wrighte

Mon, Apr 19, 2010 : 10:01 a.m.

@a2momX3 Letters were not delivered at school, letters were sent home. However, last week on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday Principals called individual teachers to their offices and delivered the news according to their own schedule. Teachers had absolutely no say in when they got the news and most likely were very upset and shocked, but had to return to their classroom duties. Would you have preferred that your child's teacher leave the children unattended while she cried in the bathroom?

YpsiLivin

Mon, Apr 19, 2010 : 7:58 a.m.

@a2momX3 Your child's teacher (who probably had a pretty good idea of what was in the letter) had a responsibility to put the school children first. S/he could have (and should have) saved the reading of the letter until the end of the school day. Instead, s/he used it as a passive-aggressive opportunity to manipulate the students, (most of whom would require additional explanation of the circumstances), which the students would then take home to Mom and Dad, just like what happened in your house. So yes, the move was a little irresponsible, but I think the irresponsible party was the classroom teacher(s) who shared this letter with the students. (Do the teachers share every administrative detail with the students or just the ones that are likely to cause upset?)

a2momX3

Sun, Apr 18, 2010 : 10:29 p.m.

@David,.... Ok, so the actual pick slip didn't go out, but the "letter from the building principal" was essentially the same thing. Do you really think that 'the list' will change between Friday, when the 'letters' went out to next week when the pink slips go out. Unfortunately, these letters were delivered during the school day, and my child came home from school telling me that their teacher was crying during class, because they were going to get a pink slip, and probably lose their job. Could they not have done this at the end of the day, after class, so the students weren't caught up in all the drama? Seems a little irresponsible to me.

TruBlue

Fri, Apr 16, 2010 : 6:01 p.m.

@AARES This would be a start: 1. Line by line accounting of expenses and revenue sources. I admit that now the millage failed this is a lot more visible than it ever has been. Before the vote I don't think the schools and WISD did a good job of explaining why they need the money and how it would be used. 2. Realistic compensation for teachers. For example, Saline gave layoff notice this week to 63 teachers but they are still getting a 2.5% raise over the next couple of years. Crazy I think. 3. Merit based compensation for teachers. Some portion of the merit review should come from the parents.

AARES

Fri, Apr 16, 2010 : 4:13 p.m.

TruBlue: 1) What would count as fiscal responsibility and transparency? I am not trying to be difficult. I have heard lots of people call for both, which seems reasonable. But I am interested in what sort of actions would work for you. 2) I have donated money to the PTO. They are limited in how it can be used (State law). I would gladly donate to a fund that could be used to help pay teachers salaries (keeping head count in classes lower). Unfortunately, I am told that it can't be done per state law. Putting together points one and two, it seems to me that much of the problem is due to state restrictions and funding laws. I can't blame the local people for those restrictions nor do I want the children in the system to suffer for the poor state rules.

TruBlue

Fri, Apr 16, 2010 : 9:01 a.m.

McKinley had little effect on the millage. I didn't even know about his campaign and I still voted against it. I will continue to vote against it until I see some fiscal responsibility and transparency in the education system. For those that want to keep things the way they are: feel free to donate $200 to your local public school.

scooter dog

Fri, Apr 16, 2010 : 8:53 a.m.

I like others are not privy to what goes on between the school board and the union,but it seems rather hard to believe that you would risk loseing your job with little hope of finding another rather than give back some of your wages and benefits to help them/us during these hard times. If you think you can live today on $376.00 a week before taxes for 26 weeks,knock yourself out.If it were me I think,no I know I would give them what they ask for,within reason to keep my steady paycheck.Unemployment SUCKS big time,its demoralizing,degrading,and the worst time I ever had in my life.Good luck to all parties involved,Your making a big time life altering mistake.

David Jesse

Thu, Apr 15, 2010 : 8:07 p.m.

Several people have posted comments about layoff notices already going out. According to district officials, that is incorrect. Instead, multiple officials tell me what is happening is that principals are telling staff members that are likely to be on the list to expect a notice. The actual notice will be sent out next week, after the board approves them on April 21. We still don't know the exact size of the list, or how many actual positions will be eliminated.

WillieMark

Thu, Apr 15, 2010 : 6:21 p.m.

Layoff notices have just begun to be handed out. The number is 191 teachers. About four times more than everyone was told!

scooter dog

Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 6:54 p.m.

@A2 Reality If you want to stop paying social security thats your choice.I am not a receiver of social security,so have at it.I have never paid into it so I cannot receive it I am not against anyone receiving a good education but I think that by not having kids in your schools I and others like myself should not have to pay the full amount. I am sure everyone does not agree with me but thats your perogative

ChuckL

Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 6:23 p.m.

I liked the idea of leasing Skyline to WCC; what a great way to undue that costly white elephant!

Hot Sam

Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 9:14 a.m.

We continue to be hoodwinked in to looking to the wrong place to explain our local budget woes. The problem is the money we waste in Washington...

treetowncartel

Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 9:02 a.m.

Health care is the drain everywhere, we are letting people live longer and treating things that were never capabel of being treated before. This expense is being realized in taxes and the private sector. Although it comes across as being cold hearted, we are warehousing people before they die instead of letting them die and that is a great cost to our nation.

YpsiLivin

Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 7:47 a.m.

Alan Benard said: From those who refuse education to those who refuse to pay for education... It's not so much a case of people not wanting to pay for public education as it is a case of not wanting to write a blank check for public education in the absence of stringent, transparent spending controls. There's a limit to what the taxpayer can pay for education, just like there's a limit to what the taxpayer can pay for other forms of public assistance. And yes, no matter how you prefer to think of it, public education IS a form of public assistance, and right now, the taxpayers are having some difficulty supporting this particular "welfare queen."

tmo

Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 7:24 a.m.

I think the AAPS school board is playing irresponsibly with the voters. Rather than make decisions that require more courage but preserve education quality, they are laying off teachers. A more responsible approach would be to close some facilities to eliminate the excess capacity that exists. It costs us teacher salaries to keep such facitilies open - with the extra administrators and building maintenance, etc, they require. Wish more citizens were aware of this. Individual vocal groups, like Community High parents, however, are able to make sure that the Board listens to their rights to a private school education, before the educational needs of the rest of the district are met.

Basic Bob

Wed, Apr 14, 2010 : 12:02 a.m.

@Alan Benard, I completely agree with you about the culture of ignorance. However, throwing money at elementary and high school teachers is not going to improve our children's employment and educational opportunities. As the population decreases in number and wealth, the public can't afford to keep spending blindly. We must focus on effective use of our tax dollars. To me, that means more for universities, and less for prisons. We do not need party-line rhetoric, insults, and sarcasm. This just kills the conversation and sustains the culture of ignorance.

momgoblue

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 10:05 p.m.

I share the fear of others that younger teachers will be the first to go. My daughter had a teacher at a school whose name rhymes with "Rah" who should have retired during the Bush I years. Instead, she was there in the classroom, doing more harm than good to my child. Don't kid yourselves; bad teachers are sometimes protected just because of their longevity.

Alan Benard

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 9:45 p.m.

Don't worry about education. You can always get a good job from your uncle, down on the line at Fords. Michigan's culture of ignorance. From those who refuse education to those who refuse to pay for education, who think that civilization doesn't have a cost. All these rugged individualists, know-nothings and union-haters should prepare to go down with the ship.

Basic Bob

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 9:32 p.m.

McKinley? Really?? I find it more likely that the union employees brainwashed so many into voting Yes. OF COURSE the teachers attempted to indoctrinate mere children in the classroom with their entitlement union mumbo jumbo.

A2Realilty

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 8:54 p.m.

@scooter dog - I have three kids in the school system. I am not retired. As much as you might like to stop paying for society's public schools, I would like to stop paying social security that you are receiving in retirement. I'll make that trade with you.

AARES

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 6:55 p.m.

DonBee - You can't really compare total economy inflation to these numbers. The cost of health care has gone up much faster than the overall inflation. Any high labor industry - such as education - has had a much more extreme cost increase. I took a quick look on the net to see if I could find a comparable number, but nothing jumped out. It looked like there have been (low) double digit increases in health care costs in just a single year during this period.

Lokalisierung

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 6:10 p.m.

When I get to a nursing home i hope the people giving me my meds have more schooling than just K-12.

RayA2

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 5:54 p.m.

Scooter Dog: Although you will not directly hire anyone, you will pay for their services. Hope for your sake the guy who dispenses your meds in the nursing home has more education than you're willing to pay for.

sh1

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 5:40 p.m.

I am saddened by those who feel they shouldn't have to pay taxes to support schools unless their own children are benefitting. The guarantee of a free public education is what makes us great. I've never had kids, but I sure do value what an excellent education offers the community and country as a whole. Do we really want to go back to a time when only the rich could afford and education?

DonBee

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 3:04 p.m.

@ Enjoy - according to http://www.usinflationcalculator.com/ The total inflation from 2002 thru 2009 is 19.3 percent. The total budget increased 27 percent or 7 percent more than inflation. 2009 budget is for the 2009-2010 school year, just as the 2002 budget is for the 2002-2003 school year. I hope that clarifies things. Yes 2010-2011 is the next school year and yes we are looking at an 8 percent cut in the budget. On a per student basis the number has gone from $11,459 to $14,840 or an increase of 29 percent. On this basis for pure economics if you subtract inflation and the 8 percent cut, AAPS is still 1 percent ahead of 2002, which while not great, is still better than almost every other school district in Michigan. On the question of teachers leaving for greener teaching pastures: According to http://teacherportal.com/teacher-salaries-by-state Michigan is the 4th best state to work in as a teacher with an average salary of $54,739 - In Ann Arbor (in 2007) the average was $71,080 which was $12,000 more than Ypsilanti. Ref: http://blog.mlive.com/ann_arbor_news_extra/2007/08/video_local_residents_react_to.html My question is - where would they to to earn more? Ann Arbor is the school system people fight to get into because of the salary levels. But as I have pointed out time and again in the various threads there are other places to cut and AAPS is way out in a number of areas of comparison to similar districts.

JackieL

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 2:58 p.m.

I would like to see substantial cuts in high school athletics and a return to more intramural based programs. Before you freak out, listen to my reasons. 20 or 30 years ago, kids actually learned their sports at school through a combination of phys. ed, intramural, and varsity level sports. Everyone got a chance at it. Today, students are participating in virtually every sport in the private sector. Many are coming in with impressive skills learned from years of club play and the schools simply choose the best trained for their sports teams. Fewer competitive varsity teams and more fun intramural teams that anyone can join would encourage more participation and lessen the advantage that previous training gives. The world has changed. What do we want our schools to focus on and where do we want the resources to go?

Lokalisierung

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 2:55 p.m.

I am sad teachers are losing their jobs...no one likes to see anyone out of work these days. For me, I don't have any kids and won't for a long time, so I don't take interest in the Ann Arbor school district. Too much of my preop tax money goes to WCC. I say cut that down and move some over to Pre college level. Let people in college get more loans...just like I did.

scooter dog

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 2:54 p.m.

@48104,Hire kids for what,Sorry I am retired

enjoy

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 2:22 p.m.

1) Teachers pay is relatively high. However, they provide a critical service for the public. They are well trained and most have master degrees in their respective fields. Additionally, They must continually seek out more training at there own cost to maintain their teaching certificate. 2) Pay based on performance. Teachers with the highest seniority/experience/performance will leave poorer areas of ann arbor real quick. Cultures/Communities that respect the value of education will quickly have the best teachers. Those that do not will be "left behind". I dont think anyone would like to see the best teachers getting 200K while lowest get 20K. This would only broaden the achievement gap. 3) Pay should be reduced like in the private sector. I work in the private sector and when times are good I get very nice 5 figure bonuses. Yes my pay went down these past couple of years. But when economy turns around so will my salary. Teachers salaries will not, nor did any teacher make bank during the last time Michigan had a positive GDP. Most Teachers do not start their own business, they don't join start ups, they work every year, consistently to educate young people. Their pay should be equally consistent. 4) Retirement. The teachers contribute 4.3% or 6.4% of their salary to their MIP plan. Yes there is employer a contribution. 5) Agility. AAPS is huge organization that must comply with state and local laws as well comply with labor contracts they have agreed to. One cannot expect such a large organization with this degree of complexity to change overnight. It is very clear to me they are working as fast as the can and prudently preparing for the worst case even though they have been strong indications the economy is starting to turn towards the positive and home values increasing. @DonBee "Total AAPS budget - 2002 190 million and in 2009 243 million an increase of 27 percent. (note: I left out a number of small amounts here)." Assume inflation at 2.0% per year thats 3.8 million per year times 8 ~= 30 million. So that 190 million in 2002 is actually worth 220 million in 2009. While this scenario is purely contrived and simplified (I did not compound the 2.0% annually and rounded down), I believe it indicates a closer look is needed into what some people post here as fact/truths. And since I figure someone will be confused with "times 8" 2002 1, 2003 2, 2004 3, 2005 4, 2006 5, 2007 6, 2008 7, 2009 8 To effectively measure the true value of budgetary changes and their true value representations, one needs to keep track of not only inflation but student counts, energy, health care and slew of other costs that have greatly fluctuated between 2002 and 2009. People can look at 2002 forever if they want. It doesn't change the fact that the current year is 2010.

Mick52

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 1:36 p.m.

I do not understand why so many people blame McKinley Prop for this. I voted no and I don't give hoot about McKinley, nor did they influence my decision. McKinley, like everybody has every right to oppose a political issue. Blame the federal govt. Runaway spending that is certainly going to raise taxes, premiums, fees, etc are making people balk at passing local millage increases and taxes. I would rather send more taxes to the state and local govts than the fed, but until I know how bad its going to be, I will not vote to extend or increase any taxes. Individuals school districts can likely get taxes increased if they get all the parents to vote. I didn't care for a county wide vote. Stuff those lunch boxes with memos!

48104

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 1:26 p.m.

So, Scooter, you don't plan on hiring any local kids as employees?

scooter dog

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 12:51 p.m.

Hello,McKinley properties had nothing,zero,zilch,nada influence on my NO vote on the recent wisd milleage farce. I voted NO and will always vote NO untill the schools start cutting back and quit the business as usual attitude they have while this country is in the financial pits that it is in.Like most others who have taken 20 plus percent cuts to wages and benefits the teachers thinks they are exempt for pay cuts. I don't have kids in your schools so why am I taxed to the hilt to pay for them. Taxpayers in this area are fed up with knee jerk tax increases to pay for white elephant schools.If you can't afford to run them why in gods name did you build them,Total b/s

DonBee

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 12:38 p.m.

The oldest budget on the AAPS website is 2002. Let's look at the difference in funding from 2002 to 2009... In 2002 the foundation grant was 9,034 in 2009 9,723 - an increase of 7.6 percent - not keeping up with inflation In 2002 that was 150 million for 16,644 students, in 2009 it was 156 million for 16,439 students (yes a loss of 200 students) In 2002 the local sources (UofM, school rentals, parking, etc) was 1.7 million, in 2009 it was 2.5 million even though the UofM stopped paying in kind to AAPS - an increase of 46 percent In 2002 beyond the foundation grant AAPS received 4.8 million from the state and in 2009 it received 13.1 million an increase of 172 percent - this money was for items like special ed, vocational ed and adult ed. During this time AAPS stopped drivers ed - so that money went away. County voters authorized $8 million for special ed in 2002 and 18 million in 2009 an increase of 125 percent. In 2002 the sinking fund for capital purchases was $8.5 million in 2009 15.6 million an increase of 83 percent. In 2002 bonds for buildings funded locally were $12 million and in 2009 $16 million. An increase of 31 percent. Total AAPS budget - 2002 190 million and in 2009 243 million an increase of 27 percent. (note: I left out a number of small amounts here). County and local voters have authorized more than $21 million in additional funds over the last 7 years. The total budget has outgrown inflation during this time. In 2010-2011 for the first time a number of things will go down - local property value has fallen - so all of the local and county taxes will collect less, the state will reduce the foundation grant. But with all of that, if the $20 million dollar cut happens in full - the reduction in the total budget is about 8 percent. 8 percent - the sky is not falling. It will be difficult, but the administration took the easy way out. If they had done their homework and compared where they were really out of formula, most of the cuts would have fallen on principals, administration and back office - not the teachers. But, people don't get energized about those kinds of cuts - so they will not flock to the polls to vote for more money for the schools. I have posted in a number of threads ways to save most of the money without hitting on the teachers or the classrooms, but doing that would not result in an energized voting public. Now we see the result of cutting the teachers - people are energized. It is just like cutting police and fire in Ann Arbor. The result is voters are energized and the next time a millage comes up for a vote, you will say yes. After all if they are cutting teachers (or police and fire) there must not be any fat left in the budget. Remember the whole of the cut that Dr. Roberts wants is 8 percent of the TOTAL budget. I have heard that it is unfair to use the total budget as a benchmark, but the reality is the school district spends it and if the restricted money did not exist, then the foundation grant would have to pay for those restricted items and we would have even less money.

RayA2

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 11:45 a.m.

amlive - AMEN Mark Quigley - You seem to be ignorant of the purpose for a public school system. Public schools are funded by the public because of the critical importance of an educated public. Taxpayers are notorious for being absolutely the most miserly, short sited employers. Because we lack the leadership to speak the unpopular truth, we have seen an unrelenting degradation of a public education, even in Ann Arbor, over the last 2 decades. The result is a cycle that feeds on itself. A poorly educated public lacks the critical thinking to question leaders who say blatantly stupid things like we can immediately reduce taxes, fund 2 wars, and improve education. A poorly educated, uncritical public elects leaders who conceal their real selfish agendas in divisive social issues. I believe it was a poorly educated public that listened to and accepted the McKinley financed phone calls threatening that a vote for the additional millage would result in an unnecessary, unrevokable tax increase. Please Ann Arbor, just for a few moments, objectively consider the results of the McKinley contributions to the wealth of the company's owners Vs the future of our children and the Ann Arbor community.

just a homeowner

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 11:43 a.m.

@ToddAustin: So you are sure that the AAPS will go down the toilet if it loses 50 teachers? What evidence do you have to convince me? Not hyperbole, but real evidence.

ToddAustin

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 11:38 a.m.

Of course, the real story here, that the author fails to mention, is that AAPS plans to reduce the number of teachers by 50. There is a direct and real correlation between the number of students in the classroom and the quality of the education of children receive. Fewer teachers = badly-educated children Do all the angry anti-tax people really think this makes the country they love a better place? When the vast majority of the budget goes to pay teacher salaries, just what do you expect to be slashed when the schools are short on funds? Window cleaning? Marching band uniforms? How many of those attacking 'wasteful spending' have spent any actual time studying the school's budget and understand what it says? It's time to face reality. Reagan was dead wrong. Tax cuts for the wealthy serve only to make the wealthy wealthier while the rest of the population sinks into the muck.

dswan

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 11:29 a.m.

For all those bashing McKinley for the failure of the countywide millage: What are you so upset about? The Teachers Union President believes they will reach an agreement that will avoid layoffs. No layoffs, no delta in class size. Is pay for play activites and private busing/cleaning services really going to effect classroom education? Seems unlikely. Based on the reporting so far, AAPS students will emerge virtually unscathed while taxpayers will get a little more for their money. The more moderate the taxes, the more jobs, and higher tax revenues in the long term. This correction is long overdue.

48104

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 11:19 a.m.

Jane Jetson writes: "Surrounding districts (Milan, Ypsi, Lincoln, Willow Run) all receive about $2000 less per student yet all are judged with the same yardstick." And they are generally failing in that comparison. So are you saying money does make a difference?

msddjohston

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 11:08 a.m.

I do not know of a profession that has not had to make some down-scaling with regard to income. Because our children are our most precious assest we should/would/can/will as each teacher and administrator takes a pay cut work together in enhansing the student/teacher ratio! HEY! GO FOR IT! Keep the Department of Health, Education and Welfare up and running. This cut will be painful to some/most? Kids might want to take a cut too...cut the books, layoff the computers, help your parents, take on a little more responsibility in achievement. GO FOR IT! Children very likely may have their own "tea party". What I suggest is study/read/ or look at the Constitution (USA), Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights (this one would be highly popular and easy). Pick a sentence, thought or idea, and invite a couple of friends over and discuss your topic, serve a light tea (green) and some crumpets. Ask your folks, adult, neighbor, or trusted friend, or even you puppy to chat-a-long. Your friend, msddjohnston@hotmail.com

Jane Jetson

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 11:03 a.m.

How nice that the AAPS receives a foundation allowance of $9600 per students. Surrounding districts (Milan, Ypsi, Lincoln, Willow Run) all receive about $2000 less per student yet all are judged with the same yardstick. It doesn't cost $2000 less per student to educate a child who lives beyond the AA school district boundaries. My guess is that salaries are comparable, as are fixed costs like heating, water, textbooks, gas. Hats off to the surrounding districts for surviving foundation allowance cuts over the last 4+ years.

eyeloveypsi

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 10:51 a.m.

I'm another one upset with Mckinley because I wanted the millage to pass. I'm also mad when the Yankees spend more money, get better players and finish ahead of the Tigers. No laws broken, just one side doing what needs to be done. Where was the ISD in the last campaign? Their campaign plan, if there was one, was pathetic and the result was predictable. The election should have been about kids, but the side that should have made that point was sleepin' at the wheel. So, an even bigger thank you to the ISD and local districts who never came up with an effective straqtegy to win an important election.

Snaarf

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 10:48 a.m.

The problem is that all of the local government jobs are paying too much in terms of salary and benefits. When all of the school employees are paying at least one third of their health care costs, then I might consider voting for an increase in taxes. Throwing money at the school system does not guarantee success, and the voters recognized the local school systems are not making the most of their money. The entire region needs to rethink what the costs associated with government programs should be, and the government has to prioritize based on what it should be providing. I have lived in seven states, and the local community here has the most misplaced priorities I have ever seen. In Ann Arbor, the street cleaners are out just about every morning sweeping up downtown. But in winter, there can be 6 inches of snow on the ground and not a single plow can be seen. Snow on the roads create traffic problems and reduce commerce. Daily cleaning of the streets while nice in a good economy is a waste of money and doe not enhance the local economy. Just one example of how out of touch the local goverment can be.

just a homeowner

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 10:36 a.m.

AAPS sends out pink slips almost every year. It's pro forma, and done because the district doesn't know at this point exactly how many teachers will resign/retire. So untenured teachers get layoff notices. When was the last time a teacher was actually laid off in AAPS? This isn't some catastrophe. And stop whining about McKinley. Voters made the choice. Now let's deal with the situation to promote high quality instruction. It means getting ready of expensive sacred cows that don't contribute to the education of the many, and enhancing programs that contribute to the learning of most students.

YpsiLivin

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 10:32 a.m.

Griffen said: @ EyeHeartA2, well evidently it worked. Do you realize this is the first time in the history of A2 that the millage increase for AAPS failed!? The ballot question wasn't about AAPS. It was about every school district in the county. This comment merely illustrates my point that for Ann Arbor, the vote wasn't about supporting schools as much as it was about supporting property values. To the best of my knowledge, corporations don't vote; people do. To say that there were 8,000 more people in the county who mindlessly pledged their allegiance to a property rental company goes well beyond ludicrous. If you think McKinley bough the election, you're saying that $75,000 in anti-millage funding had more of an impact on the outcome than did the 10% unemployment in the city and 12+% unemployment outside of the city. Really?

schoolsmuse

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 10:08 a.m.

As you will hear if you go tonight to the presentation, in the budget it is the custodians/maintenance who will get the short end of the stick. Their cuts (or the threat of having their jobs privatized) amounts to something like 20% of the maintenance budget--mostly coming out of personnel costs. For the teachers, the district is budgeting for a 4% cut. The bus drivers will probably end up staying as public employees through the Washtenaw ISD consolidation--so who gets the short end of the stick? Custodial. It seems highly unfair to me.

SemperFi

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 10:06 a.m.

The AAPS needs to start the Pink Slip activity at the Ballas Building. There are too many administrators making 6 figures. It seems that every time a HS principal leaves their office, they're given a position at Ballas. They had an administrator retire a few months ago, then hire him back as a consultant to do the work that he didn't get done while he was a paid employee. But it's okay to increase the class size? Start at the top.

48104

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 9:44 a.m.

Interestingly, the absentee votes in Ann Arbor were more opposed than the people actually in voting in person. Not surprising, however. I've always considered the townships to be the home of people who want Ann Arbor services but don't want to be taxed to pay for them, so I'd hardly be surprised by the margin narrowing if you add them in.

dakabk

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 9:28 a.m.

"The enhancement millage was a countywide proposal. It passed in the city of Ann Arbor by a margin of 56 percent to 44 percent, but across the county, it lost by 8,000 votes" Tony Dearing - Thats a very misleading statistic. The boundaries of the AA School District extend well beyond the City of Ann Arbor. When you factor in the election results from the surrounding townships that are part of the School District (AA Twp, Scio, Pittsfield, part of Salem etc..), you'd find the margin to be much, much closer.

jns131

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 9:19 a.m.

The teachers were pinked slipped. So what about custodians, maintenance workers and bus drivers? That proposal has yet to come out of Todd's arsenal of cuts. He did not present it last month because he did not want to cause a commotion and go off topic as to what was important. Voting to open school choice. His idea is to fill the classrooms so that the buildings will be fuller and the district gets its $9000 or so per pupil charge. With the laid off teachers, I agree, larger classroom size and overwhelmed teachers. Now that he has pinked the teachers, it won't be long before he privatizes everyone else. The votes come down this week. As for McKinley? I totally agree. I voted yes on the proposal.

SonnyDog09

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 9:17 a.m.

"This is unacceptable! While you might think it's funny, we, the parents and tax payers, know that this spells disaster for the County and State as a whole. " This is the kind of hyperbole that turns me off. The chicken little's keep shouting that the sky is falling. Disaster? Laying off a few teachers is not a disaster.

48104

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 9:07 a.m.

Wasn't it a countywide schools millage that failed, although it passed citywide in Ann Arbor? I don't believe the Ann Arbor populace at large had a problem with it, despite the cranky comments that get posted here. Let me see if I can find the numbers -- I'll post a link when I do.

Griffen

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 8:55 a.m.

@ I'm Ron Burgandy, thanks for keeping it civil. :) Actually Mckinley properties is to blame. As so many true citizens have reported already, the Real Estate giant didn't want to get stuck with more money in property taxes, so they lied and poured money into false campaigns misleading citizens. Yes, they are at fault, but so are we for no longer being able to distinguish fact from fiction. This is a disaster!

Independent_Thinker

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 8:43 a.m.

Well Porter, Ann Arbor is a city that consistently puts form over function and liberal idealism over common sense. Nothing new to see here folks, move along.

Porter

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 8:40 a.m.

It's nice to see that the city has money to spend on gentrified "art" bike racks (note, I am not against the bike racks themselves, just that every single one of them is the SAME!), and on a thirty million dollar hole in the ground (former library lot which was just FINE the way it was. I never, ever had a problem finding a parking space there!)...all the while passing out pink slips to the teachers. That's great planning there, Ann Arbor. I cannot WAIT to move out of this city.

schoolsmuse

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 8:37 a.m.

I'd really encourage everyone to go hear Todd Roberts' presentation this evening at Huron High School Little Theater, 6:30 p.m. The program is set up so that there is a 45-minute presentation and then time for people to go to several breakout sessions and ask questions about changes to programming, transportation, custodial, athletics, etc. There were only about 50 people there last night, and that includes people like school board members. So please, go tonight!

I'm Ron Burgandy

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 8:35 a.m.

Everyone who thinks Mckinley properties is the reason the millage failed is dilusional. I agree with Ypsilivin's comments. It's time for the teachers union to step up and offer wage/benifit reductions like many other area unions have in these troubled times. Or will the Union members be greedy an throw their low senority members on the streets?

David Jesse

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 8:33 a.m.

The district will hold the second town hall meeting on the budget tonight at Huron High School's Little Theater. It starts at 6:30 p.m.

Griffen

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 8:25 a.m.

@ EyeHeartA2, well evidently it worked. Do you realize this is the first time in the history of A2 that the millage increase for AAPS failed!? This is unacceptable! While you might think it's funny, we, the parents and tax payers, know that this spells disaster for the County and State as a whole. Education should be the number one priority in this depression and the only thing that can save our state and big business just disenfranchised our children!

lumberg48108

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 8:22 a.m.

While I am sure it has happened, I have not read about a tenured teacher being terminated for any other reason than criminal activity - in any district! I am sure there have been cases when bad teachers with tenure were let go, but can anyone name one?????

Independent_Thinker

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 8:21 a.m.

What can we possibly expect with unions? The auto industry suffers from the same fate. The very premise of a union rewards "time spent" in the job and not "quality of job done". If sports teams operated like unions, every team in every sport in the world would suck. Eliminate unions and pay based on accomplishments.

mw

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 8:14 a.m.

Lay off teachers, increase class sizes, pay to play sports, and the community is all the better for it? How about let's not lay off teachers, increase class sizes or institute pay-to-play and instead just do an across-the-board pay cut? Given AAPS pay scales and state and local economic conditions, I really don't think that AAPS have any trouble at all continuing to attract and retain good teaching, administrative, and support staff if salaries were marginally lower than they are now. This is, of course, exactly what many cash-strapped private employers have done in order to minimize layoffs and minimize the impact on the quality.

A Voice of Reason

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 7:55 a.m.

Looks like teachers salary and benefits are going up $1.4 Million while we are making cuts in the classrooms. Time to get control of the teacher's union--they have been running this district for 20 years.

Griffen

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 7:22 a.m.

Note to self: Look into getting kids into private school.

Jon Saalberg

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 7:20 a.m.

@amlive: Amen to that. @YpsiLivin: If anything, the election proved that you can buy an election. McKinley spent $75K distorting the truth, and got the results they wanted. Unfortunately, much as with the national political arena, people don't read between the lines, or read at all, and believe the loudest voices, not the true ones. The result is that our school system will suffer, our property values will suffer, and most important, our children will suffer.

Griffen

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 7:14 a.m.

Seems Mckinley properties has managed to damage our future generation's quest of seeking a proper and excellent K-12 education. 10 to 1 the CEO of Mckinley properties sends his kids to private schools funded in part by the savings generated by shooting our kids in the back side. Gee, this is really great for a city that had once boasted one of the best school districts in the State! Thanks a bunch!

JackieL

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 7:05 a.m.

New teachers are not necessarily the best teachers and old teachers are not necessarily the worst. There is a lot more to it than that. I hate to see any reductions because class sizes are already too big. 33 students is a lot for 1 teacher!

sasquatch

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 7:04 a.m.

Saline just got theirs today...65 or so pink slipped. SEA meeting on a tentative agreement vote on Friday, hopefully they will do the right thing and help get some of these great teachers back, the pink slips went pretty deep in some departments at the high school.

YpsiLivin

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 7:02 a.m.

@amlive, Your argument presupposes that the majority of voters in the county are simply mindless dupes who operate at the behest of whomever has the best slogan or spends the most money on an election. At the heart of the matter for many pro-millage supporters was the notion that if Ann Arbor retained its spending on schools, property values would stay the same or rise, but if the millage failed, property values in Ann Arbor would suffer.(The majority of households in Ann Arbor don't have school-aged children, btw.) The millage election was never about kids in schools; it was about property values in one portion of the county. If the millage election had been about the kids, AAPS would have been successfully able to explain why it costs so much more per-pupil to educate children in Ann Arbor than it does to educate children in similar local school districts like Plymouth-Canton. At a time when people are losing their homes and jobs, asking for a 2-mill upgrade to school financing for the sole purpose of propping up property values in Ann Arbor was at best imprudent. The voters, not McKinley, have spoken.

Mark Quigley

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 6:58 a.m.

The AAPS BOE is making difficult choices. If you feel that more money is always the answer to 'better schools:teachers,buildings, technology and test scores- feel free to open your heart and check book and donate to the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation. If we as a community could just answer the question: 'what should it cost' versus ' it is not enough money' Ann Arobr would be better positioned to wrestle with the financial problems that the school district faces. The AAPS High School Graduation rates languish below 90%. Does anyone think that this is good enough to compete in this century?

sh1

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 6:48 a.m.

1BLockRadius: the rumor that tenured teachers cannot be fired is untrue. There is a clear procedure in place via the teacher contract to either improve the skills of poorly performing teachers or let them go. I'm curious where you heard otherwise.

Commoncents

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 6 a.m.

Unfortunately unlike any other industry in the world, the NEW teachers will be fired instead of the ones that are performing at the lowest levels.. We all know bad teachers in Ann Arbor public schools, yet they will keep their jobs as they are protected by unions and tenure.... And people wonder why there is frustration with the way governments are run....

amlive

Tue, Apr 13, 2010 : 5:49 a.m.

A big thank you to Mckinley properties for nearly single handedly funding the opposition to the countywide school millage this last November. You wanted to "stop wasteful spending" in our public schools, now here's the best way we could find to do it. Lay off teachers, increase class sizes, pay to play sports, and the community is all the better for it? Of course Ann Arbor schools certainly aren't the worst off in the county, as we're one of the few who haven't had to close any schools outright. Still, there was an opportunity before us to remain one of the least affected school systems in the region through this recession. Sure, a lot of changes that have been planned and agreed upon would still have to be made, but that last 4 million and possibility of 40 additional teacher layoffs would not likely have been a concern. So we could have maintained smaller class sizes, at least decent funding for sports, music, and extracurricular activities, and positioned our county as a strongly preferred place for families to live in southeast Michigan (relatively speaking) in these times. It would have costed me about $180/year, and I imagine most of Mckinley's rentals would have ended up having to tack on another $10, maybe $15 a month to cover their costs. Maybe most of Mckinley's rentals are not to families with school aged children though, and this would just be too high a cost of preserving the area school systems for them though. Still, it seems to me that our choice to vote down funding for county schools will prove to be short-sighted. We could have positioned ourselves as so much more of a desirable place for families in Michigan today, and for everyone 10 years from now. As goes education, so goes much more of the community in the long run. I understand it's hard times for everyone now, but I feel we have decided to cut off the nose to spite the face. Hopefully these cuts to our most critical resource (our children) will prove not to be as dire as I fear in the long run, but we'll have to wait and see. Wasteful spending... pphhht.