Without millage, schools will be forced to make more painful cuts
I retired from teaching at Pioneer High School in June of 2008, but have stayed involved in our public schools in various ways. In the last few years of my teaching, the district was forced to cut millions of dollars from the budget due to decreased revenues from the state in large part as a result of the funding formula put in place by Proposal A in 1994.
I was witness to those cuts. Our district did an amazing job of keeping cuts away from the classroom. Most cuts took place at the administrative level. Administrative buildings were refigured for other purposes, mid and high level administrative jobs were cut, aid for teachers to attend workshops and staff development within the district was very limited. Substitute teachers, food services, and other programs were outsourced or consolidated on a county wide basis.
Everything was done to try and maintain reasonable class sizes, rich programs in art, music, technology, keep libraries open at every single school, and provide a wealth of elective courses and options at the middle and high school levels. Teachers at all levels helped by taking lower raises (and this year agreeing to no raise in pay), teacher contributions to health care have increased with every new contract, high school teachers accepted more students into their classes, middle school teachers agreed to give up a long cherished advisory hour and all teachers have paid their own way to workshops on new best practices and technological skills.
I truly believe the Ann Arbor Public Schools have dealt responsibly with the need to cut millions of dollars from their budget. But, this can’t go on forever. If the proposed Washtenaw schools millage does not pass on Nov. 3, there will be very noticeable consequences in Ann Arbor.
Ann Arbor parents and students are used to a very rich curriculum, 5th grade instrumental music, art, computer, and world language specials and library services at all elementary schools. Our high and middle school students have an incredible array of world languages from which to choose and many electives in art, music, technology, and after school sports teams.
At our high schools there is a rich offering of AP and AC courses, preparing students for university level work and a chance to test out of university courses. Although class sizes have grown steadily in the last five years, we are still lower than many districts in the state.
If the schools millage does not pass on Nov. 3, this will all change. The schools in our community will need to absorb at least a $15 million cut this school year. This will be the result of decreased state funding and fixed costs the schools have regardless of cuts made.
I have no idea where the school administration (in concert with the community) will decide to make these cuts, but certainly they will be severely felt in the classroom at every level of the district. Even with the passage of the millage, the district will face at least $5 million to $6 million in cuts, as it has the last few years.
Please join me and vote YES on the Washtenaw school millage on Nov. 3. Don’t make the district that educated your children, your neighbors, your friends, and perhaps your grandchildren cut any more services to our children. Robin Wax Ann Arbor
Comments
travelor
Fri, Oct 23, 2009 : 12:29 p.m.
I am stunned at the number of folks who are willing and anxious to slash their child's education because they think teachers benefits are too generous. Instead of punishing your kids why not run for the school board so you can help negotiate those contracts or support candidates who feel like you do or join the local PTA and get involved in the decisions at your local school. Do you really believe that "the basics" are all our kids need today? Are you willing to throw out music, art, sports so that you can punish teachers?
A Voice of Reason
Thu, Oct 22, 2009 : 10:17 p.m.
We are blaming the MEA because the make AAPS purchase their insurance through MESSA and MESSA marks up BCBSM $1600 per teacher and then uses the money to lobby for the teachers. Total of 1.9 million per year. The AAPS union rep. makes $130,000 per year just working to make sure the school board is pro teacher and votes for any contract put in front of them. Give the $130,000 to our teachers--thats $100 per teacher.
snapshot
Wed, Oct 21, 2009 : 11:07 p.m.
I'm voting no. With a no vote we may eveventually force some fiscal restraint on ourleadership. Let them know that the bank is out of money and so is the FDIC. There are no guarantees anymore. That extra $200.00 per year in taxes that leadership considers so minimal will pay for several dental cleanings at the U of M dental school for those non government employees with no dental insurance. We should be voting on a city income tax, not a school millage. Ann Arbor residents are being manipulated by their own leadership. There are more millage proposals on the way. Let's send the message that we are too informed to be swayed by the fear mongoring.
Jimmy Olsen
Wed, Oct 21, 2009 : 9:04 p.m.
ResidentAnvil You are right - it is absurd to blame the MEA/MESSA for all of the issues. State funding has been as issue for some time. But read some of the topics from the MEA conference in February 2009. Smart Strategies for Bargaining and Maintaining MESSA Benefits Advocating for Teachers with Tenure Issues Fighting Privatization Elect Your Employer and What to Do after You Elect Them (these would be school board members)
debling
Wed, Oct 21, 2009 : 4:43 p.m.
As is often the case with these referendums, the public is asked to pony up additional funds without having the authority to direct those funds to specific projects. Allowing the Washtenaw Intermediate School district to disperse these funds for general operating purposes is unacceptable in my view especially in light of the poor state of the economy. Time we had a detailed review of each school budget with authority at the voting booth to cancel/enhance programs and restructure employment contracts and benefit packages. It's our money. Speak up.
ResidentAnvil
Wed, Oct 21, 2009 : 3:25 p.m.
It is curious to me when people blame the MEA/MESSA/teachers for the budget shortfall of the public school system. There is a budget shortfall in this state, that is for sure. But, to blame the teachers for that shortfall seems like an absurd statement to me!
MSG
Wed, Oct 21, 2009 : 12:50 p.m.
VOTE NO ON THIS MILLAGE!! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! I am a homeowner and have kids in Ann Arbor public schools. I am voting no on this millage. The Ann Arbor school district has made very poor financial decisions in the past. They cannot expect a bailout now that times are tough. Ann Arbor teachers are highly paid and misrepresenting their pay package. They receive an automatic "step" increase of at least 4% every year. They currently have a freeze on a separate "merit" increase which they used to receive every year ON TOP of the step increase. They used to receive TWO RAISES every year! This is absurd. They misled voters regarding Skyline high school so now we have a third high school in Ann Arbor which we don't need. They hired a new principal of Skyline at over $100,000 per year TWO YEARS before she started working. She earned her full salary for two full years for doing nothing! Ann Arbor homeowners don't take it anymore! Vote NO on this millage!
Christine
Wed, Oct 21, 2009 : 6:54 a.m.
"Ann Arbor parents and students are used to a very rich curriculum," - this is the problem. Many households are doing with less, cutting back and reducing expenses. It is not enough to reduce expenses. You have to reduce what is being offered because we cannot afford it! It is as simple as that. So if an elective cannot be offered that is the decision that has to be made. These are frugal times. If the basics are being taught the children will not suffer because a elective was not offered. Accept that these are no longer the "rich" times of yesteryear.
John Galt
Tue, Oct 20, 2009 : 11:25 p.m.
Enough with all these taxes. Stand-up and vote NO.
lbechard
Tue, Oct 20, 2009 : 8:19 p.m.
Mr. Wax, You are missing my point. If the MEA would agree to cut back let's say 10% on teachers benefits the state would have $260M to distribute back to the districts without an additional millage picking everyone's half empty pockets.
lbechard
Tue, Oct 20, 2009 : 8:18 p.m.
Mr. Wax, You are missing my point. If the MEA would agree to cut back let's say 10% on teachers benefits the state would have $260M to distribute back to the districts without an additional millage picking everyone's half empty pockets.
Jimmy Olsen
Tue, Oct 20, 2009 : 8:17 p.m.
"to make up for millions which have been taken away" - why don't we ask MEA/MESSA for some of those millions back in excessive health care premiums. I'm sure they would agree.
Jimmy Olsen
Tue, Oct 20, 2009 : 8:14 p.m.
it is an enhancement - it enhances the general fund, for which we will continue to spend 85+ percent of its money on salaries and benefits.
rjwax
Tue, Oct 20, 2009 : 7:02 p.m.
Thank you for your comments. Please understand this millage is not MORE money for the schools, it to make up for millions which have been taken away (and millions more just this morning). This will not increase revenues to our schools, it will make up for some (and only some) of the $15-18 million which will be lost this school year. IT IS NOT AN ENHANCEMENT!!!
Tom Bower
Tue, Oct 20, 2009 : 4:59 p.m.
Robin Wax, There is one thriving segment of public school students in Washtenaw County that won't be affected if this millage is defeated --- that's the students attending the nine public school academies in Washtenaw County. Why? Public school academy students are prohibited under current state law from receiving any of the ehancement millage funds. That's 3,500 students who won't benefit if the millage passes and won't be adversely affected if the millage fails. The public school academies continue to grow and successfully operate with minimum levels of state foundation grant support. Success? Check out http://themiddlecollege.org. Merit exam test scores rank among the best in Washtenaw County. Students graduate from Washtenaw Technical Middle College with high school diplomas and associate degrees from Washtenaw Community College. And this is done with only the $7,500 per student state foundation grant. That's right, students complete two years of college -- tuition free. That's leveraging public tax dollars and creating real value for students, parents and tax payers.
lbechard
Tue, Oct 20, 2009 : 4:27 p.m.
Here we go again, before millage issue is voted upon, taxpayers will be shamed and bullied into taking more out of their shrinking paychecks in the name of protecting education. If more money needs to be spent to directly benefit students, the money should come from cuts, specifically from state teachers bloated benefits package. Everyone in Washtenaw County is cutting back and making due in these difficult times, except the teachers. I am not saying cut salaries. Slash benefits instead. Benefits for public school teachers cost taxpayers $2.6 billion a year or about $1,600 per pupil. That's 41 percent above the national average and consumes roughly 35 percent of school district budgets. That is outrageous.