You are viewing this article in the AnnArbor.com archives. For the latest breaking news and updates in Ann Arbor and the surrounding area, see MLive.com/ann-arbor
Posted on Thu, May 5, 2011 : 10:05 a.m.

Residents can share ideas, thoughts, concerns in Ann Arbor at school funding roundtable with legislators

By Kyle Feldscher

Residents can weigh in at a Michigan school funding roundtable in Ann Arbor on Friday featuring seven state legislators.

The meeting is at 5:30 p.m. at Pioneer High School, 601 W. Stadium Blvd.

Reps. Mark Ouimet (R-Scio Township), Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor), David Rutledge (D-Ypsilanti), Rick Olson (R-Saline), Ellen Cogen Lipton (D-Huntington Woods), Jim Ananich (D-Flint) and state Sen. Rebekah Warren (D-Ann Arbor) are all attending the event.

State Sen. Randy Richardville, the Republican leader of the Michigan Senate, and Gov. Rick Snyder have also been invited.

The agenda for the roundtable includes a budget history of Ann Arbor schools, what Snyder’s budget means for the district, a discussion of reforms, and time for public comment.

Snyder has proposed a new $300-per-pupil cut on top of a $170-per-pupil cut from the current fiscal year that will not be restored.

Last week, the Senate passed a budget with a reduced $170-per-pupil cut on top of the existing $170-per-pupil cut that would not be restored.

Last month, district officials revealed cost-cutting measures to fill a $15.1 million budget deficit for next year, including the elimination of 70 teaching positions, combining the principals of four elementary schools and the elimination of high school transportation.

Lipton and Ananich are members of the House Appropriations School Aid Subcommittee.

The meeting is open to the public and will be held as a school board study session.

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

Xa2mi

Sun, May 8, 2011 : 4:38 p.m.

We did not need the new high school but if we close Pioneer and sell it to the University we can get education back on track. No one is talking about the declining student population as the board and unions prefers to ignore reality. Let's face it taxes in Ann Arbor are beyond belief and the schools are going to have to take a hit. We have had mayors and numerous city managers that have given away the farm to every unionized worker. If the city was to publish a list of city employees and their wages, benefits and ridiculous retirement benefits the tax payer might get a real wake up call as to what has and is going on. We non-public employees took our licks with the recession but the public employees are still on the gravy train. This state is going to go down the drain if the elected officials keep ignoring how budgets are supposed to work.

mojo

Fri, May 6, 2011 : 1:04 p.m.

The real question is - is cost cutting year over year? Is there a savings in real dollar terms? Has AAPS actually cut anything that was not a ghost budget item? For example - I just cut $280 million out of my household budget - when I didn't win the Lottery Power Ball a few weeks ago - is this a cut? Unions Officials will say it is - but 'budget process cuts' are not real - the money was never really intended to be spent in the first place. Real cost cutting is year over year - comparing actual dollars spent. Don't let them lie to you.

grye

Thu, May 5, 2011 : 5:57 p.m.

My understanding is that the Ann Arbor School administrative staff will present a detailed report of cost cutting measures it has undertaken over the past 5 years. I requested this a couple of weeks ago from the school system. I know that a significant number of cuts have been made and since there are so many individuals who believe the schools have done nothing, this will hopefully open their eyes. I'm sure there are additional measure that can be taken to trim what fat is left, but past knowledge would certainly be helpful.

xmo

Thu, May 5, 2011 : 5:37 p.m.

I am glad to see the employees of the U.S. voters (our elected representatives) are willing to hear what the people think. I remember how so many Democrats refused to meet with voters before and after the voting on Obama Care!