Last-minute funding from Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop saves late buses for middle schools
Students board a bus in Ann Arbor in this file photo.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
The busing program—which provides transportation home for students in after-school activities like sports and clubs—had been dropped for the upcoming school year after the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation dropped its co-sponsorship of the program as a result of reduced donations.
The PTO Thrift Shop had split the funding for the program last year with the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation.
Ann Arbor Public Schools had cut the program in June 2012. It has been run by donations ever since.
As of this week, the PTO Thrift Shop announced that it had enough funds raised through sales at its shop at 2280 S. Industrial Highway to foot the entire $40,000 bill for the program.
The donation means that there will be two buses at each of AAPS' five middle schools at 4:30 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday, beginning Sept. 10, to transport students home.
Amy Biolchini is the K-12 education reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at (734) 623-2552, amybiolchini@annarbor.com or on Twitter.
Comments
Nic F.
Mon, Sep 2, 2013 : 2:01 a.m.
I'm happy the late buses are running again. I'm also happy about my boyfriend convinced me to donate our barely used clothes to the P.T.O (I'm more of a Salvation army kinda guy). However, Ann Arbor has way more money then my hometown Lansing, and they seem to be funding their late buses well enough to not threaten parents...Where are all the taxes going?
AMOC
Mon, Sep 2, 2013 : 11:55 a.m.
Ann Arbor Public Schools 1) pays their staff very well, even for Michigan where teachers are generally well paid. 2) has a large number of school and central office administrators compared to other school districts our size, and 3) spends millions each year on coaching staff and athletic facilities, supplemented by more millions from the Booster Clubs.
cmayhew
Mon, Sep 2, 2013 : 1:55 a.m.
Thanks, PTO Thrift Shop, for once again coming to the rescue of middle school after-school busing!
JRW
Sun, Sep 1, 2013 : 5:09 p.m.
We donate often to the PTO and shop there too. Nice use of money from the store.
glacialerratic
Sun, Sep 1, 2013 : 4:55 p.m.
I don't think the PTO Thrift Shop has volunteers anymore--it's all paid staff.
DJBudSonic
Sun, Sep 1, 2013 : 6:50 a.m.
This is a bigger deal than it looks like based on the busing figures. Our son is in middle school, and was thinking about switching to a different middle school. When he went to the orientation he was given a brochure that among other things listed all the after school clubs and activities, but was told to disregard those activities, as they had all been cancelled due to the loss of after-school busing. Apparently they cannot offer the activities for all, if those few who need it cannot be guaranteed a ride home. So providing this busing actually allows the majority who don't use it the opportunity to participate. Strange, but true. So thanks again, PTO Thriftshop, for picking up the slack the BOE and the other foundations were not able or not willing to. And thanks to everyone who donates time, money or service to help our schools, helping kids is always the right thing to do.
DJBudSonic
Sun, Sep 1, 2013 : 7:26 p.m.
Thanks for that explanation. I wondered if it was a budget thing, but we are being told that the clubs will be meeting now that there are transportation opportunities available. It is probably some of both. I know that parents are having to step up and do some of this extra-curricular supervision.
AMOC
Sun, Sep 1, 2013 : 11:47 a.m.
More correctly, the school should have said that most or all of those activities and clubs were cut due to the budget cuts which eliminated overtime pay for the teachers in the form of "points". The way AAPS handles their, busing is only about 10-15% of the cost of having after school programs. The rest is in overtime pay for teachers/coaches, insurance, and charges they now levy against these programs for the use of the buildings. For whatever reason, school officials try very hard to disguise this truth, but having worked on several "School Improvement Teams" where after school activities were among the things being planned, it is the way the school world works these days in AAPS.
Soothslayer
Sat, Aug 31, 2013 : 4:37 p.m.
Whatever happened to parental responsibility and involvement for their kids? No.. everyone's too absorbed in their own lives to be concerned about doing something for someone else, even their own kids. Only in America we expect schools to raise and do everything for our kids with curbside service.
Gardener1
Sat, Aug 31, 2013 : 2:38 p.m.
As a former teacher in a middle schools, this opportunity to participate in after school activities is very important. It helps students feel more engaged in the school and its activities. Some schools provide homework help during that time. AATA does not service outside the regular city boundaries such as out Jackson Road or out Plymouth Road past the ring of the freeways. However, there are many students who live outside these areas and need transportation. Parents are working at the time middle school is over as well as when the after school activities are over. Thank you Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop for providing this service.
AA Neighbor
Sat, Aug 31, 2013 : 2:08 p.m.
Thank you and congratulations to the volunteers and supporters of the Thrift Shop--you are heroes to students who participate in after school activities.
belboz
Sat, Aug 31, 2013 : 1:44 p.m.
Thanks AAPTO. A huge part of enjoying school is being a part of the after school stuff. I know my kids did. Really wish the city would get off its asphalt and figure out things like this they can do. I'd much rather have the $50 million spent on schools instead of that glutinous parking garage.
Basic Bob
Sat, Aug 31, 2013 : 5:45 p.m.
Not only different budgets, but different entities. Parking garage = City of Ann Arbor School bus = Ann Arbor Public Schools Half of AAPS lives outside the city, glutin-free.
Soothslayer
Sat, Aug 31, 2013 : 4:33 p.m.
>glutionous parking garage yeah... different budgets, totally. lrn2economics
DJB
Sat, Aug 31, 2013 : 1:12 p.m.
I would really like to know what happened at the Ann Arbor schools educational foundation. They had a huge drop in investment income this last year, and it has not been explained. I am hesitant to donate money if they are going to put it into bad investments.
Soothslayer
Sat, Aug 31, 2013 : 4:32 p.m.
Ruth - use Google Chrome then you can simply highlight and "right click" to visit any embedded link or search any text.
J. A. Pieper
Sat, Aug 31, 2013 : 4:01 p.m.
DJB - my guess is that the Foundation is tainted by all the mismanagement articles reported on AA.com. I certainly wouldn't want any donation I make to go towards the fiascoes that happen in AAPS, and hence would never donate to them. When people donate their hard earned $$$$, they want it to actually do something for the common good, not to further the arrogance of the BOE and AAPS.
Ruth Kraut
Sat, Aug 31, 2013 : 3:29 p.m.
Paula, Can you explain to me why you are unable to embed links in comments, so that (for example), when you give us a link to another annarbor.com article we cannot just click on it?
Paula Gardner
Sat, Aug 31, 2013 : 2:33 p.m.
Here is our latest story on the Educational Foundation: http://www.annarbor.com/news/education/educational-foundation-funding/
mabb
Sat, Aug 31, 2013 : 1:46 p.m.
Donate to the Ann Arbor Thrift Shop on Washtenaw across from Arborland - an all volunteer organization that gives back over $150,000 back to the community each year
JustSaying...
Sat, Aug 31, 2013 : 1 p.m.
What about utilizing the AATA's services? I agree that the afterschool programs are important to the enrichment of a child's education / development, but I agree that the $40k could probably be put to better use. Perhaps a bus pass could be purchased for those who can not afford the bus fair. I would think that the cost to provide this "benefit" would be much less than $40k annually...?
DJBudSonic
Sun, Sep 1, 2013 : 6:53 a.m.
Yes the bus routes are not going to help with most of the school locations, although I agree if they did this would be a good way to support both the AAATA and the kids activities.
Basic Bob
Sat, Aug 31, 2013 : 1:22 p.m.
Bus routes cover only 20% of the district.
Ross Dunbar
Sat, Aug 31, 2013 : 12:47 p.m.
Thank you to all of the staff and volunteers at the PTO Thrift Shop for all that you do for our schools and for our community!
sandy schopbach
Sat, Aug 31, 2013 : 12:23 p.m.
The PTO has done a wonderful thing here. But I find it sad that our public schools need to depend on donations for services it rendered previously... and on our tax dollars. After-school activities are an important part of a child's growth. Doing away with the buses meant some children could no longer participate, unless they had another way home. Parents with lower incomes don't always have two cars - or even one - so their children are "punished" first, along with single working mothers/fathers who can't ask to leave work early to pick up their children. The PTO has filled a need. I just hope we don't have to wait for the next Fairy Godmother to appear to solve such problems in the future.
Goober
Sat, Aug 31, 2013 : 9:48 p.m.
Blame the AA BOE?
Eduard Copely
Sat, Aug 31, 2013 : 11:37 a.m.
Don't you just love the fact that the A2 PTO has to bail out the busing system, while our fearless leaders blows billions on war and supporting other countries. #americanprioritiesarewrong
jns131
Sun, Sep 1, 2013 : 11:43 p.m.
Yes, tis a shame we supply nobama and congress billions to go after the war effort but yet we can't even spend a few measly pennies to help our children get a decent education just to better themselves. Those who do better themselves? Do not need to be war like. Look at Switzerland. 400 years and still no war. We need to cut foreign aid and spend it here at home.
DJBudSonic
Sun, Sep 1, 2013 : 7:45 a.m.
Foreign aid is mostly spent right back here in the good old USA, purchasing military equipment and small arms from good old American arms dealers. It is corporate welfare by proxy.
Goober
Sat, Aug 31, 2013 : 9:47 p.m.
Yes, tis a shame.
Soothslayer
Sat, Aug 31, 2013 : 4:31 p.m.
What does after school busing in a local community have anything to do with national war mongering which Cheney implemented for his own benefit? Foreign aid is well under 1 percent of the total U.S. federal budget and is money well spent.
chapmaja
Sat, Aug 31, 2013 : 11:29 a.m.
Eventually the donation money will run out. What I don't understand is why this is needed in the first place. I don't recall any other communities that provide bussing home from after school activities that students participate in. When I grew up it was made very clear. If you participate in an after school event, be it a sport, club, etc. you were responsible for arranging your ride home after the event was over. Maybe it meant your parents came to pick you up, or you got a ride home from a neighbors parents, but the school did not magically give you a ride home because you wanted to participate in an after school activity. I personally can think of money things that $40,000 can be used for than for people making a personal choice to participate in after school activities.
Lake Trout
Wed, Sep 4, 2013 : 6:39 p.m.
The AA PTO Thrift Shop serves multiple purposes since the students (and parents) volunteer their time to sorting and shelving donated items, running the desk and managing staffing. All valuable lessons to learn. For this orgnaization to be able to give back to the schools system to benefit students that are ambitious enough to participate in additional activites is a perfect use for the funding.
DJBudSonic
Sun, Sep 1, 2013 : 7:41 a.m.
I love that every time there is an article about some charitable good being done in this town, especially if it involves the schools, all the same people come out of the woodwork to complain about the "misspent money" and their better idea for how that money could be spent; or what we all should really be doing to help. But where are you the rest of the time? Are you busy organizing neighborhood transportation pools, or hustling up forty grand to give to the schools? Let Ms. Biolchini know about that, I am sure she will be happy to write an article about your hard work and gracious giving.
TryingToBeObjective
Sun, Sep 1, 2013 : 5:56 a.m.
Not sure when that "age" was. My mom worked two jobs. No family support. My siblings and I walked home a few miles if we needed or wanted to stay after school. If you don't have to try to figure out another option, you won't. Learning to be helpless is not solution. It would be great to see people trying to help themselves and others-- working together -carpool, etc. what will these kids do the rest of the week? Sports are more than two days a week. These must be primarily sixth graders, and I believe the previous statistics were only about 10-12 kids rode the late bus. Working towards a solution might mean people would have to talk to their neighbors- perhaps each middle school could have sign up sheets at registration or curriculum night. Constructive solutions, not band aids.
Tizz
Sat, Aug 31, 2013 : 6:28 p.m.
Apparently you lived in the age of one-income families with stay-at-home moms and/or extended family support.
Goober
Sat, Aug 31, 2013 : 11:26 a.m.
Based on the AA BOE in power, everything is mismanaged and last-minute. Maybe the voters will wake up, agree that they are not being represented adequately and replace all of them.
jns131
Sat, Aug 31, 2013 : 10:27 a.m.
No brainer here. Same thing as last year. No money for after school. 1 week later? Surprise! Money found. Same thing last year same thing this year and same thing next year. Doom sayers need not apply.
jns131
Sun, Sep 1, 2013 : 11:40 p.m.
I never said from AAPS BOE. I meant the PTO Thrift Shop. They are all nay sayers when it comes to doom and gloom. They said last year no money and wow, there is money. So I say nay sayers? AAPS is nothing but chicken littles.
Tizz
Sat, Aug 31, 2013 : 6:25 p.m.
The shop is NOT part of the system.
sh1
Sat, Aug 31, 2013 : 2:58 p.m.
Money was not found within the system. It was donated by a non-profit.
Arieswoman
Sat, Aug 31, 2013 : 10:12 a.m.
I like to shop at the PTO and often donate stuff to them. It is a clean well kept store. Nice story.