Ann Arbor school board will put $46 million technology bond request before voters in February
Ann Arbor school board members all agree that updated technology is dearly needed in the district, but the trustees voted to wait until February to ask citizens to approve the funds for the project.
Trustees had debated at the last two board meetings whether it would serve the district better to put the $45.855 million bond request on the November ballot or to hold off until a later date. In the end, trustees decided the district needs more time to explain to the public why it needs the funds for new technology.
Trustee Andy Thomas said the delay would give district officials more time to prepare materials and communicate the need for the .5-mill tax before voters have to decide whether to approve it.
“My concerns with the November election have nothing to do with the merits of the technology bond itself,” he said, “but simply have to do with the amount of preparation. I think, all in all, we are going to be well served by pushing this issue back by three months.”
Andy Thomas
The school board directed Superintendent Patricia Green to form language for the technology bond in July and met Tuesday to discuss when to put the issue on the ballot. The decision made by trustees on Wednesday gives district officials approximately 16 extra weeks to make their case.
The filing date for the November election is Tuesday.
In her presentation to trustees, Green emphasized the role technology plays in the school district’s strategic plan. She said Ann Arbor has a very defined technology plan and the bond would help take that next step toward meeting the “international standards” to which the district aspires.
The changing expectations of students — needing more technology in their lessons than any previous generation — mean the school district has to continue to upgrade its technology, she said.
Patricia Green
“They’ve grown up in a digital world, and they’re further along than us,” she said. “We have to be the leaders in education, help them and guide them to make sure they have the appropriate scaffolding and support to use that technology.”
Among the potential benefits from having new technology would be the opportunity to shrink the achievement gap through software like the Northwest Evaluation Association tests the district purchased earlier this year, Green said. She also mentioned shrinking the digital divide between home and school that students often experience and preparing students for the jobs they’ll have after they graduate.
District officials released more information about the technology bond on Wednesday they believe will ease some of the public’s worries about a new tax.
Thomas said he has heard many complaints that the district would spend nearly $46 million in technology during the initial years of the bond and all of the technology purchased would be out of date in three to five years. Not true, he said.
“We’re issuing three separate bond issues, first in 2012, second in 2015 and third in 2019,” he said. “The reason that it is being spread out is precisely because we are going to be going on an on-going basis refreshing technology.”
Thomas added that the bond would be paid off by 2025, not in 25 years as he said he's heard is the perception among some in the public.
The district also released initial numbers on how it would spend the total amount of money in the bond.
- $19.98 million on student school computers on a three-year cycle
- $6.63 million on teachers' and administrators' computers on a three-year cycle
- $1 million on district switch replacement on a five-year cycle
- $1 million on district server replacement or upgrade on a five-year cycle
- $1 million on administrative software on a 10-year cycle
- $245,000 on student intervention support services on a 10-year cycle
- $500,000 on career technology and education on a 10-year cycle
- $250,000 on MediaCast, video storage softare, on a 10-year cycle
- $2.5 million on a 10-gigabyte backbone for infrastructure on a 10-year cycle
- $700,000 on installing server rooms and wiring closets on a 10-year cycle
- $3 million on wireless Internet upgrades
- $2.11 million on contingency
- $1.5 million on project management
The district spent $27 million on technology from a bond that was approved in 2004. The final update of technology from that bond came in 2009, according to Randy Trent, executive director of physical properties for AAPS. Among the things paid for in the final refresh were about 1,450 new laptops for students, he said.
“It’s not about glamorous technology,” he said. “It’s about how can we make the kids more productive in their learning environments.”
Kyle Feldscher covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
snapshot
Tue, Aug 16, 2011 : 4:10 p.m.
I see about 10 million dollars that could or will go towards "labor" costs. Are not those costs coming from the General Fund now? How much of the "general fund" will this milliage "free up" and what will it be used for? I would also like to know what other "milliage" proposals are being planned for, have been discussed, or requested by any member or employee of the school district.
BhavanaJagat
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 5:04 p.m.
I may have to respond to Ray A2's suggestion that I could be a con as I am opposed to wasteful spending. He speaks about his kids who are still in the School for last 18 years. Well, apart from my two kids who completed their school education in Ann Arbor Public Schools, I have direct, and personal association with this School District for nearly a decade in the past. I know every building, and the material aspects of each building. The Schools have equipment which they use sporadically. They spend money on consultants and to acquire software of dubious value. Ray A2 also directs his disrespectful attitude towards the Governor and calls him names to support this millage. His understanding of technology is revealed by the nature of his own statements such as providing heat by burning furniture. This School District is not burning furniture; they rather prefer to burn dollar bills to provide what they call education.
RayA2
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 4:31 p.m.
Slick has forced all school systems to heat their buildings this winter by burning the furniture, so he can hand fat tax reductions to his wealthy, but very small, constituency. Computers, computer networks, and related hardware all have to be updated on a regular basis or they become unusable. If all or part of this millage compensates for the Slick's raid on the K-12 budget, then I'm all for it. No idea whatsoever why my previous 2 comments were deleted. The only explanation is that Kyle is against the education technology maintenance millage
Kyle Feldscher
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 4:35 p.m.
Ray, you greatly overestimate my powers - I do not have the ability to delete (or do anything, really) to comments other than respond to them.
15crown00
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 1:52 p.m.
Techies will probably vote for techy stuff.
BhavanaJagat
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 3:41 a.m.
There is no good reason to support this additional funding while the School District is making no effort to curb its wasteful spending habits. Once the funds are given, the District had demonstrated in the past that it could spend money without seeking any public oversight or input. Technology does not need a parallel budget. The District must include the necessary items of technology in its regular operating budget. I would appreciate if AnnArbor.Com alerts all of its readers about this issue right before election time.
RayA2
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 4:39 p.m.
Having had kids in the A2 school system for the last 18 years, I have no idea what you mean by wasteful spending habits. What school system are you comparing them to? I lived in a rural school district in Indiana where it was considered a miracle if one graduate went to college. While the cost of educating the children was very low, especially considering so many dropped out early, I moved because of the sad state of education there. It was the equivalent of a war crime how the taxpayers in that district failed their children. Cons bring up wasteful spending with every government expenditure. Its an easy copout I guess. It allows them to turn a blind eye to the results of their failure to support the common good.
Silly Sally
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 3:38 a.m.
Why not stress the 3 Rs? After all, what good is a word processing program if one can't read or write? Games? Not on my dime. For computer technology that has a very short lifespan, why a 15 year bond? This is like buying a car and still making payments on it long after the car is junked.
macjont
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 12:05 a.m.
I intend to vote "yes," if only because of the mind numbing, mindless negative comments appearing in these posts.
RayA2
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 4:42 p.m.
Snoopdog, My vote + macjont's vote - your vote = win for the city of A2. As it should be. Unfortunately, with the big money the McKinley execs will be pouring into defeating yet another critical education funding need, my vote is not equal to theirs.
John B.
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 3:40 p.m.
@mac: me too!
sbbuilder
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 2:32 a.m.
Mind numbing and mindless don't necessarily mean they are incorrect. Perhaps you would care to illuminate the rest of us with your carefully thought out comments?
snoopdog
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 12:26 a.m.
my vote will cancel your vote. Good Day
Kevin McNulty
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 8:50 p.m.
Ah, the irony of it all. When I was in school, K-12, the biggest, coolest technological advancement was the overhead projector that allowed the teacher to face the students and ended all the shenanigans going on when the teacher put chalk to the blackboard. No need to have a student do the demeaning task of erasing the chalkboard, the teacher just wiped the transparency with a rag. The non techy teachers still used chalk and blackboard and I suppose were considered dinosaurs by the high tech overhead projector trained teachers. Back then, there was never any alarm of how poor our education was in comparison to students in other countries, nor was there a learning gap between any form of students. But with new technology you can buy software that will take your achievement gap data and shrink it for you. All you have to do to fix your achievement gap is buy this software. Finally. Does "shrinking the digital divide between home and school that students often experience," mean students will be getting computers to take home? Damn. I never got to take an overhead projector home. Back then we had to take home only our homework. Sometimes you did it sometimes you didn't. But those shenanigans will end with technology, which I guess forces you somehow into doing your homework with greater emphasis than when all we had was paper and a big pencil and questions at the end of each chapter of the textbooks. Back then, advancing from that big pencil to an ink pen was a big change in technology too. You had to be fairly well advanced in your education before you were allowed to use an ink pen. Kids, no more spilling root beer on your homework. With computers the teach will have to be posted behind the students in order to see who is on Facebook, YouTube, computer games, etc., which is what college students who take laptops to college do and what people do at work. And that is mentioned by the superintendent too, getting students ready for their jobs.
snoopdog
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 12:24 a.m.
Great post Kevin, a lot of thought went into it and you took me back to my "teen" years in high school ! Good Day
Mike Martin
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 8:49 p.m.
It's well known among all who float these bond issues that the time to do it is always off the regular election cycle. "Preparation"? That's bunk. Bond issues are always considered more likely to pass if you don't try them in November. Choosing February is an attempt to increase the likelihood of raising property taxes.
Mike Martin
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 9:05 p.m.
Yeah that certainly makes sense. However the concept of an election held specifically to "get lower turnout" strikes me as an improper manipulation by elected officials.
Kevin McNulty
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 8:54 p.m.
I would have advised that. Elections held at times other than when major elections are held get lower turnout. So if the school can convince parents of the need they might be able to overcome opposition. Voter turnout numbers are valuable in computing how many votes you may need. The "preparation" may center on parents who vote.
CB
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 8:47 p.m.
I will be voting no. We already have a brand-new school we didn't need. I live within a mile of 3 different elementary schools, but have been put in the district for a school that is over 5 miles away. The whole AA school system is messed up. The teacher that was just caught making racist comments taught my daughter "geography" with word searches and coloring maps, and she is still teaching there. Probably making over $50K per year too (for 9 months of work)
Cerveza
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 7:51 p.m.
AnnArbor is playing catch up with Dexter, Chelsea, Saline. Their students/teachers are way aheard of the game when it comes to technology and teaching. The NWEA software runs on Windows or Macs tho they have not said which systems they are planning on purchasing.
Robot Charles
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 7:18 p.m.
Would anyone be interested in helping me make "Vote No" signs? I would make a website as well as post a Youtube video, but because AAPS didn't have "technology" when I graduated I don't know how to use the internet. End sarcasm.
alarictoo
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 7:17 p.m.
Now let's look at the money... 'The district also released initial numbers on how it would spend the total amount of money in the bond.' '"We're issuing three separate bond issues, first in 2012, second in 2015 and third in 2019," he said. "The reason that it is being spread out is precisely because we are going to be going on an on-going basis refreshing technology." Thomas added that the bond would be paid off by 2025.' And here are the figures they present. *** $19.98 million on student school computers on a three-year cycle Since these bonds reach out over a 15 year period, and the computers are on a three-year cycle, that calls for four refreshes to be paid for under the bonds associated with this millage. Do the math and that equates to a little under 5000 student computers, which is right in line with the 3:1 ration of students to computers that the district has established in their technology plan. *** $6.63 million on teachers' and administrators' computers on a three-year cycle Same rationale as above, do the math and it equates to a little under 1660 teacher and admin computers. *** $1 million on district switch replacement on a five-year cycle This is some of that technology that the average person does not see. This is for all of the data switches the district uses for connecting computers, phones and access point to the network. Without these the network does not run, and the computers become expensive paperweights. This will be continued in additional posts due to limits on comments...
alarictoo
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 7:48 p.m.
*** $3 million on wireless Internet upgrades I am curious as to why no cycle of years is specified with this one. Likely it is because wifi is still a fairly volatile industry, much like cabled network topographies were 20 years ago. I expect that, like the rest of the industry, they are not sure how often they will need to replace their wireless infrastructure. *** $2.11 million on contingency Contingency funds are nothing new in the business world, and no one has a crystal ball to help them see clearly 15 years down the road... *** $1.5 million on project management This could use some clarification. ;^) ##### Disclaimer: 1.) This is what I see in the figures that were presented, your views may be different. So, let's hear them. 2.) None of my comments in this thread should be construed as either approval or disapproval of the tech millage. They are simply my views, and thoughts combined with information that was available to me.
alarictoo
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 7:38 p.m.
*** $1 million on district server replacement or upgrade on a five-year cycle AAPS has a whole slew of servers. Some for data storage, some for email and/or messaging, some for IP telephony (VoIP), etc. These bonds would be to cover 2 - 3 iterations of them. *** $1 million on administrative software on a 10-year cycle This would most likely cover refreshes to software for finance and accounting, human resources, etc. It could use some clarification, though. ;^) *** $245,000 on student intervention support services on a 10-year cycle SISS, also known as "Special Education" at Ann Arbor. This would likely be to keep their systems up-to-date. It could also do with some clarification. ;^) *** $500,000 on career technology and education on a 10-year cycle CTE is responsible for Business Education in the high schools. This could do with some clarification. ;^) *** $250,000 on MediaCast, video storage software, on a 10-year cycle "MediaCAST is an open and interoperable digital content management and video streaming solution" according to their website <a href="http://inventivetec.com/?gclid=CMaq9tH8x6oCFcjrKgodbT4J1A" rel='nofollow'>http://inventivetec.com/?gclid=CMaq9tH8x6oCFcjrKgodbT4J1A</a> I would guess this is a far more economical way of dealing with school's video collections. *** $2.5 million on a 10-gigabyte backbone for infrastructure on a 10-year cycle Obviously this was meant to say "10-gigabit". AAPS has approximately 35 buildings that are all connected to a fiber-optic backbone. This would be for hardware and services required to bring the district from a 1-gigabit backbone up to 10-gigabit. *** $700,000 on installing server rooms and wiring closets on a 10-year cycle As mentioned before, AAPS has approx. 35 buildings. As I understand it the average elementary school has 2 wiring closets, and the larger high schools have 10 or more. I've also been told that most of these wiring closets/server rooms were put in place back in the mid-90's, with many of them in less than desirable locations.
alarictoo
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 7:02 p.m.
Dear All, I have heard much made of the new superintendent's salary. (I also think that it was a mistake to pay her $245,000 per year. Not necessarily because she is not a competent professional, but because of the current economic conditions in Michigan, and because I believe equally competent leadership could have been had in this economic climate for far less.) However, please keep in mind that her compensation was **completely** determined by the Board of Education. AAPS administration, staff and programs did not make the decisions regarding her compensation package. It was determined by the elected members of the BoE. AAPS administration and staff make recommendations, but ultimately direction, prioritization and decisions are in the hands of the Board. If you do not like the decisions that the BoE are making then come and speak out at Board Meetings, and/or put your hat in the ring in coming elections. Otherwise it will continue to be business as usual.
J. A. Pieper
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 6:39 p.m.
AAPS - your taxpayers are not an endless cache of $$$$. We are all struggling to remain afloat and have to limit what we are spending. Hey, I need to update my bathroom and kitchen, so that when I am forced out of AA due to financial concerns, my house might be able to be sold. My computer is almost 7 years old, and I need help putting children through college. Every little amount of $$ that gets added to a tax bill hurts, and there is no where else I can go to get additional $$. If you can afford to give such a raise to the new superintendent, then you don't really need any more $$$$ from me, a tax payer, and a regular voter!
golfer
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 6:18 p.m.
sounds a little like washington. must have learned something from them on how to slip something past the non voters. if it is true the it guy is not hired this is just plain crazy!
John B.
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 3:35 p.m.
It's not true.
jns131
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 5:05 p.m.
Didn't we just vote on a mileage? Didn't it get tossed out? Vote no on this one too. Everyone needs to learn to budget and reuse. My word, this board is the like the government, blank checks to go around. Not. No more spending and I am voting no on this one too.
RayA2
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 4:45 p.m.
All of these per computer cost calculations seem to, perhaps conveniently, forget that when you have that many computers, you have to have significant infrastructure to network and provide common storage. The expertise to maintain them does not come cheap either. Its probably all a moot point however. We've got the McKinley execs ready to pour $millions into defeating this, and all education millages. We've got the deafing noise from the teabaggers who wouldn't care if public education was eliminated all together. We've got Slick in the governorship, until he's recalled at least, forcing schools to burn the furniture to heat the buildings so that his fat friends can have their $1.8billion tax break. Without a strong reaction from parents and students this millage is doomed.
Snehal Shah
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 4:26 p.m.
I am really confused by the figures! Let's analyse. Please let me know what am I thinking wrong here: $19.98 million on student school computers on a three-year cycle If a laptop cost $1000 then these are for about 20,000 children. Do we have that many? And an Ipad cost $499 only. $6.63 million on teachers' and administrators' computers on a three-year cycle Similarly, this may be for 6,630 teachers. Do we have that many that will require computers? $1 million on district switch replacement on a five-year cycle - Please explain in detail $1 million on district server replacement or upgrade on a five-year cycle A server costing 1 million dollars? $1 million on administrative software on a 10-year cycle What administrative software for a 1 million dollar? Who is developing it and what will it do? $245,000 on student intervention support services on a 10-year cycle What exactly doe this mean? $500,000 on career technology and education on a 10-year cycle Half a million to train the trainers? Why can't they develop in-house trainers instead of training everybody from outside? $250,000 on MediaCast, video storage softare, on a 10-year cycle What is this exactly for? $2.5 million on a 10-gigabyte backbone for infrastructure on a 10-year cycle Further explanation and breakdown required here. $700,000 on installing server rooms and wiring closets on a 10-year cycle 3/4th of a millon to build a server room and wiring closets? Wow! $3 million on wireless Internet upgrades Now what exactly is this upgrade? And 3 million dollars? $2.11 million on contingency - What kind of contigency? $1.5 million on project management - Who is getting paid here? I mean who is managing the project? If you pay me 1.5 million dollars, I can manage it for you!!!! Something is really fishy here. Sorry, with the current board and these ridiculous figures, I will vote NO.
alarictoo
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 4:41 p.m.
@snehal - Some of your questions are reasonable, but others express a seemingly willful ignorance. I certainly hope no one hires you to manage such a project.
blahblahblah
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 4:26 p.m.
Ok, let me rephrase my previously deleted post. It would be my sincere hope that the AAPS and AATA could please coordinate their respective ballot initiatives so that I and other voters do not have to make more than one trip to the ballot box over the coming winter months. Between the AAPS technology vote and the AATA's "smart growth" expansion plan vote, county residents will be asked to come up with an additional $500 million plus in spare pocket change.
Carole
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 3:50 p.m.
Short and sweet -- vote no.
Tony Livingston
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 6:27 p.m.
I vote yes.
jns131
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 5:06 p.m.
Carole? I second that vote. Vote No.
RayA2
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 4:37 p.m.
Very short, but not sweet for the future of our children and this state.
Susie Q
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 3:09 p.m.
On the "more capacity with fewer students than 10 years ago" comment. Yes, there are fewer students than 10 years ago.....but, as Skyline has reached their full enrollment (whether it should have opened with grades 9-12 immediately is another issue), Huron and Pioneer have lowered their capacity. Many classrooms at Pioneer are gone, they now house Community Rec & Ed; most, if not all, portable classrooms are gone. Many classrooms were housed in partitioned auditoriums, "trailers", and other temporary places. So, at least at the comprehensive high schools, there is much less capacity since Skyline was built. Computers need to be replaced at reasonable intervals. Software upgrades will no longer work on computers that are too old. Student computers suffer enormous wear and tear; they are typically used constantly from first thing in the am until after school. Some of the student computers that we use were purchased in 2002, they are almost 9 years old. Keys are missing, CD drives are not working, the mouse may not be working correctly, etc. The general fund will not support technology/software upgrades. There are too many demands on it. I will vote yes.
DonBee
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 4:27 p.m.
Susie Q - I agree computers should be replaced at reasonable intervals, but do you take a 10 year loan to pay for a 3 year computer and pay the interest for 7 years after you have finished with it?
Technojunkie
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 2:51 p.m.
Given how homeschoolers routinely outperform government school students using little more than the nonvolatile storage medium known as "books" and centuries old classical (trivium) techniques, I'm skeptical that all this tech is for anything more than making parents say "Oooh! Shiny!" Yes, Internet connected computers are wonderful tools. They're also a maintenance headache and incredible time sinks. The Education Industrial Complex will try to convince you that if little Johnny doesn't do most of his learning on a computer Bad Things will happen: <a href="http://toastytech.com/guis/bananaad.gif" rel='nofollow'>http://toastytech.com/guis/bananaad.gif</a> I'm not buying it. Outside of a few subjects that require computers...? I wouldn't mind getting to play with all that tech but I'm skeptical that it's a good use of taxpayer dollars and school time.
alarictoo
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 2:29 p.m.
Oh, BTW, I am sorry to see that my comparison of Andy Thomas to a classic rock musician was removed from the thread. It was in no way meant as a slight. I think they both rock. ;^)
alarictoo
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 3:23 p.m.
"Cause the Rocky Mountain way is better than the way we have.. Ohohoh.."
alarictoo
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 2:27 p.m.
A little clarification on Monique Uzelac's title... She was the Director of Instructional Technology (Which can come up looking unfortunately like "Director of IT"). She was Mr. VanRiper's counterpart on the instructional side. She was not "Director of Technology".
Kyle Feldscher
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 2:36 p.m.
You are correct, alarictoo. My apologies.
JSA
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 2:27 p.m.
This makes sense if you are serving the district and not the taxpayer. Obviously the taxpayer is there just to give the school board money for them to waste as they see fit. I believe this would require a special election to do it in February and that would cost additional thousands of dollars. The Bored of Education hopes this would allow them to slip this past the taxpayers because of low turn out. Standard tactics for the Bored.
Kyle Feldscher
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 2:16 p.m.
Just a couple follow up comments perusing the thread this morning: Stephen Lange Ranzini - I will be happy to provide the amount of units this money is going to buy for each student and teacher once that information is available. It is among the things the trustees asked for last night at the meeting for further information. In addition, the position that is currently not filled is AAPS' Director of Technology, not IT director. Monique Uzelac was the district's director of technology and she has left the district to take a position running the WAY program for the Washtenaw ISD. Superintendent Green said last night that the district is going to begin interviewing for the director of technology position soon. To all of you commenting that there is not enough information to vote on this bond at this moment: I believe that was the school board's reasoning in delaying the vote until February, as evidenced by the discussion last night. Green and her team have had less than one month to prepare the bond materials by the Tuesday deadline to get the proposal on the ballot. They will now have more time to provide details to the community.
Commoncents
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 4:36 p.m.
So it's August 11th and the board can't move fast enough to get a vote done by November ? How about a breakdown of what these people are doing that they can't get it done in FOUR MONTHS! The comments on this article show what the public thinks...
Kyle Feldscher
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 3:01 p.m.
aaparent - I understand you thoughts, but I believe it is just a statement of fact, not a defense of the district. There is more time available to prepare for a February election than a November election.
aaparent
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 3 p.m.
..sorry, a word got deleted, the last sentence should have said: Are you and your editors asking tough questions or just translating the school's public relations statements?
aaparent
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 2:58 p.m.
Kyle-Thanks for clarifying these points. But your last paragraph seems to defend Green and her new team. It would sound more objective if you would at least say that Green and her team "said" that they have had less than a month to prepare instead of coming across as directly defending or protecting them and assisting in their public relations. If you were Liz Margolis, the third paragraph you wrote would make sense. You are the newspaper's education writer. Are you and your editors asking tough or just translating the school's public relations statements?
Cash
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 2:05 p.m.
I am picturing the entire board and the administrators on their knees praying for a blizzard on that February day.
Cash
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 11:22 p.m.
Well, they don't want anyone to vote ...they KNOW it won't pass if people get out and vote.
jns131
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 5:08 p.m.
Cash? Wouldn't that be the other way around? No blizzard? I am voting no.
Madhatter
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 1:43 p.m.
If they can come up with all that money and benefits for the new "gal," I'm sure they can find the money for technology too. Foolish spending should not be rewarded with new taxes. The AAPS has lost credibility and needs to learn that it is not their money, it's the peoples' money.
Gloria
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 1:26 p.m.
How about a bond for teacher salaries?
Commoncents
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 4:33 p.m.
DonBee is the truth. What a joke these government run programs are...
DonBee
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 2:31 p.m.
It is coming Gloria - It will be called the WISD "Enhancement Millage". 2 mills added to your taxes. The teachers will see 25% of it and the Administration will get the rest.
skooldazedandconfused
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 1:23 p.m.
It should be part of the operating budget. What are they spending their money on??? Ineligible dependents for healthcare to the tune of $766,000 in 2010 alone and no plans to prosecute those who stole from the district!!! The community might be supportive of increased taxes when the administrators are accountable. I plan on voting NO for every increase until they prosecute and get restitution from every employee who stole from the district. <a href="http://www.annarbor.com/news/ann-arbor-schools-remove-200-ineligible-dependents-from-health-plan/">http://www.annarbor.com/news/ann-arbor-schools-remove-200-ineligible-dependents-from-health-plan/</a>
Kevin McNulty
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 9:20 p.m.
Thanks for the post and the link. I missed that story. I still am curious. I read the A2.com story and the story through a link there, but I still don't know what happened. I am curious about who these ineligible dependents are. Friends? Siblings? Cohabitants? If they are obviously not eligible, then you could have a prosecutable crime. There is a law called Larceny of False Pretenses that makes it illegal to float a false statement, writing knowing it to be false and getting some benefit either financial or of a service. I think the key here might be if the restrictions are not clear and the employees thought their dependents were eligible. I cannot imagine though how it could be confusing. The district like all public sector agencies should have a policy that requires all offenses be forwarded for prosecution. That way you assure equal treatment and no picking and choosing who goes to the hoosegow and who doesn't based on their job. I wonder if the insurance company paid out for medical care for any of those ineligible dependents and if they are demanding a refund.
alarictoo
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 1:14 p.m.
Dear All, The reports that AAPS has no IT Director are inaccurate. Many commenters on AA.COM, and a good deal of the articles, are lacking in accuracy. AAPS has an IT Director in place. He has been in the position for several years, and has managed several "ambitious" roll-outs already. His name is John VanRiper, and he has been quoted and mentioned in past AA.COM articles. <a href="http://www.annarbor.com/news/ann-arbor-school-board-approves-293000-in-technology-purchases/">http://www.annarbor.com/news/ann-arbor-school-board-approves-293000-in-technology-purchases/</a> <a href="http://www.annarbor.com/news/ann-arbor-school-district-plans-upgrades-to-technology-infrastructure/">http://www.annarbor.com/news/ann-arbor-school-district-plans-upgrades-to-technology-infrastructure/</a> I find it ironic that the most highly rated comment on this thread is based upon this bogus issue.
DonBee
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 1:11 p.m.
The following line items really bug me, based on state law: $245,000 on student intervention support services on a 10-year cycle $500,000 on career technology and education on a 10-year cycle What is the technology here, it looks like education as written and should come directly from the general fund $700,000 on installing server rooms and wiring closets on a 10-year cycle This should have been paid for with the prior bond money rather than building a university grade weight room at one high school $2.11 million on contingency Slush fund to buy what the district wants - since it is BOND money they can build the second weight room from this money and no one can complain, because it is legal to do that. $1.5 million on project management WHY do they want to take project management out of the bond fund and why should it not come out of business as usual? given there is roughly $10 million in what could really be considered projects here - $1.5 million seems VERY HIGH for managing them. I wonder who is sitting in Balas that they will cover with this money for the next decade? One of the failed principals?
Ming Bucibei
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 1:07 p.m.
VOTE NO!! NO NEW TAXES!! We are taxed enough already!! Ming Bucibei
John B.
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 3:29 p.m.
We are the second-lowest-taxed developed nation in the universe.
Hot Sam
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 12:58 p.m.
Internet infrastructure should be an ongoing part of the school operating budget...and should have been for years... What are they spending the money on?
MjC
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 12:50 p.m.
Choosing to put this bond up for a vote during the traditionally low turn-out election month of February is smart politics. Good proposal or not (I agree with Ranzini), this will pass. The schools will campaign to get out and vote and the rest of the city won't even realize there's an election going on. Just look at the low voter turn-out for the August election.
Top Cat
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 12:47 p.m.
Translation...."Let's try and slide it through in February when no one is paying attention."
jns131
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 5:10 p.m.
Happened to its bus drivers the week after school let out. It will happen again and the board is shifty in this apparent attack on the unsuspecting tax payer. Glad I am out of that district.
Huron74
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 12:37 p.m.
Having the election on (very likely) snowy and freezing cold Tuesday in February is how they hope to squeeze this through is my strong suspicion. Where are the Voting In November is Easy! crowd when you need 'em?
HappySenior
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 12:34 p.m.
This is mid-August. They want us to believe they can't explain what they are saying in 2 1/2 months. They meet 5 1/2 months. Perhaps, they need to put this to the voters in an election cycle where fewer people get out to vote. Hence the February time frame rather than the November time frame. Mr. Ranzini makes a valid point about the need to have an IT director in place. Who is driving the boat at AAPS? $45 million is big money to me. And this is new money---another tax. Green says, "They've grown up in a digital world, and they're further along than us. We have to be the leaders in education, help them and guide them to make sure they have the appropriate scaffolding and support to use that technology." I really wish they would teach reading, writing, arithmetic, and science. Do you need the latest computer for that?
Silly Sally
Fri, Aug 12, 2011 : 3:34 a.m.
"Happy Senior" is very right. Why not stress the 3 Rs? After all, what good is a word processing program if one can't read or write? Games? Not on my dime. For computer technology that has a very short lifespan, why a 15 year bond? This is like buying a car and still making payments on it long after the car is junked.
belboz
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 12:31 p.m.
This is a good example of what happens when the School's District comes across as arrogant. People don't want to hear about needing more money. What is being done to balance staffing across schools? As in.... ------Pittsfield has 15.3 students per instructor while Mitchell has 22.2 based on last years budget meetings.... ------Pioneer has 1 support person for every 38 students, while community has 24.7. ------Clague Middle School has 47.7 support people per student while Scarlett has 33.6. The inefficiencies, or the imbalance, are across the board on all levels. Compared to 2003, enrollment decreased from 16,668 to 16440. Why are we operating with more capacity than we had 10 years ago, when the district had more students? This is the same AAPS District that spnt $80 million to manage 228 less students by destroying a nice piece of land with Skyline. When the district starts consolidating schools, showing me they are serious about having an equal, efficient process for running A2 Schools, then perhaps I'll bite on some millage. Because, more money for computers is more money for EVERYTHING. Salaries, pensions, custodial staff, etc. It means MORE money for them because it is less money that has to be set aside in the general budget for this MUST HAVE technology. I have 2 kids in the district, and this is NOT where I see the money needs to be spent. Get my daughter out of the trailer at Pioneer for her English classes. How about that first. Yes, a trailer, by the Tennis courts. Right next to A2 Rec Ed Offices, INSIDE the High School, rented to them by the District. Get your priorities straight. Until then, I'd ask people to vote NO.
Tony Livingston
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 6:22 p.m.
Yes, the portable issue at Pioneer has been a big source of aggravation. They remodeled the E Wing and moved Rec Ed in there 2 years ago while kids have still been housed in portables. Buzz, I would be interested to find out why you think they can't get students to go to Skyline. What do you think the problem is?
alarictoo
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 3:09 p.m.
@buzz -'I can imagine the complaints parents would have if Pioneer converted the Rec&Ed offices into classroom space: "My kid is going to English class in a converted Rec&Ed office!" ' Ironically, all of the Rec&Ed space is converted classroom space. Rec&Ed only moved into Pioneer a couple of years ago. Prior to that they were located in an industrial park off of Eisenhower and Industrial.
DonBee
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 1:14 p.m.
belboz - Your money to get rid of the trailer went to varsity athletics for a new Taj Ma Weight Room.
alarictoo
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 1:08 p.m.
Hi Belboz - You will be happy to know that the trailer that you referenced is gone. All classes will now be held within the building at Pioneer.
buzz
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 12:48 p.m.
I could not agree with you more when it comes to balancing staffing to give students equal access to adult contact and services. I understand how complicated it is for the district to do this, but I'd be interested to see an article on how they are trying to equalize FTE in buildings to best meet student needs. With regard to your other complaints, maybe your daughter should go to Skyline. AAPS built that school to alleviate crowding at Pioneer and Huron. Are they still having trouble getting kids to go there, because of parental attitudes? I can imagine the complaints parents would have if Pioneer converted the Rec&Ed offices into classroom space: "My kid is going to English class in a converted Rec&Ed office!" Step back and take a look at the big picture. Everyone's kid needs the technology update. It's a priority. Space needs change each year, if not each semester, and schools need flexible plans such as a portable here and there. Then look at your own household budget: don't you spend more money for EVERYTHING now vs. 8 years ago? That's the situation the school district faces, too. Everything's costing more these days. Technology can't be avoided. But it also brings efficiencies and quality boosts. And, keeps our kids in the 21st century. I really wouldn't want them going to school without it.
Buster W.
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 12:23 p.m.
Just glad I live in Saline.
Mike Martin
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 8:45 p.m.
A s an Ann Arbor resident, at the moment I envy you.
RayA2
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 4:39 p.m.
We in A2 are glad too.
SalineGuy
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 12:16 p.m.
The above should say 10-Gigabit backbone, not Gigabyte. Network speeds are expressed in bits per second, not bytes per second.
Common Sense
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 12:12 p.m.
This does not seem to be a well thought out proposal and needs to have the involvement of the new IT director. I, for one, plan a NO VOTE, and will make sure that I have my absentee ballot to vote NO in case I am out of town on business at that time!!!
alarictoo
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 1:06 p.m.
@Common Sense - As I replied on Stephen's comment, AAPS has an IT Director. I know him personally. He has been there for several years, and is very competent.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 12:08 p.m.
If AAPS has 16,000 students still, then spending $19.98 million on student computers over three "refresh" cycles is $416.25 per student per computer. Spending $6.63 million on teacher and administrator computers over the same cycle? How many people are covered that need PCs? If spread over 1,000 employees, that's $2,210 per computer over three "refresh" cycles. How about giving us the number of employees covered by this, AnnArbor.com?
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 11:27 a.m.
Comments on yesterday's story indicate that the AAPS position of IT Director is currently unfilled. If so, wouldn't it be a good idea to have one in place before rolling out an ambitious IT modernization plan, since the new IT Director might not agree with all the details of a plan written by someone else? Details are important, for example, should the AAPS have laptops that are Windows based, or tablets that use open source software, or Apple iPads? There is a big difference in cost between each of those three options. The biggest decisions in IT relate to the architectural decisions made and flowing from those decisions costs can be up to 10x greater or lesser. For example, I know a guy who is selling an open source tablet with better features that an iPad and all the functions of Windows for $100. Windows based laptops cost easily $1,000 with advanced features. Only a competent IT thought leader could determine if either is a good way to go, or not. A bad decision on architecture can result in poor results or even projects that don't meet their goals. Who is driving this train?
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 5:08 p.m.
Thanks for the clarification, @alarictoo. As Kyle notes below "the position that is currently not filled is AAPS' Director of [Instructional] Technology, not IT director. Monique Uzelac was the district's director of [instructional] technology and she has left the district to take a position running the WAY program for the Washtenaw ISD. Superintendent Green said last night that the district is going to begin interviewing for the director of technology position soon." Certainly, a Director of Instructional Technology should have a lot of input as to how to best and most cost effectively spend $19.98 million on computers (and software) to get a better achievement learning result? If not, why would you need such a position?
alarictoo
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 12:56 p.m.
@Stephen - That is inaccurate. AAPS has an IT Director in place. He has been in the position for several years, and has managed several "ambitious" roll-outs already.
sh1
Thu, Aug 11, 2011 : 11:16 a.m.
The superintendent states, "Among the potential benefits from having new technology would be the opportunity to shrink the achievement gap through software like the Northwest Evaluation Association..." Assessments do not shrink the achievement gap.