Ann Arbor Public Schools bus complaints continue to roll in
Parents, students, and faculty of Huron High School sit in traffic at Huron High School on Thursday afternoon after dismissal.
Joseph Tobianski | AnnArbor.com
There are high school students in the Ann Arbor Hills neighborhood that have a 3.1-mile walk to Huron High School, said parent Niki Wardner, while students in nearby Burns Park neighborhood have a common stop at Tappan Middle School, where a bus takes them to Pioneer High School, just two miles away. That, she said, isn’t fair.
The common stops should be equally and fairly decided,” Wardner said. “If we don’t get one, Burns Park shouldn’t get one.”
While the district established a 1.5-mile walk zone for all students, it never promised to bus high school students who were more than 1.5 mile away from school, said Liz Margolis, director of communications for the district. Instead, the district, after first considering eliminating high school bus service all together, established common bus stops, a system of centrally located stops such as neighborhood schools that transport high school students.
When school opened Sept. 6, the number of high school bus routes was reduced to 30 from 60, and the number of stops on each route also was cut in half, Margolis said. The common stops were established using a formula that took into account past ridership, likely ridership and location. High school busing for the Ann Arbor Hills area was eliminated, she said.
The Ann Arbor Hills neighborhood had a history of low ridership, Margolis said, with some buses traveling empty in the past. That figured into eliminating high school busing in the neighborhood, Margolis said. That doesn’t mean there aren’t parents who need busing, she said.
“I don’t like to be cold-hearted ... It's unfair everywhere. We wish we didn’t have to do this.”
The district is working with PTOs and community centers to encourage carpooling, Margolis said.
But that carpooling is creating another problem, Wardner said. There’s congestion in the morning and afternoon as an increased number of students are either dropped off or are driving to Huron High, she said. “There is gridlock.” Margolis said she has not heard any reports of gridlock at the high schools.
While a route won’t be added to Ann Arbor Hills, the district will decide by Friday where to add some additional stops for high school students, Margolis said. Already, two high school buses were added: One at the Northside and one at the Logan schools common stops, where ridership was double what was expected, Margolis said. The parking lots at the two elementary schools during peak times are packed, she said, with parents dropping off or picking up their high school students.
“It’s going to be crowded for eight to 10 minute periods,” she said. It will take two weeks to smooth out all the transportation kinks, Margolis said.
The district had to cut $15 million from its budget, and $1 million of that came from eliminating some bus service.
Other area districts also are having problems with bus systems, including Ypsilanti.
Janet Miller is a freelance reporter for AnnArbor.com. Contact the news desk at news@annarbor.com.
Comments
A Voice of Reason
Mon, Sep 12, 2011 : 5:50 p.m.
I wish the same effort and passion about this issue would be given to the achievement gap and the high percentage of students in this town that do not graduate and are not passing the MEAP. Clearly, those who comment are the "haves" in this town who are quick to enroll their children in Community High School and manage to take the best of public schools. Where is the concern for all students. Also, there is a Michigan bill is being introduced that will make MEA union membership optional for teachers. Please put the power back in the hands of the teacher vs. their union. Great teacher's will make sure students learn and they just need the power to do this (vs. their union). TEACHER POWER!!
jns131
Tue, Sep 13, 2011 : 3:06 a.m.
I really hope the politicians that be in Lansing privatize the teachers. This way there will be more money for the classrooms and less begging on the streets for the children called fundraising. Teachers never had real power. It was all MEA talk. Bus drivers and food service workers know what it is like to be busted and broke.
pegret
Mon, Sep 12, 2011 : 3:07 p.m.
If the well-paid director of communications claims to have "not heard any gridlock complaints", then she is incredibly out of touch, and not doing her job. At Skyline, the combination of multiple roundabouts, inexperienced teen drivers, and most of all, impatient adult drivers, has created a very dangerous environment for students walking or riding bikes to school.
Beth
Sun, Sep 11, 2011 : 10:42 p.m.
I don't have high school children yet, but I see that the bus comes to our neighborhood at 6:35 and the AAPS website says the high schools start at 7:40. We are a 15-20 minute drive from school, and the last stop on the bus route. Do the children just get to school really early? What do they do once they're there? This seems crazy to me - what am I missing?
Beth
Tue, Sep 13, 2011 : 2:11 a.m.
Thanks, AMOC - Holy Cow! I think we'll start saving now for a secondhand car for once our oldest can drive......
AMOC
Mon, Sep 12, 2011 : 4:30 p.m.
If you are really the last stop on the bus route, then the kids get to school really early in good weather / good traffic. And then they sit there, because the schools don't allow them into the school buildings until 7:30. In bad weather or bad traffic, there is less wasted time, but still... Where we live, near the start of the route, my kid spends around 70 minutes on the bus ride and on waiting to be allowed into school, or waiting to be allowed to leave the school grounds.
KJMClark
Sun, Sep 11, 2011 : 11:53 a.m.
I don't think they had to mess this up nearly as badly as they did. I also think they could do a lot of good if Ms. Margolis would just say that they realize this busing situation didn't go quite as well as planned, and they're sorry. Isn't this what they call a "self-foul" or something in sports? If they had said right up front that they understand they may have to make adjustments after the first few days, they could have headed off most of the criticism. If they had just used a couple of free apps on the internet, they could have mapped these routes and either had answers for parents or would have know some kids would be walking too far. If they'd sent a few people out to walk some of these routes, they might have foreseen some of the problems with road conditions/lack of sidewalks and had a response. Instead they took a rigid "NO CHANGES" position and now have to backtrack, dragging down the schools' reputation a bit in the process. Finally, I really have to question how much thought they gave to what these routes will look like in the winter. A lot of the sidewalks and park paths aren't nearly as well maintained as the roads are in the winter. Again, they should plan for someone to try walking these routes at the times kids will need to. Maybe Ms. Green could do that as part of her 150% that we're paying extra for?
jns131
Sun, Sep 11, 2011 : 2:44 p.m.
Plymouth Cantons union is busted and the children are also doing the same thing. Walking on roads without sidewalks. Ann Arbor and Canton did not think it through either. Wonder if there is a connection?
15crown00
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 8:11 p.m.
no matter what you do and how you answer questions a huge majority of the people are going to be upset about transportation of their kids to and from school.It Goes With the Territory.
My A2 cents
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 7:47 p.m.
Miller Rd. both eastbound and westbound was miserable in the mornings this past week. More automobile traffic going to Skyline? Miller also serves Forsythe and Ann Arbor Open at approximately the same time. The city needs to monitor the traffic in both directions and install more stoplights along Miller to enable neighborhood residents to be able to merge onto Miller Rd. in a safe and efficient manner.
Mick52
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 7:15 p.m.
In 1969, 41% of students walked or biked to school. In 2001, only 13% do. One third of children are overweight or obese <a href="http://www.rwjf.org/files/research/researchhighlight35.4.pdf" rel='nofollow'>http://www.rwjf.org/files/research/researchhighlight35.4.pdf</a> Air pollution from vehicles makes children sick: <a href="http://www.deq.state.or.us/aq/toxics/whatyoucando.htm" rel='nofollow'>http://www.deq.state.or.us/aq/toxics/whatyoucando.htm</a> The school needs to get with the city and develop plans to encourage walking and biking to school. If they could do it in '69 they can do it now.
Floyd
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 1:19 p.m.
Maybe the money that was slashed from education budgets and gifted to the "job creators" will manifest as an innovative new business that offers privatized transportation for high school students... Or maybe Snyder's friends will just keep the money.
kms
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 11:39 a.m.
Last night, I overhead some Skyline students, who drive themselves to school in their own cars, complaining about the gridlock and how long it's taking them to get home in the afternoon. They actually said they should probably go back to taking the bus and maybe they could get home faster!
jns131
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 5:12 p.m.
They could park and ride to the hi school. I do know AATA goes by there. Just a thought.
4Reason
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 1:03 a.m.
How about we get each of those overpaid administrators to contribute $5,000.00 back to the School District to create a fund dedicated to preserving the necessary bus routes?
Ron Granger
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 12:45 a.m.
Here's how the school could save Millions and have extra cash to reduce class sizes, etc: They can cut all extra-curricular sports because walking to school is the new extra-curricular sport! Unfortunately, we don't know how much they could save because the school system refuses to disclose how much taxpayer money they spend on sports after school hours.
say it plain
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 5:08 a.m.
I'm feeling slow...I tried to figure out where on page 11 it's broken down how much they spend on athletics, but the only time I see the word 'athletics' is in the section labeled "support staff", where presumably they include things like the "non-instructional staff" trainers they proposed 'outsourcing' to save some money. That figure on page 11--which seems to be under the heading of 'support staff'--is $819,200. But then how much of the other potentially relevant budget line items--i.e., the $8 million on 'instructional staff support', the $21 million on 'pupil support', the $86 million on 'basic instruction services' (as opposed to the 'added needs' services like special ed), and the $6 million in 'pupil transportation' come from the varsity sports programs? They should tell us. And if they are basing busing decisions based on 'patterns of use' analysis, I'd love to see a specific report on how many kids are using the CHS and middle-school math enrichment shuttles during the day, if not a breakdown on the costs of the after-school middle-school athletics busing! Presumably the athletic directors, of which there is one for each AA high school (somehow other districts manage with fewer I hear!), maintain more detailed accounting, but that's not disclosable?!
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 1:17 a.m.
Might I suggest you check page 11 of the document linked below if you want to know what the AAPS spends on athletics: <a href="http://www.aaps.k12.mi.us/budget/files/1112aapsbudget.pdf" rel='nofollow'>http://www.aaps.k12.mi.us/budget/files/1112aapsbudget.pdf</a> Good Night and Good Luck
A Voice of Reason
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 11:24 p.m.
We keep sharpening our pencils all the way down while we dance around the problem of employee healthcare and pension benefits. Until the public starts being outraged about the lack of results for students while we are paying high salaries and benefits paid to employees, then I am not concerned about the bus issue. I cannot waiting until the MEAP results are smarted up to national standards--hopefully parents will finally see what we are really getting for our money and truly be outraged. If the fired Liz Margolis and her department, I believe the saving would be $750,000. Stop hiding behind a spokesperson and take the bullet Ms. Superintendent and your board! Also, the millage is coming that wants us to pay for technology updates over 10 years. Most technology is only good for 3 years and especially in a school setting.
AMOC
Mon, Sep 12, 2011 : 4:24 p.m.
Voice of Reason - I agree we aren't getting good value in educational results for most kids for the money spent by AAPS. While MEAP scores have been improving or high-but-stagnant, Michigan's nationally normed scores have not, which is the motivation behind the planned increase in MEAP cut scores. However, Liz Margolis is the only employee in her department; the rest of the budget is all contractor personell and advertizing. Yes, advertizing. Although AAPS does not accept students from outside the district except in rare circumstances, they advertize extensively on the theme "Only in Ann Arbor... ". Nowadays, I can only read that ironically. Only in Ann Arbor would the school district propose a series of 10 year technology bonds to buy equipment and software which will be obsolete in 3 to 5 years, max. Only in Ann Arbor would AAPS completely ignore the results of an expensive professional study on busing because having common start and end times for the day would inconvenience the high school athletics program. Only in Ann Arbor (or maybe in Texas) would the school board allow the athletic booster programs to dispense millions of dollars every year without public oversight.
a2flow
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 5:43 a.m.
ERM's Ghost, You are correct, I don't believe it will ever be enough for many of the people posting here. Ann Arbor's health care is rather reasonable, even a while back the Mackinac Center (no fan of unionized teachers) put Ann Arbor as an example of how health care could be contained. As usual, you are correct that the new law pretty much guts employee rights to bargain for health care. It's a moot point. A Voice of Reason may not care that the cuts at the state level are drastically affecting what is going on in the classroom. Class sizes are way up, some middle school academic classes are at 35 now. Guessing high school is getting closer to 40. Test scores in Ann Arbor are typically near the top of the state, so I am not sure where that is coming from. With all the talk of improving what the schools do, there is very little talk of improving parents and the kids. We currently have a system where there is no immediate consequence in K-8. Kids continue to progress from grade to grade, regardless if they mastered or even attempted any work. As someone who has a lot of experience in education, when parental support is lacking and students refuse to learn, achievement is extremely difficult. My prediction is the next 5-10 years will be a nasty time for education. Some of our best and brightest will leave for other professions if they can. As the profession continues to be relentlessly attacked, morale is sinking and teachers are pondering the value of being a teacher. Only in education do people say good, let's get a younger person in there with no experience. If you were having heart surgery, would you want the new surgeon with no experience and enthusiasm, or the one who has a lot of experience? I would want someone that knows what they are doing and does it well. The masses (of teachers) will be punished for the sins of the few. Accept your karma.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 1:10 a.m.
Teachers in the AAPS have provided significant givebacks in salary and the state just passed a law requiring at least a 20% contribution toward health care by public employees. I'm guessing that's not enough? Yeah, that's the way to attract the best talent into the teaching profession: pay 'em less and publicly excoriate 'em every chance you get. Good Night and Good ZLuck
jns131
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 12:38 a.m.
Privatize the teachers and vote no on the mileage. Let the ranting begin.
Fredric
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 11:21 p.m.
I grew up i Ann Arbor and lived near Eberwhite School. We walked to both Slauson and to Pioneer. Don't remember how far that was but we did it and no one ever complained. I know of others that walked a lot father like from the Slauson area to Pioneer. how far is that.? Why does the School System have to do everything for the students. Next thing we know they will start dressing them too!! Get the Students out the door, give them their lunch money or lunches and head them in the right direction!!
CaiBrayMama
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 10:51 p.m.
I don't know if this is still true, but I read awhile ago that these changes were going to save about 1 million dollars for the school year. There are about 19 thousand students in AAPS, if everyone donated just 50 dollars per student, we could make these problems go away instead of just complaining about it. I'm not even affected by the changes because I'm fortunate enough to live across the street from my kid's elementary school, but I am worried about the kids who will have to walk on busy streets in the dark, especially when it's dangerously cold.
jns131
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 5:17 p.m.
With Snyder changing the rules every 10 second, the bus law can be changed to where the districts can charge for busing. Take a look at how Massachusetts does it. Might be worth a shot. Although per federal mandate, special ed does get the ride first. But then can you guarantee the safety of the children who have drivers who are only in for the money? We have 4 years left of this system and then we are done. Glad to think we can walk away from this mess.
Steve Norton, MIPFS
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 4:39 a.m.
It's a very reasonable idea (to charge for busing, with exceptions for low-income families), but unfortunately state law prohibits doing that. School districts are not required to provide transportation (except for special ed students), but if they do provide it they must offer it for free. But the donation idea is worth a shot! I'd do it, even though my kids will be walking to Pioneer.
jns131
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 12:37 a.m.
Then it is time to implement the Massachusetts way of doing things. Charge each family $500 and with that each additional child of say $200. Are you willing to pay for that? I pay AATA bus card $29 a month. Just shy of $240 a year. Yeah, I can afford that and save myself $250 annually. So, figure out the cost and decide then. The choices are yours.
Beth
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 11:05 p.m.
I would also be willing to pay to use busing, if it would make things a little less insane. They have the free and reduced lunch program that charges on a sliding scale based on what families can afford - I wonder if they could implement a similar program for busing?
spj
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 10:09 p.m.
By law, AAPS has to provide education to every student in the district. It does not have to provide transportation to ANY student in the district except those with disabilities. They cut where they are allowed to cut. If you want better bus service, are you willing to pay for it? Where are you getting these statistics about an oversized administration? It's about 1/3 of what it was just a few years ago.
AMOC
Mon, Sep 12, 2011 : 4:11 p.m.
Uh, nope. Administration costs for AAPS and the absolute number of admisnistrators has dropped less than most other budget categories, and much less than the small drop in enrollment the district has seen. In addition, AAPS spends 20-30% more than comparable-sized school districts elsewhere in Michigan on administration.
Fredric
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 11:22 p.m.
Good reply!! Thanks!
say it plain
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 10:17 p.m.
But they didn't cut the transportation mid-day for a select group of kids, most saliently those who already are making use of a much-desired resource, CHS. Also, it seems from looking at the middle school sites that buses are being used after school for transporting middle-school teams around town...does that count as athletic budget line items?! Or would we never know, because AAPS (so it has been claimed and I still can't believe they are allowed to do this) won't tell us more about athletic budget spending?!
TC
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 9:20 p.m.
Put the blame where it belongs. Who slashed the budget?
say it plain
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 9:37 p.m.
Hey, I'm no fan of cuts to education budgets, but it seems there's good reason to question how the budget cuts are being applied here...
mojo
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 8:41 p.m.
And only the entire to summer to sit back and think about this problem!
Goober
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 8:19 p.m.
I can't believe that no one has yet pointed out the biggest inequity in this whole busing mess - the fact the that the school district is still running buses back and forth all day long between Community and the comprehensive high schools, and the middle schools and high schools. I have to believe that the kids who are benefitting from this door-to-door service are nowhere near the bottom of the socio-economic ladder.
say it plain
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 9:35 p.m.
Does AAPS run buses between the middle and high schools too? What is that for exactly--I can't find reference to it on the AAPS website. But I do see now in the previous piece Ms. Miller wrote on this topic a couple of days ago, the following statement that I didn't notice before: "While the middle school after-school bus was originally eliminated, it may return, Margolis said. This late bus traditionally picked up students a 4 p.m., but that may shift to 4:30 p.m. A decision is pending. The shuttle that takes students between schools during the day - such as Community High students to the traditional high schools or advanced math middle school students to the high schools - remain." Wowie, that's amazing to me! There are buses that take AA parents' advanced math kids from the middle schools to the high schools so that they can have their tax-dollars used to support their kids' efforts to finish AP Calculus by the time they're in 10th grade... That's both the desk spot in the more-and-more crowded classrooms *and* the busing to get them to the other school in the middle of the school day... And there *aren't* enough buses to get kids who live in the back of the low-income housing to their middle schools, *their* parents have to work out ways to get them there, or let them walk there and back through terrible traffic. Nice going AAPS.
say it plain
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 9:04 p.m.
*How* can they *possibly* justify that?! I really hope the parents who complain start bringing this up!!!! That is one of the worst bits of inequity I've seen from AAPS, *honestly*!!! They don't even want to have kids who are freshmen enrolling in more than one of the highschools, at least the comprehensive high schools say that. This is one way they *discourage* the alleged status of CHS as a 'resource for the entire community', which is really one of the only ways they can justify its existence given that admission works the way it does. So, then, kids who go to both schools typically start in the 10th grade, by which time they are surely getting old enough to travel some other way, no? Skateboard, bike, city bus, their own car, etc.?! Unless of course there are large numbers of CHS kids who need to get to the other schools and actually need/use these buses in the 9th grade...and I'm hard pressed to understand what they'd need from the 'big schools' from the get-go like that--not the AP classes that aren't offered at CHS I assume that young...is it for sports? Is it for orchestra or languages not offered at CHS?! Who is riding these buses?! In the past one could have said, oh, no biggie, how much could it cost for those already-privileged and 'lucky' CHS kids to have that convenience... But now that AAPS are nickel-and-diming people all over town, including people who might be pretty challenged already in having their kids ready for school and for whom this extra considerable hassle might add stress in a way that causes families and students to truly suffer, how can they justify this?!
A2Girl63
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 8:44 p.m.
Absolutely if you choose to go there, you should have to choose your own transportation.
snapshot
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 7:59 p.m.
Democracy has outlived its ability to be properly managed. Too many "self interest" factions in our society these days. In affect, we have bankrupted our economy catering to special interest with private profit and public risk while placing individual needs heads above the "public good". These folks may feel they are exercising their democratic rights but in affect they are eroding its very foundation and leaching the life out of it.
In doubt
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 7:58 p.m.
Someone once told me the law only allows a school bus to hold up traffic for no longer than two minutes. Worth checking into.
masharik
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 7:37 p.m.
"The district had to cut $15 million from its budget, ..." How does that go together with $70K increase in salary for superintendent? I don't mind my kids walking, but don't talk about safety routes, etc. Mind you you've gotta cross couple of roads and walk along the woods in unlit area, most of the time in the snow (cause city doesn't take care of that path) to get from Foxfire to Logan. And I'm not even talking about high schoolers that will have to do it in the dark, but even for elementary kids - it was not thought thru too well. Margolis is not answering any phone calls. Tom Moore (WISD dep-t of transportation) is neither. There are only two kids who's parents were able to proove that they live more then 1.5 mi away from Logan in Foxfire and those two lucky ones are safe now, they can get on half empty bus. They'd rather run an empty bus then pick up more kids and lessen the congestion on the roads.
A2Girl63
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 8:43 p.m.
They never answered their phones. You are lucky to get an email. The BOE will send a cut and paste response just like Margolis does. They did not think any of this through. No one walked where they are expecting these kids to walk. My kids came home today after almost being hit. Who in their right mind would make kids cross busy roads by a hill.
Change
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 7:37 p.m.
This busing issue is affecting the city commuters, too. This morning, I was stocked on Pontiac Trail in a long backup for a long time, waiting for pupils at Arrowwood to get on the bus. Many cars turned around as a result. As the district eliminates some stops, and move more pupils to board buses on main roads, we have yet to see more traffic issues in the city. I don't think the design of our schools and the traffic system of Ann Arbor would fit if all parents start driving their children to schools. Think about hundreds of cars on M14 jamming into the Maple ramps twice a day, every school day! That will have more people, even those without schoolers affected. At the end of the day, it is now apparent that the district had no vision and was not prepared for this (not even changing their policies with proper due processes). Everything is adjusted on the run. Some are even irrational (such as having two buses in one common stop).
Change
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 7:36 p.m.
The problem with the District is, there is no rule. This statement is very questionable: "While the district established a 1.5-mile walk zone for all students, it never promised to bus high school students who were more than 1.5 mile away from school." However, I have yet to find anywhere in the School policies and regulations to exclude high school students. Also, Dr. Green's video message (as published on AAPS website) carries this statement: "The revised plan called for the enforcement of an already existing, but inconsistently enforced policy, establishing a mile and half walk zone for students at all levels, and creating a series of common bus stops for high school students to be located at neighborhood elementary schools." I am very puzzled.
Haran Rashes
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 7:29 p.m.
If the School District insists that students have to cross busy roads to walk to bus stops or schools, will the District put some pressure on the City to install traffic lights or other traffic controls to make these crossing safer? My children must cross Green Road to get to the bus. Until drivers keep to the speed limit and actually stop for pedestrians in the cross walks, this road remains dangerous to cross. The City Engineers insist that the "warrants" are not valid for traffic control at either intersection of Burbank and Green, even though the study they use is about ten years old. By the way, Dhu Varren, Nixon and parts of Pontiac Trail are the same...to dangerous to cross safely, but students must cross to get to the bus. I hope it never comes to it, but when one of our children is killed crossing the street because buses were cut, I hope Ann Arbor Public Schools will not be as "cold-hearted" when they have to comfort that family in their time of loss. Of course the cost (dollars and emotional cost) of long term counseling that will need to be provided in the schools upon such a loss will pale in comparison to the money saved on buses.
A Voice of Reason
Mon, Sep 12, 2011 : 6:01 p.m.
Parents tried to get a cross walk at King School and Angell School for 10 plus years because these young students crossed busy streets. Safety concerns getting to school are not really the responsibility for the school district because lot of kids walk to school and could be hit by a car. Maybe parents should help or teach their children to cross the streets. Empower the people to educate their children and stop relying on the government for everything.
jns131
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 12:31 a.m.
MDOT has to do a study before they will install a crosswalk in a busy area. Trust you me, another waste of money when we all know we need crosswalks in an area we have no idea why it was installed in the first place. Talk a look at pork on Michigan way past Ypsilanti. A really nice crosswalk with no purpose to no where.
Karen Yamada
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 7:07 p.m.
If AAPS can have two buses routed to Logan, the common bus stop, why can't they route one of those buses to pick up the 50-80+ high school kids that live along Dhu Varren/Pontiac Trail (Foxfire, Carrot Way, Dhu Varren on the Park, and Arrowwood) which is an efficient route to get to Skyline? It's safer than having the kids battle the traffic along Dhu Varren and Pontiac Trail to get to a common bus stop at Logan and Northside.
Swimmer
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 11:45 p.m.
Here are the changes: Bus 136 (NEW) 7:05am Arrowwood at Clubhouse Bus 27 PM only Arrowwood at Pontiac Trail Bus 27am – These routes will stay the same 7:05am Northside Elementary 7:15am Community High Bus 37 7:05am Logan Elementary 7:10am Dhu Varren at Carrot Way Bus 142am Bus 37pm (NEW) 7:05am Omlesaad at Dhu Varren All of the above changes will begin on Monday, September 12, 2011
Swimmer
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 10:41 p.m.
There was just a phone message from AAPS about students in this area -there will be bus changes effective Monday
Charlie Brown's Ghost
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 6:43 p.m.
We live two blocks from our pick up spot. I don't see what all the fuss is about.
ummsw
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 9:47 p.m.
I would agree..you are fortunate, many people aren't.
eCoaster
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 8:10 p.m.
Lucky you! Maybe you would understand the "fuss" if you had to figure out transportation to/from school for your child.
zip the cat
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 6:13 p.m.
If you want to show them what you think of there busing farce. Keep your kids home on school count day. Talk is cheap. Doing something drastic will get results. Bet on it
a2flow
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 5:27 a.m.
How ignorant is this? Keep your kids home on count day? For two weeks to punish the school (and your kid)? And no, I have been in the district over ten years now and I have never heard or participated in just writing kids' names down and counting them as present. We have to sign our names on a sheet of paper for count day, and I would imagine that the state would hold the school and possibly the individuals accountable for falsifying documents and inappropriately taking money that we should not have received. Are you seriously believing (alleging) that teachers and administrators are in collusion in a way to make sure kids that don't come to school can't get counted as present? Count day is a pain, but standard procedure is that we do positive attendance (each student's name is called out and we verify that they are present) on count day, and we track the attendance if they show up, I believe in the following nine days after. So, these teachers that are committing fraud gladly are coming over and showing you their lack of ethics? What kind of company do you keep? What did the police say when you turned them in, to save your own conscience about this unethical practice?
Susie Q
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 2:56 a.m.
Thanks to Monica for posting a link to the actual language so all these "experts" on school law can verify their expertise. Yes, keeping your children home on count will really "show them". Then there might be even less money to support the educational programs and things like busing. Classes will be larger, options will become more limited and further cuts will be made, but you will "show them".
Monica R-W
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 11:30 p.m.
Michigan Count Day Procedures.... <a href="http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/Section-3_250847_7.pdf" rel='nofollow'>http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/Section-3_250847_7.pdf</a>
Fredric
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 11:24 p.m.
This isn't the answer and you dam well know it!!
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 8:50 p.m.
"I have had several teachers tell me they don't take attendance on count day. " You, of course, have reported this to the school district's leadership and to the appropriate law enforcement authorities? Of course you have. Good Night and Good Luck
DonBee
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 7:54 p.m.
sklgrl50 - Prove it. I have had several teachers tell me they don't take attendance on count day. I have seen the attendance books from those teachers too for count day.
skigrl50
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 7:32 p.m.
@DonBee - that's not true
skigrl50
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 7:31 p.m.
You would need to keep them home for 10 days... If they are absent on count day, they must then track them for 10 additional days, if they still are not attending then they will drop them... All you will accomplish is to take even more educational time away from your children and make more work for the already over worked teachers!!! How about instead, you do something positive like writing to your legislature...
leaguebus
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 7:26 p.m.
Thats right, keep the kids home, there will be less money for the schools and less money for bussing. Sounds like you are slitting your own throat as opposed to someone else's.
DonBee
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 6:37 p.m.
Zip - Nice try, but they don't take attendance on count day, everyone is present, even if they are not.
JSS
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 5:47 p.m.
JHW426 - instead of telling everyone where the city should not cut expenses, where would you cut them? Where is the "fat"?
A Voice of Reason
Mon, Sep 12, 2011 : 6:02 p.m.
Public Art!! New buildings and salaries and benefits for employees. Seems simple to me!
KJMClark
Sun, Sep 11, 2011 : 11:27 a.m.
Cross school busing should be lower priority than properly done busing to and from school. Next, I'd take a look at administrative costs.
skigrl50
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 7:29 p.m.
Why are we bussing kids from all over the district to Skyline? We are also bussing kids from Huron to Skyline that are taking elective classes at Huron because they aren't offered at Skyline, we're bussing kids back and forth between Huron and Pioneer to take AP classes where the enrollment is too low at the other high school and the class was cancelled - have we thought about video classes? Why is Ann Arbor still processing their own payroll? Why is AAPS still hiring new administrators? Why are parents NOT complaining about class sizes in the high schools???
Basic Bob
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 7:05 p.m.
That's an excellent question for the people who are responsible for operating the school district. Many of us faced drastic income cuts during the last few years, but we still manage to feed and clothe ourselves. Some of us have struggled through bankruptcy, foreclosure, credit problems, or spent our way through it by liquidating retirement savings. The schools must function the same way. I would propose that the shuttles to CHS should have been eliminated as a cost savings to the non-mandatory high school transportation budget. Certainly these elect few can ride public buses or drive themselves. Just one example of many problems that need to be solved locally rather than in Lansing.
UlyssesSwrong
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 5:47 p.m.
There's two types of students relevant to this: those who have a parent or guardian or somebody else drive them to school regularly and those who rely on the bus to get to school. (Not including the kids who are able to walk to school, bike to school, roller blade to school, hop-scotch to school, you get the idea.) While this doesn't affect the first group for the most part, it greatly affects the second. The second group includes many children who come from families with much lower incomes and different schedules who rely on this type of transportation. So we've effectively decided to hurt the students who rely on this transportation the most to save money to benefit everyone. Your typical high school freshman is 15 years old, and able to work with a work permit and drive with the correct permit. Perhaps this is a nice way of showing the disadvantaged kids that they need to work harder and make money ASAP to buy a car of their own and help better themselves to get their basic education?
ViSHa
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 2:41 p.m.
Just what this fiasco will need, more drivers with little experience in maneuvering this mess and who of course have no distractions, except their, phone, texts and five friends piled in the back seat!
jns131
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 12:26 a.m.
Correction on the 14 year old driving. Hence said, when said child hits the age of 14 years and 9 months, said child can get a drivers permit. Get some drive time in and then hem hem....get their said drivers permit at age 15. We are waiting with baited breath for that 14 9 magic moment.
Barb's Mom
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 9:22 p.m.
@ Ulysses--You said "Your typical high school freshman is 15 years old, and able to work with a work permit and drive with the correct permit." you have a major flaw in your statement. Last I checked, you had to be 16 to get a driver's license. A 15 year old still has to have a Parent and Licensed driver in the car to be able to legally drive with their permit. They also have to take a class that is not offered in AAPS anymore, before they can get that permit and some people can not afford to pay for the class so their child can get the permit.
drut_ferguson
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 7:19 p.m.
Kids from low income families are unlikely to live in Ann Arbor Hills.
DonBee
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 6:37 p.m.
Most Freshmen start the year at 14, not 15 years of age. Last I checked 14 year olds could not have a permit to drive a car, except in rare circumstances.
melissa
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 5:26 p.m.
The traffic congestion wouldn't be nearly so bad if people would leave more time to get there in the morning. I drop my daughter off at 7:15 and have no trouble, by 7:25 cars are backed up Huron parkway way. Not to mention Huron has two lanes, if one is used for picking up/dropping off and the other for people trying to leave it would go much faster. Frustration sets in when people feel entitled to block the drive lane for 20 minutes until their student casually strolls out. If the drivers could actually park in a parking spot when they plan to not be in their vehicle: instead of parking in the fire lane, we could keep traffic flowing a lot better.
AMOC
Mon, Sep 12, 2011 : 4:02 p.m.
I would be happy to drop my kid off at the HS on my way to work at 6:45 am, but the school district refuses to let the kids into the building. And how the heck is he supposed to get home at 2:30 or so in the afternoon? My workday doesn't end until at least 4:30, but students are supposed to leave the building immediately after their last class. So the kid either has to walk almost 2 miles to and from a common bus stop along an unlit, no-sidewalk, country road or break school rules.
jns131
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 12:24 a.m.
As I keep saying like it is, I drive mine to the nearest AATA stop and ours gets there by bus to the hi school by 7:25 with a nice .05 walk into a nice warm building. Rethink outside the box folks.
EyeHeartA2
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 5:37 p.m.
" Frustration sets in when people feel entitled " Pretty much sums up life in Ann Arbor in 7 words, doesn't it? Anyway, Officer Gold should grab his ticket book and stroll down the line, giving parking awards to a the entitled clowns who are blocking traffic. I would like to see that. Like a bunch of Shiners riding their bikes in circles.
Jhonny
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 5:13 p.m.
Come on Steve in Mi. Michigan government has NOTHING to do with school bus service. It is city problem. Some cities have it some dont.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 6:59 p.m.
Nope. First, the city and the school district are two separate governmental entities. Second, ever since Prop A, the school district is dependent on the state for a large portion of its revenue and, thanks to prop A, cannot increase revenue by raising tax rates. Hence, if the state cuts funding as it did this year (costing the AAPS roughly $3 million), cuts must be made. Good Night and Good Luck
Jhonny
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 5:10 p.m.
Your city is broke. They decided to cut school bus service. Getting your kid to school everyday is not a right. Its the parents responsibility. If you dont like it drive your kid to school. Your crying like a bunch of babies. Man up and take some responsibility for YOUR children.
Ann E.
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 11:39 p.m.
Get into the flow of traffic at any of the high schools at the beginning of the day and experience the futile feeling of sitting in long lines of traffic creating congestion and smog in a town that prides itself on being environmentally friendly. Our children are citizens in this town. There are thousands of them making their way to and from school each day. The long lines of cars in the morning show the lengths busy parents are willing to go to in order to be responsible for their children's safety and to insure their children arrive at school ready to learn.
Steve in MI
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 5:08 p.m.
The idea of public schools is that all students should have an equal opportunity. This decision by the Ann Arbor schools creates a two-tier system: those whose parents have access to private transportation are in one tier; the less fortunate suffer. This bus service arrangement might not be as problematic if it had been in place all along - people living and working in the affected neighborhoods would have been able to make informed choices. As it is, parents have chosen where to live and work based on an understanding that there would be certain types of bus services. When the AAPS changes that on just a few weeks' notice, not everyone will be able to adjust. I do hope our Governor is enjoying his big tax cut. That's why we needed to make all these cuts to school funding, isn't it?
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 1:28 a.m.
DonBee wrote: "No, the decision was to fund K-16 from the school budget, something that Governor Granholm and Lt. Governor Cherry championed for years." Nope. Theeeerrrrrrreeeee you go again, DonBee. Here's the K-16 proposal, DonBee: <a href="http://www.michiganedusource.org/Legislative/K-16_SOS-Sep06.pdf" rel='nofollow'>http://www.michiganedusource.org/Legislative/K-16_SOS-Sep06.pdf</a> Nothing here about funding community colleges and universities out of the K-12 budget. Good Night and Good Luck
jns131
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 12:22 a.m.
Just wait until they privatize the teachers. Going to hear even bigger screams coming from Ann Arbor. So, just wait, this too will blow over and then the bigger storm will hit. Ann Arbor made its bed, now it is lying in it.
Monica R-W
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 11:27 p.m.
Don Bee, I think a teacher might have more insight on the issue than you. Take a look....and she is a Conservative, by the way... <a href="http://aconservativeteacher.blogspot.com/2011/04/raiding-k-12-school-aid-fund-for.html" rel='nofollow'>http://aconservativeteacher.blogspot.com/2011/04/raiding-k-12-school-aid-fund-for.html</a> And since you post to A2.com often, I know you should remember this article, right... <a href="http://www.annarbor.com/news/opinion/whats-wrong-with-this-picture/">http://www.annarbor.com/news/opinion/whats-wrong-with-this-picture/</a> Enough said.
DonBee
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 10:29 p.m.
Monica - A little google search before you spin things please: <a href="http://www.michiganfoundations.org/s_cmf/doc.asp?CID=2542&DID=13298" rel='nofollow'>http://www.michiganfoundations.org/s_cmf/doc.asp?CID=2542&DID=13298</a> <a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1955099608498264320" rel='nofollow'>http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1955099608498264320</a> As to being a "Snyder Cheerleader" why would I compare him to the former mayor of Detroit, if I was his cheerleader? Sorry Monica.
DonBee
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 6:35 p.m.
Steve in MI - No, the decision was to fund K-16 from the school budget, something that Governor Granholm and Lt. Governor Cherry championed for years. As to the AAPS decision, it was cut busing or cut some of the administrative overhead, busing was the final decision, after all having the largest administration in the area is a major goal for AAPS.
Beth
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 6:32 p.m.
Thank you, Steve, that's very well said. We live outside the city of AA, and when we bought our house over a decade ago there were plenty of area bus stops, the schools were doing well, and certainly none of us foresaw these bus changes.
Jhonny
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 5:15 p.m.
Michigan government has NOTHING to do with school bus service. It is city problem. Ann arbor is broke. They cut bus service. Some cities have it some do not. Detroit has no school buses
drut_ferguson
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 5:05 p.m.
I didn't think anyone in Ann Arbor even let their precious snowflakes ride the school bus anymore. Every morning the area around Pioneer is snarled with parents dropping their kids off. Use the services or lose the services, folks. At least now your kids will be able to truthfully say that they walked 3 miles to school every day. In snow up to their armpits. Uphill. Both ways.
KJMClark
Sun, Sep 11, 2011 : 11:16 a.m.
Apparently there were more kids using the buses than you thought. That makes most of your other post seem pretty pointless, thanks.
smokeblwr
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 5:22 p.m.
In Blazing Snow!!!
DonBee
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 4:58 p.m.
Liz Margolis said: "I don't like to be cold-hearted ... It's unfair everywhere. We wish we didn't have to do this." But that is the way that the AAPS Administration and BOE is coming across, cold hearted and mean spirited. As to unfair, yes it is, the administration went generally untouched, even though it is way out of formula for similar sized districts. AAPS spends millions more on administration than similar sized districts and the people in administration saw raises no one else will see in the district (see the new Superintendent's contract for a good example). "We wish we did not have to do this"... you don't, you could have cut overhead costs, but you choose to punish the people outside the city limits of Ann Arbor instead. The word you are looking for Ms. Margolis is "Revenge" for the votes on the enhancement millage. This is designed purely and simply to make the next vote go the way AAPS wants it to, and the next enhancement vote will include a "limited" restoration of busing outside the city limits if it passes. AAPS could have implemented the busing study they paid for and avoided most of this issue, but they choose not to.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 10:45 p.m.
Thanks for confirming my post. Hence, the AAPS significantly reducing transportation services is unlikely to have any impact on a COUNTYWIDE millage. And hence your post about this being a ploy to strongarm a positive vote is so much bunk. Good Night and Good Luck
DonBee
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 10 p.m.
ERMG - County records show it passed in the City Limits of Ann Arbor, but did not in most of the rest of the county. You city folks have all the money, us country folk, we be poor.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 8:43 p.m.
One other point, DB. As I recall, the millage to which you refer was approved within the AASD by a fairly substantial margin but lost due to the fact that the other school districts in the county voted overwhelmingly against it. If so, hard to see how cutting transportation services within the AAPS will change that result IF there is another countywide millage election. But I do understand your anger. It's called karma. Good Night and Good Luck
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 8:14 p.m.
Tell me, DB, when is that election going to happen? Oh, that's right. It happened two years ago. Before the state budget cuts. The budget cuts that led to . . . wait for it . . . cuts in transportation services. Next. Good Night and Good Luck
DonBee
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 7:52 p.m.
ERMG - And you are well aware of the millage to which I speak, the ISD wide enhancement millage which can be used for operations. Nice try.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 6:54 p.m.
"This is designed purely and simply to make the next vote go the way AAPS wants it to, and the next enhancement vote will include a 'limited' restoration of busing outside the city limits if it passes." Pure and utter nonsense. For someone who is so tuned in to the budgetary intricacies of the AAPS, DonBee, you seem not to be aware that there has not been a vote on an operating millage for the AAPS in nearly 20 years due to the miracle of Prop A. No operating millage elections = no ability for the school district to use cuts to busing as a means to leverage tax increases. But you knew that, didn't you? Good Night and Good Luck
Ron Granger
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 4:49 p.m.
Let your kids walk or bike to school. It builds character and independence. I loved riding my bike to school.
jns131
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 11:44 p.m.
ecoaster? Mine told me today that back pack really hurts and even with wheels? Bogs down. Guess I need to buy something sturdier. But then again, bikers and hikers have packs that weigh more then that.
eCoaster
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 8:05 p.m.
Sounds good in theory, but try biking to school in the snow with a 30lb backpack and sports gear in tow.
EyeHeartA2
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 4:46 p.m.
My understanding is that the "Charlie foxtrot" going on at each of the bus stops is long enough for the bus driver to be ticketed for egregious idling and possibly felony environmental terrorism. AAPS v City Council. Roughly the equivalent of a fight between Superman and god, or an irresistible farce opposing an immovable object. Keep up the good work AAPS. You never cease to amaze me. Ever a give a thought to cutting 500K from administration? Maybe start by bring the new Superintendants salary in line with the old one? That will get you 10% of the way there.
Basic Bob
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 6:45 p.m.
And he spoke to the public and made appearances, too. It should be part of the job description.
Bradley Pearsall
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 4:41 p.m.
I understand the need to cut budgets, our wonderful governer has seen fit to create that situation, but I have a couple of issues with this article. 1. I don't understand the math of a $1 dollar savings in cutting 30 bus stops. What kind of busses are we using and how much are the drivers paid?!?!?! 2. It the district set up a 1.5 walk rule why are the Ann Arbor Hills kids walking 3.1 miles. 3. Maybe the district can pay Ann Arbor to provide police for traffic control, the U of M did! Seriously, why not have someone directing traffic so that the flow is better. 4. Lastly, even though the Hills has "low ridership" an area that big must have some ridership. Have one stop for the area. 31 stops instead of 30, what's the problem with that?
Change
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 8:02 p.m.
Traffic direction is not quite an issue. When a school bus stops on a main road, and picking up 30 students, no car can get by it even with a policeman on site.
JHW426
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 6:40 p.m.
The number of routes was cut from 60 to 30. It just says the stops were reduced by half.
JHW426
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 4:38 p.m.
This sounds like intentionally inflicting people where it will be most obvious. Just like when their are cuts to the city budget they go first for police and fire because it will get the people most fired up to vote for a future tax increase to restore cuts. I think they cut bus service so we'll all approve a new upcoming millage. Playing politics with the kids buses.
jns131
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 11:41 p.m.
I hate to say this folks, but this was coming fast and furious when they laid off the drivers and monitors last year and gave you all really bad drivers who really don't care about anything or any one except their paychecks. You guys got what you wanted. You were not there for us when we needed you and now you are dealing with WISD who are all politics and nothing else. WISD and Rick Snyder are both bad for business and the economy but you all slept while we lost our jobs. Now there isn't any one to drive your buses. Recall what you laid off and get rid of WISD and you will get the better service your children deserve.
JHW426
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 8:03 p.m.
Operating millage or not, that's why you create things like technology millages. So you have specific money earmarked for one purpose, that leaves more money in the general operating pot for impotant things like more administrators.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 6:49 p.m.
Nope. There are no longer any operating millages. Cutting bus service is not a way to leverage more dollars, because the dollars now come from the state. Nope. These cuts are necessary because the governor and his rubber-stamp legislature have severely cut funds to public schools and have spent in a manner not envisioned (if not illegally) money in the school aid fund. But I sure am glad that the guv's business buddies got a $1.8 billion tax break. Exactly how many jobs has that created? Oh, that's right. The state's unemployment rate has gone up for three straight months. Elections have consequences. Welcome to the consequences. Good Night and Good Luck
kms
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 5:53 p.m.
That strategy has back-fired with me. I am not going to vote yes on the technology millage. I'm less interested in my kids having the latest computers in class when bus service has been cut and class size increased. If they had a millage to address those deficiencies then I would be interested.
UlyssesSwrong
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 5:33 p.m.
So very, very true. And unfortunate. You'd hope we'd put the children's best interests first.
EyeHeartA2
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 4:48 p.m.
Yep, that is the "school budget game" it has been going on forever. Somebody needs to fire those clowns.
Bradley Pearsall
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 4:43 p.m.
Can I get an AMEN!
L
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 4:27 p.m.
..trying to think like a local government leader... Interesting will be the days after the vehicle idling ordinance is implemented. Perhaps the city should route revenue generated from idling ordinance citations issued around school drop off areas, back to our school system coffers...Hmmm...although, i do need a pay raise...hmm.
KJMClark
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 12:16 p.m.
It's not interesting at all. Idling is with the transmission in park, not stuck in traffic. I bet you thought you were being clever, huh?
Bradley Pearsall
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 4:42 p.m.
I love it!
ArthGuinness
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 4:26 p.m.
To be honest, this has worked out well for our neighborhood. The stop is different for my child but approximately the same distance away, and nobody has to be picked up 20 minutes early for a long bus ride. I'm sure many of these complaints are valid, but the district is trying to do the best they can with the millions that got cut. I'm more unhappy with the fact that my kid's class size shot way up, rather than worrying about the bus situation.
Karen Yamada
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 7:23 p.m.
My feeling is that every kid needs to get to school safely before we can start worrying about class sizes. Safety and Security are more basic on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs than even education, I hate to say (I'm very very pro-education). No child should have to cross Washtenaw, Dixboro, or Pymouth Road to get to school.
kms
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 5:13 p.m.
Frankly, it has worked out well in my neighborhood and my son is thrilled that his time spent on the bus to and from school has been cut in half. However, it could just as well have been otherwise and things certainly seem a mess in other parts of town. I don't think the administration did a bang-up job with implementing this and some families seem unfairly affected. I hope some changes can be made.
a2girl
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 4:24 p.m.
I sympathize with the parents and students who are trying to adjust to a new routine, but I am also having trouble with the idea that a kid has a 3.1 mile walk to Huron from anywhere in Ann Arbor Hills. I don't see how it is possible to be in Ann Arbor Hills and be much more than 2 miles from Huron.
a2girl
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 5:27 p.m.
KJMClark - You are correct. I did not take into consideration that the measurement would use the Huron Parkway bridge. It would never occur to me to walk that way, since the Gallup bridge is there for pedestrians. So I guess the question is how does the AAPS measure the distances? It seems that it is a much bigger job than simply mapping routes (like I did using mapmyrun.com) -- adequate lighting and pavement should be taken in to consideration.
KJMClark
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 12:15 p.m.
A2girl, it's possible if they don't take the cut-through in Gallup Park. I measured it with the USATF running route calculator, and with Google maps. It's just over 2 miles from Angell school to Huron via the Gallup Park cut-through. But most adults only drive that, you can't drive through the pedestrian/bike cut-through, so they think of it using Huron Parkway or Fuller.
a2girl
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 12:12 a.m.
Karen and others: It looks like people have a different definition of Ann Arbor Hills. Are we not talking about the neighborhood bordered by Washtenaw on the south/southeast, Huron Parkway on the east, and Geddes on the North? If there is another neighborhood in Ann Arbor that is called Ann Arbor Hills, I am not aware of it. Even if that is the case, I am fairly certain that the Ann Arbor Hills that I describe is the one that this article is referring to, given its proximity to Burns Park.
Karen Yamada
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 7:16 p.m.
Ann Arbor Hills is at least 3 miles from Huron. My kids went to Huron, I live in Foxfire and it is 4 miles from there to bottom Fuller Road and Huron Parkway.
Basic Bob
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 6:41 p.m.
Students who participate in music or sports need to account for the difficulties of getting their instruments and equipment to school. That's one reason to play the oboe instead of the tuba.
Steve in MI
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 5:04 p.m.
It's not much more than 2 miles... about the same distance as it would be to walk from the Big Blue Water Tower on Plymouth Road down to Huron HS. We tend to think of a 2-mile walk as being pretty reasonable. But remember that there are a lot of students who participate in the music and/or athletics programs as well. You may think little of walking two miles, but it's a different experience when you're lugging a full bookbag, your sports backpack, and your instrument. An easy 25-minute hike turns in to a 45-minute ordeal, especially when the weather starts to turn nasty.
Jim Clarkson
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 4:21 p.m.
Alright we have cut the bus services, now we can smack 'em with the anti idleing law. That should raise some revenues. Good job Ann Arbor public schools and city council.
tom swift jr.
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 4:13 p.m.
Folks, we can fund education, or we can decide not to fund education. What's that old saying about having cakes, eating cakes, something, something...???? If you don't like the fact that the education system in this state is being gutted, you have a couple of options: 1. Move your kid to a private school, I think that's the one Rickie Snyder chose. 2. Elect a leader and a legislator that care about your children and their education. 3. Move someplace where children and education are valued. Complaining to your local school district is like trying to squeeze blood out of a turnip.
A Voice of Reason
Mon, Sep 12, 2011 : 6:13 p.m.
Why do you have to personally attack Rick Snyder? Rick's kids were in public school and only when they were not successful, he chose a private school the same way several people in this community choose charter schools and Community High School--except it is free at to the lucky few. He is making long needed reforms in education, dealing with the financial realties and dealing with a school system that teacher's union would not even sign the Race to the Top Application to get federal funds. A2 has one of the worst achievement gaps in the nation. Why don't you be a little more concerned about this than where the Gov. sends his children. Jennifer's kids went to private schools too and she made sure that teacher's had no accountability for teaching children. She is not a very good person.
DonBee
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 9:56 p.m.
Monica - Every child in the AAPS system goes to a $15,000 a year school (that is the per student amount that AAPS gets from all its revenue sources based on AAPS's own documents). As to reasonable, I would say the options are fine as far as they go. 4) Elect a school board that puts students first 5) Reduce administrative costs to the state average and apply the millions left over to student facing services Add those two and I think you have a reasonable list.
Monica R-W
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 9:29 p.m.
So true Tom, so true. DonBee, who cares what Rick Snyder's daughter wanted. This is about Ann Arbor Public School parents that are having trouble with the busing situation. Tom Swift, Jr. offered reasonable solutions considering that Rick's kids is going to a 15,000 a year school and most other Ann Arbor parents are trying to figure out how to get to work on time since Snyder gutted public education costs, that impacted busing.
Basic Bob
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 6:37 p.m.
The turnips have to run for election and there will be blood!
DonBee
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 4:49 p.m.
Mr. Swift - 1) Rick Snyder put his oldest through public school, his youngest did public school until her friends all went to Greenhills and she asked to follow. Rick was a strong supporter at Huron when his son was there. He listened to the request of his daughter and granted it. 2) What is caring in your mind, unlimited funding for schools - AAPS spends just over $15,000 per child (based on AAPS documents on their total income) this puts them in the top 1 percent of school districts in the state and ahead of most in the US. 3) You have very few choices in North America where more dollars are devoted to Education on a per student basis. California even spends less.
smokeblwr
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 4:09 p.m.
Uh oh....Burns Park vs Ann Arbor Hills!! I'd hate to be involved in this battle between well-heeled and tenured helicopter parents!
63Townie
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 4:04 p.m.
Perhaps Ms. Margolis hasn't heard of gridlock complaints because she isn't listening. Maybe she should drive by one of the remaining high-school bus stops in the morning and see what a mess has been created. Logan's parking lot has been jammed all week; people have resorted to parking in the street and yes, they are idling.
A2Girl63
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 5:43 p.m.
I believe the "she isn't listening" is quite accurate. What about gridlock at the common bus stop. We had about 30 cars and I watch kids almost get hit trying to get around the car pools to the stop.
dotdash
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 3:59 p.m.
Maybe it would eliminate traffic congestion if some kids were dropped a block or two away, far enough to keep all the cars from turning in and out at the same places.... also, a little exercise. win, win!
Change
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 7:52 p.m.
Idea is good. Question is how. Car tags ending at 1,3 5 at one spot and ...?
DonBee
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 6:32 p.m.
I mean the safe way, from a vehicle that is stopped and out of traffic.
dotdash
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 6:26 p.m.
maybe you and I mean different things by "dropped"? :)
DonBee
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 4:46 p.m.
Where is it safe to do that dotdash, without being rear-ended by another car?
kms
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 3:52 p.m.
Margolis hasn't heard reports of gridlock? Well, maybe because they're being drowned out by all the bus complaints. I'm here to tell you that gridlock at Skyline is significant. I fully realize that convenient, free bus transportation to school is something we can no longer expect. I'm prepared to organize neighborhood carpools, but how is traffic going to be managed during drop off/pick up? Traffic will be backed up for miles along Maple Rd. There's already long back-ups of cars in the traffic circle waiting to enter M-14.
jns131
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 11:34 p.m.
If charter schools can do this? So can the hi schools. Might want to check out the charters and see how they do it. Otherwise, I know how I do things and am not letting out my secret.
say it plain
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 8:42 p.m.
Well, there's the issue of people not knowing how to use a traffic circle (we should have them everywhere like europe, we'd all be happier, seriously! when people use them properly they are so very much nicer than the endless stop-and-go-signs-and-lights we accept here!)...and lol I *have* to lay off the groaning but that saves my eyes from a little rolling and my tongue from a little clicking anyhow... and there's the issue of how there are sooo many parents waiting to pick up at the end of the skyline day that the line goes *all the way to the traffic circle* and beyond! Yikes! I just wait a little while longer now to pick up my kid. Why don't we work out some sort of staggering arrangement people?! Or a second auxiliary pickup area for kids based on, I dunno, grade or something? We can't have traffic backing up like that!
eCoaster
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 8:01 p.m.
Most of the traffic problems I've seen near Skyline have to do with teen drivers who can't navigate the M14 ramps and the roundabouts. It's scary! These are kids who should not be behind the wheel with a whole group of car-pool friends in the back seat. They should be on a BUS.
Charlie Brown's Ghost
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 6:42 p.m.
If they haven't learned yet, I don't think they ever will. And I will continue to groan at them when they stop when entering an empty traffic circle.
Basic Bob
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 6:34 p.m.
That's called a roundabout. People will eventually learn how to drive through them and traffic will improve.
Charlie Brown's Ghost
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 6:02 p.m.
The drivers of cars in those back-ups had better not be letting their cars idle! That would be a shame!