Posted on Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 12:51 p.m.
Ann Arbor Public Schools to hold community meetings on cost-cutting options in January
By Jen Eyer
In a letter posted on AAPSNews, Superintendent Todd Roberts says the district will hold a series of meetings in January for parents and the community to discuss the district's financial situation and present options for reducing costs and enhancing revenues.
During these meetings they will gather feedback from the community about possible options as they work toward drafting a budget plan for 2010-11, he wrote.
He also said the district needs to look at the state reduction in funding for this year, which will result in anywhere from $5 million to $9 million less for Ann Arbor. Options for cutting costs will be discussed at the Board of Education's meeting on Dec. 3.
Comments
aapswastewatcher.blogspot.com
Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 12:49 a.m.
No, there is a large, and growing group of people in town asking questions and not getting answers. Howell is negotiating their union contract publically not behind closed doors. That is transparency.
Andrew Thomas
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 7:13 p.m.
@aapswastewatcher: Just read the article you referenced. So this is what all the charges of "lack of transparency" come down to? That the budget is there, in its entirety, to be seen by everyone who is interested, but it's in PDF format rather than Excel? Give me a break.
aapswastewatcher.blogspot.com
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 12:21 p.m.
Check out this article 11/17 about the AAPS. Funny! http://www.a2politico.com/
Basic Bob
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 12:26 a.m.
Hopefully they consider some fixed costs like the number of buildings that are being operated. I know that was a concern when Skyline was planned, that it is more expensive to operate three schools under capacity than two schools over capacity. Bricks don't educate anyone by themselves. It allows for reduction in administration, maintenance, transportation, utilities, and insurance. Move the remaining students and teachers into existing buildings and we can keep the number of students per classroom from rising to an intolerable level. This being Ann Arbor, the closed building can be sold and redeveloped as a convention center, charter school, luxury condos, homeless shelter, boutique mall, parking garage, or a greenway.
DonBee
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 12:23 a.m.
I think Saline is on the right track, but a dozen numbers does not make a budget that can be analyzed. I hope AAPS will put the budget in some detail out a couple of days prior to the meetings. Saline is taking the high road and putting information out and asking for real input. For this I can only praise them. If the other districts will have this kind of frank conversation with the community, I will be happy to change my vote when this comes up again for a vote.
Chrysta Cherrie
Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 8:38 p.m.
AAtaxpayer, not all stories run on the homepage; only the stories marked with a special tag on our end do. I would think this story isn't running on the homepage because, while it deals with an important issue, it isn't an AnnArbor.com story but rather us aggregating content from AAPSNews.
A2CarGuy
Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 3:39 p.m.
No, aataxpayer, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw, and Michigan just don't have the money to keep teacher salaries where they were. That's not a statement of their worth, just a matter of simple math. Even with major cuts/elimination of other things, the only way to balance the budget for districts all over Michigan will be to reduce teacher salaries. Sad but true.
a2grateful
Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 2:04 p.m.
OK school reform advocates: Here's your chance to be a true part of the solution!
DonBee
Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 1:15 p.m.
I hope that they are willing to post more detailed budget information well in advance of the meetings and that the meetings are very interactive, not presentations. The information in advance of the meetings is critical to being ready to have a real discussion. I hope that these meetings are taken seriously and not just as a way to say "we talked to the public and they agree we need more money". I for one will try to attend every meeting I can.