Glen S.
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 6:51 p.m.
Seriously? Comparing public education to East Germany? Attempting to tie it in with Benghazi and the Muslim Brotherhood ...?! Is there any claim you're NOT willing to make to promote selective, private, for-profit "charter schools?"
Catbus
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 5:29 p.m.
My child attends a charter school. While I like my child's teacher, I have a lot of issues with his school/and charter schools in general. His classroom is very small - saves money. They don't practice any play-based learning for even Young Fives or Kindergarten classes. There is a lot more lecture-style teaching and less hands on learning. They have fewer extra-curricular activities. Lunch is exceptionally short and in-classroom. The school feels like they're following the best-practices of a juvenile detention center - walking on carpeted lines in the hallway, no speaking in the hallway, no clapping- just silent finger waving. Frankly, it feels pretty oppressive. And it all comes down to testing. Ultimately, children have very few opportunities to make choices, it's not an environment that fosters critical thinking skills, they don't value creativity or a child's social development - and all of those things are sacrificed for a little extra time on reading/math skills in order to perform on the tests. It's really a matter of what's important to you and what you think will serve your child best in the long run.
aamom
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 4:56 p.m.
Those are some very broad generalizations you are making based odn 2 schools. You may speak the truth, but be wary of making generalizations based on such a small sample. I, too, have toured several local charters and have kids at a public school. I liked some things about each charter, but in my opinion, no school offered any sort of panacea. I'm glad you seem to have found yours. I have decided that education is actually a very personal decision and one person's "best school ever" is another person's "worst school ever!" Same with individual teachers.
snark12
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 4:27 p.m.
I have no children and no specific knowledge of AA schools, public or private, so I had no way of judging your comments. But you helpfully brought Benghazi into the discussion and then everything was clear. Thank you.
Chase Ingersoll
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 3:45 p.m.
Ann - at least I have the courage and conviction to sign my own name to circumstances I've observed (having attended, worked in and sent children to public schools), rather than Ann-onymously alleging that someone knows not of what they speak. That you have votes up to your comment, only reflects the existence of an echo chamber the dis-serves to encourage people to see for themselves, share their experience in anticipation of civil dialogue.
Chase Ingersoll
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 3:41 p.m.
If I don't like the surgeon, I can go to another doctor, or another hospital where the surgeon may have fewer years, but preferable training, better hearing, hands and know how to use the most modern equipment that will reduce my recovery period. There were lot of surgeons with decades of experience blood letting, when a new guy came along with a different option.
Chase Ingersoll
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 3:37 p.m.
WRONG: I was there in a special needs classroom at the charter school yesterday. Public school will suspend and expel a special needs student. I've seen it. Those of you who would argue against without visiting, are too similar to those who denied that the IRS was unfairly auditing conservative groups and those who criticized the administration, and have denied that Clinton and Obama were running guns through Benghazi to the Muslim Brotherhood, in violation of US and International Law. East Germany had "legacy issues" too, but eventually it's leaders burned out as they could not keep the best and brightest from scaling the wall. There are "two Americ/kas". And our differing opinions are as clearly defined as that of Slave Holders and Abolitionists prior to the Civil War.
ThinkingOne
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 2:15 p.m.
Yes, student artwork on the walls in a school in totally inappropriate. Better to spend money on an interior decorator than on more experienced teachers.
beardown
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 1:46 p.m.
I am confused. Having less experienced teachers is a good thing? Do you want your surgeon to be green and right out of school? Or the electrician working on your house to not be experienced? I missed when it was deemed that experience was a bad thing. And while it's nice that the charters have won you over with their interior decorating scheme, most of their test scores are still on par, if not below, the AAPS. I couldn't care less about how they arrange the art work from students, I'm more worried about the education.
aataxpayer
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 1:23 p.m.
Chase, Charters generally don't have as many legacy issues because they are new, and have much lower costs because salaries are so low and they don't pay for retirement. Teacher burn-out and turnover is a huge problem, and parent with special needs children are often not helped at charters. I'm not anti-charters entirely, but I would like teacher salaries to be transparent as with traditional schools so that costs can really be compared.
Ann
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 1:09 p.m.
You spent a lot of time on surface presentation! You don't know what you are talking about.
skigrl50
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 12:10 p.m.
Some of the things that you said may be true, but if your child misbehaves or has special needs, they will bounce your student him/her out and where will they go? Back to the public school that will take and educate every child.
Jim Osborn
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 11:49 a.m.
they will cut swimming at the middle schools so they could over-pay the super this year.
jns131
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 3:10 a.m.
Transportation was sent to WISD because of her salary. Everyone got screwed when they hired her and her salary. PhD my eye. She really took us to the cleaners. Now with her resigning? The BOE is really cleaning up their mess with us in the process. Close Balas. Most of the departments can be privatized.
Blerg
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 11:45 a.m.
It looks like the board is paying for Skyline students to take 15 credits but Huron and Pioneer students only get 12 paid for. How is that equitable? Will students at Skyline have to pay for the three additional credits they get now that Pioneer and Huron students have to pay for seventh hour?
ThinkingOne
Sat, May 18, 2013 : 3 a.m.
Chester I will accept your answer that they are equivalent. It makes sense that if students from Huron & Pioneer are allowed to take classes, then the credit should be equal to transfer fairly. My comment had more to do with how many credits are required to graduate. I am not a trimester expert, but I don't believe any single trimester course is ever awarded.333 credits. It is like .5 is the minimum. So it's not that each individual class earns fewer credits; it's that more credits are often required for graduation. I have no involvement in Ann Arbor schools at present, so this is just a general assessment and may well be incorrect for Ann Arbor.
Thoughtful
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 7:05 p.m.
AMOC, any kid can take the first year of foreign language in middle school. Any kid can take a year of foreign language online or in the summer. Our family has done both. I agree, magnet programs should come at a cost. Extra expense to run the program.
Chester Drawers
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 6:18 p.m.
Thinking One, At Skyline, each class earns 0.5 credits per trimester. This is accomplished by having class periods last longer than those at Huron and Pioneer.
ThinkingOne
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 2:11 p.m.
The solution you propose to charge for the 'extra' credit hours at Skyline may be based on an over-simplified look at trimesters vs semesters. zin most school systems, a trimester credit is not worth a semester credit. Therefore a school that runs on trimesters will require more credits to graduate than a school on semesters. Therefore you could not charge anyone since there are no 'extra' credits. Class periods are generally lengthened under a trimester arrangement, but often that is still not enough to make up for the fewer days. So without knowing the exact relationship between semesters at Huron/Pioneer vs trimesters at Skyline, it is difficult to determine if any of these hours are 'extra'.
AMOC
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 12:29 p.m.
Aah - The magnet programs are not tied in any way to trimesters. They could easily continue on a semester basis, but if they do and students are limited to 6 classes per semester, Skyline magnet program students would have to give up ALL their other electives in order to fulfill the state requirement for 2 years / 2 credits of a "world language" for graduation. There are several legislators who are already looking to change or eliminate this requirement, but a foreign language will remain strongly recommended for college bound students.
Aah
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 11:58 a.m.
I think they are trying to save the magnet programs by staying with trimesters; maybe they should pay for the magnets.
AMOC
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 11:22 a.m.
Danielle- Re. the extra PE credit, in high school, 0.5 credits is one semester, a half year not a half semester. While I think it's fine that we allow students to take more than the minimum PE for credit, removing the AAPS requirement for more than the state requires is an easy place to save money.
Aah
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 11:28 a.m.
Some students participate in after school sports and use this to waive the requirement for the extra .5 credit. Yes, this is a good place to save money.
Danielle Arndt
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 11:27 a.m.
AMOC, I actually caught that and fixed it. It should have said half a year or one semester, instead I blended the two. But thanks for letting me know!
Nick Danger
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 11:15 a.m.
Cutting secretaries is a bad idea.Schools can operate without full time administrators but everyone realizes that it's the secretaries that keep schools running smoothy. Cutting busing for high school students puts an unfair burden on the economically disadvantaged. Cutting reading programs and staff while professing a desire close the achievement gap is ironic. Cutting or charging for the seventh hour is fair.The district does not receive state aid for it and can no longer subsidize it while cutting reading and bussing. Students would be better off taking an extra class at Washtenaw Community College like students from other district.
Thoughtful
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 7:01 p.m.
Actually, the DC trip is too costly and needs to go. There should be equity in eigth grade trips across the district. All schools should go to Chicago at this point. Less expensive, parents pay enough already.
Ann Arbor Parents For Students
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 1:11 p.m.
After watching one middle school collect 1800 plus checks (5 payments) for a Washingon DC trip which could have been done for a majority of the students online, there is clearly waste. One person is needed. Work smarter, not harder.
Chester Drawers
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 12:39 p.m.
Mr. Bee, All of the secretaries in the buildings are union office professionals; none are executive assistants. All of the exec ass'ts work for central administrators at Balas. Of the 111, I would estimate that about 70-75 are in the 30+ school buildings. The other 35-40 or so work at Balas. My wife used to be a district secretary, both in buildings and at Central Administration. I can tell you from close personal observation that most of the secretaries are doing a lot of work that should be handled by highly paid administrators.
DonBee
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 12:06 p.m.
Mr. Danger - How many school buildings are there? Now where do all of the 111 secretaries, excuse me "Office Professionals" sit and fit into those buildings? I completely agree the Office Professional at each Elementary school knows far more about what is going on than anyone else. That person in each building is critical. I can rapidly account for approximately half to two-thirds of the office professionals who deal with students and the public in the various buildings. That leaves something between 30 and 55 that I cannot account for from a community facing position. Figuring out which are the executive assistants of High School Principals, the Central Administration and other non-community facing positions and deciding if they are required should be an exercise done quickly. Most businesses today have 1 office professional support 2, 3 or more executives.
Goober
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 11:01 a.m.
The current issue, as well as the poor management and leadership vacuum rests solely on the shoulders of the elected AA BOE. Their fiscal irresponsibility is inexcusable. They are clueless, inept and arrogant. Wake up Ann Arbor voters! Is this the direction that you want for our school system? Go figure!
Goober
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 8:30 a.m.
We have to remember that the BOE are good people, but they decided to run and take the job. Second - we will always judge their performance based on their actions. On this basis, the facts should support our positions on them. As I have stated many times, based on the facts we have, they should all be replaced. If we look around to other communities, we can find excellence in BOE leadership. But, unfortunately, not here in Ann Arbor.
aataxpayer
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 11:40 p.m.
Goober, Your list seems too abstract to assess whether or not your comments are valid. I think the BOE is a hard working group doing a generally thankless job. I fear that comments like yours discourage good people from running for the BOE, which only prolongs what you see as a problem.
Goober
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 1:40 p.m.
I believe other commenters have already listed some of the AA BOE major shortcomings, which I have copied as follows: 1 – They have fostered a culture of elitism, individualism and arrogance. 2 – They have made financial decisions based on incorrect revenue projection thresholds. 3 – They have allowed their 'direct hires' to build organizations that do not bring any value to the process they serve – the education of our children. 4 – They have fostered a process of hiding critical information from themselves, as well as the community that they are supposed to serve. 5 – They have made decisions that are actually working to degrade the AA education process, hinder positive growth and lower our standing amongst our peers and other school systems. 6 – They refuse to totally embrace the community they serve – the voting public, key community leaders and education professionals. Is this what the voters wanted for results of those elected to lead our school system?
aataxpayer
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 1:13 p.m.
What exactly to you believe they are doing wrong?
babmay11
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 12:56 p.m.
Right, the Republicans at the state level doing nothing but massively cutting school funding has absolutely nothing to do with it...
tom swift jr.
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 10:37 a.m.
I believe it is time for the residents of Ann Arbor School District to come to the realization that, under a republican administration, there will be no relief from the state, education funding will continue to erode until there are NO public schools. Until that happens, the solution to the budget crisis is really very simple. Make a list of all services, programs, and staff positions. Remove from that list any service, program, or staff position that is mandated by law. Prioritize the remaining list with abundant public/citizen/student input and little to no administrative input. Start cutting services, programs, staff, beginning with those items lowest on the priority list, until the budget deficit has been eliminated. It really isn't that difficult, we all do it at home every single payday.
DonBee
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 1:32 a.m.
aataxpayer - $104,000 is the total cost of a teacher at AAPS, salary, benefits, retirement, etc. This is the number that AAPS uses to determine how much they save (total) when they lay off a teacher. I don't know where you get your $120,000. $104,000 is the median cost of a teacher.
aataxpayer
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 11:36 p.m.
DonBee, The type of question you're asking is good, but are you using fair numbers? Does 104K in teacher pay really reflect all costs of the teachers employment including benefits? Does it include the 24% mandated for retirement? My guess - and I admit it's a guess - is that salary + retirement + FICA, FUTA, UA, + health benefits is over 120K for your average teacher. Again, the type of question is good, but we need good numbers for the question to be fair.
DonBee
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 2:34 p.m.
A single classroom with 25 students in it is worth $225,500 in state Prop A money and overall it is worth $350,000 in total budget to AAPS. The teacher costs the district $104,000. So where does the other $246,000 go?
beardown
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 1:40 p.m.
Carole, since Lansing can't even fund basic school functions anymore, who's going to pay the auditors?
aataxpayer
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 1:12 p.m.
Carole, It's absolutely about politics. The MI GOP is still beating up the MEA. They favor for-profit internet schools over brick and mortar schools. Hiding behind GOP passed laws, charters refuse to disclosure how little they are paying teachers or CEO pay even though they get tax dollars. I hope Gov. Snyder has the backbone to stand up to his party and not allow K-12 funds to be funneled into rebuilding roads.
Carole
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 10:51 a.m.
First off, AAPS and all tax funded groups need to become more fiscally responsible and should be audited bi-annually. Over the years there has been excessive spending that was totally unnecessary. Now we are paying for it. It has nothing to do with politics.
Aah
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 10:29 a.m.
In many parts of the world the students clean their own schools and take pride in doing so.
mike gatti
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 2:27 a.m.
In the United States it is someone's job and the work used to be respected and the wages paid not done with resentment.
jns131
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 10:15 p.m.
Lets see you don't have the ACLU breathing down your neck, the child safety laws and shall I continue? It is a great idea but try selling that one to the liberals who think our children do not need to be cleaning a school. I grew up cooking, cleaning and laundry. I can't get mine to shovel snow or do basic yard work. So good luck there.
beardown
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 1:22 p.m.
And I would imagine those students parents don't have the tax burden that A2 schools put on their citizens.
Homeland Conspiracy
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 12:11 p.m.
Great idea...but my girlfriend can't even get her boy to mow the lawn or shovel the snow in the winter.
Aah
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 10:27 a.m.
Charging $500 for the flexibility of having scheduling options such as a 7th hour, trimesters, and block scheduling is not unreasonable, but all of the high school students should pay, not just Pioneer and Huron.
anonymous
Thu, May 23, 2013 : 4:34 p.m.
Charging $ for 7th hour is unconstitutional. Don't be surprised to read later this summer that 7th hour will be done away with completely. Time to recall the BOE.
DonBee
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 1:29 a.m.
The Infinite Jester - Having used their services several times, I highly recommend it. You may have had a very different experience.
The Infinite Jester
Fri, May 17, 2013 : 12:32 a.m.
DonBee- from personal experience, I would highly recommend avoiding Michigan Virtual.
DonBee
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 8:39 p.m.
Aah - At this point I would rather pay Michigan Virtual the $294 per class and get the credit for my children that way, than lay out $500 for a credit from 7th hour. It is not only cheaper, but there is more flexibility in when a student does the work, the pace they do it at, and the selection of classes available. Why would I want to pay more for 7th hour than to be able to play sports all year ($250 for sports, $500 for 7th hour)?
The Infinite Jester
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 8:33 p.m.
so poor students should not have the opportunity of flexibility in their scheduling?
Danielle Arndt
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 2:45 p.m.
A2workinmom, actually, the board proposed keeping Skyline's trimesters intact, as long as the school could find a way to generate the $300,000 savings that moving it to semesters was expected to reduce from the general fund. The school could choose to operate its trimester program with 3 fewer FTEs or find the money other ways. Also, from the discussion last night, it sounded like a tuition-based "seventh-hour" program at Skyline was less realistic for next year and that it would require more thought and planning. The option for students to take extra classes at Community, Huron and Pioneer that extend their school days already exists at these schools. Something like that would have to be developed at Skyline and would be considered a new revenue source, essentially, down the road.
A2workinmom
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 1:13 p.m.
Hi Danielle - can you clarify what they are talking about doing at Skyline? It sounds like they are talking about changing it to semesters and not offering a 7th hour that families can pay for out of pocket. Is this correct?
Danielle Arndt
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 10:47 a.m.
Community students also would pay. The board talked about how Skyline was complicated and this would have to be worked out in the future. For next year, the focus of the cuts at Skyline was the trimester schedule. Currently, Skyline does not offer a seventh-hour option for students and Skyline's kids already can take up to 15 classes per year. But there were some board members interested in exploring the option of offering something similar to a seventh-hour option at Skyline, considering students have complained of scheduling issues and not being able to take all of the classes they would like to take at the school.
Mimi Higgins
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 10:23 a.m.
AAPS, word to the wise, you need to hire a Superintendent who is invested in our schools. Second, I still don't see cuts at the administration level. The Elementary Schools yes, but what about Curriculum Directors at the District level? Give those positions to the teachers with a stipend. The most ABSURD cut is to the Reading Intervention teachers. Really? Ann Arbor has been talking about closing the achievement gap for years. What is Nancy Hoover talking about also? The state mandated that contributions to the pension system were capped at 24% last year.
PhillyCheeseSteak
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 11:53 a.m.
Good question, re: retirement costs. Danielle Arndt, can you get more information about this?
Danielle Arndt
Thu, May 16, 2013 : 10:43 a.m.
Hi Mimi, on the central administration part, a clear plan on how the 6 FTEs and restructuring would be implemented has not been released yet. From the discussion thus far, it does not appear these positions will be administrators, but rather, as you suggested, curriculum directors, secretaries and other support staff. Also, you'll see the board did reduce the number of reading intervention teachers that would be cut from 10 (or all) to five. These five would likely be directed to the buildings with the most need. Right now, each of the reading intervention specialists has two buildings he or she serves. If reduced to five, that would change, and not all of the elementary schools in the district necessarily would be able to provide these services through a specialist. The classroom teacher would have to pick up being extra diligent in assisting students reading below grade level.