Steve Norton, MIPFS

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 9:03 p.m.

In case anyone is still reading.... DonBee, you said: "I cannot prove there are real problems with the way special education money is handled, but I cannot from the public information disprove it either." Since you are raising the question, I think it's incumbent on you to show there is reason to believe there are irregularities. Otherwise, if you have specific questions, sit down with the folks at AAPS and get answers - or at least wait until they fail to answer your direct questions before casting aspersions. Or, is it now "guilty until proven innocent" for anything in the public sector? (Posting in a comment thread here is not sufficient, since most people I know in school admin don't read these boards anymore because of the caustic atmosphere.) Second, non-specific allegations of a "failed audit" put you on thin ice, and FOIA requests must be reasonably specific. If you know something, tell us what it's all about. Otherwise, it all seems pretty fishy.

DonBee

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 10:44 a.m.

@babmay11 - My source for the audit information is a senior employee of AAPS. No public release about the audit is available. I have suggested to AnnArbor.Com they go do a FOIA on it, so it can be shared with everyone. I am not asking you to do my research, I am asking you to show me yours! I have shared, it is only fair you share too! I have dug thru the financials and posted my issues with the numbers AAPS has published. They don't match your statements. I gave sources for my numbers. You make a bold assertion with no supporting numbers, the published numbers don't add up, so I am asking you to show me how you get them to add up. Prove to me I am wrong. I doubt you can do it with the public numbers, because I can't nor can an accountant friend. I cannot prove there are real problems with the way special education money is handled, but I cannot from the public information disprove it either. There is too much missing information on reimbursements from various sources and no footnotes in the audit either.

LGChelsea

Tue, Jan 4, 2011 : 3:17 a.m.

Sallyxyz--I beg your pardon. I mentioned that several small districts may share boundaries to provide services for a specific disability group in one setting. I neglected to mention that if a program is highly specialized, such as the hearing impaired program, and it is not cost effective to house in home-districts, Ann Arbor may be the host district for the county. Thus, services for students in Washtenaw County, whose primary disability is deafness, are provided by Ann Arbor Public Schools..

babmay11

Sun, Jan 2, 2011 : 12:21 p.m.

The reporting here really should show the computation of the $20 million, through either a link or a table of some sort - including how the tax revenue is affected by declining property values. They should also show how this impacts the general budget/financial statements. This information should be readily available on the AAPS and WISD webpages with links in the article, but if it is not, the reporter should be getting that info and presenting it. Kind of shallow reporting - you need to dig deeper and do the financial analysis.

babmay11

Sun, Jan 2, 2011 : 11:37 a.m.

DonBee, sorry I am not here to do your work for you. I have seen the numbers presented by AAPS and WISD in specific presentations and they are consistent over the years. You have been requested repeatedly to provide your source and data for the assertion about the special ed audit you say AAPS has "failed" and have not done so. The financial information is out there too.

DonBee

Sat, Jan 1, 2011 : 10:07 a.m.

@babmay11 - Please go into the existing documentation provided by AAPS and show me your statements are true. I have added up what is in the audit report and what is in the easy to read budget and other sources, and I cannot prove or disprove your words. My numbers (depending on sources, they vary) say that the Special Education Millage+State+Federal+Blue Cross+Other Programs = a overage of $3 million or more, -OR- that the program is short. Right now the last published documentation on budget and expenses was in August, and prior to the final changes in the state budget that restored funds to the schools. I want to know for sure what is coming and going and that the reimbursements are not being used for things that are not special education. Can you show me how you reach your conclusion? Or are you taking the word from someone?

babmay11

Fri, Dec 31, 2010 : 10:33 a.m.

The state, county and federal reimbursement for special education funds does NOT exceed the total cost for special education, it is around 80%. If the millage fails that percentage will plunge and that is how the $20 million shortfall was calculated. As for the idea that special education services will not change since they are mandated by federal law, that is theoretically somewhat true, but in practice is a total joke. That would assume the district has been doing the bare legal minimum, which it has not. While there are still a lot of problems and inconsistencies with special education, there has been a ton of improvement in the last 10 years, mainly due to parent advocacy but also because we have had a better special education director for the last 4 years. The district has at least tried to address the increase in ASD students by creating some better programs and services, and some training for the staff as well. So if the millage fails that can all be kissed goodbye. The progress will be reversed, and these kids will be seriously hurt. And in the long run, the taxpayers will pay for all of that because individuals who could have been independent and held a job with the right education and training, will not be able to do so. Penny wise maybe, but definitely pound foolish in the long run.

josber

Thu, Dec 30, 2010 : 3:43 p.m.

Don Bee, Those questions rightfully belong to the picture of the smiling man featured in the article, the superintendent. If they want people to finance the renewal, transparency will a long way in making that happen in this county.

DonBee

Thu, Dec 30, 2010 : 12:22 p.m.

@ josber Let me repeat, I think we need to pass this millage. Go back and read my posts on this tread. I understand that restricted money is restricted, but I don't know that the reimbursements for use of restricted funds are also being used as restricted funds and not finding their way into the general fund. The reports are not clear enough to know that. Just because it is restricted or a grant does not mean you don't have to tell people you used it for it's purpose. The audit report tells you the grant was given, but not that it was actually received or used. My challenge to you and others is to spend an hour or two in the financial reports and really look at them. Then ask yourself, if it were a private company and you were an investor, would you be comfortable investing in this company given the reporting. As a comparison, take a look at what Plymouth-Canton produces with about 1/2 the overhead costs of AAPS. Would you be comfortable if your check book was 4 months out of date? Your bank statements a year behind? I have said and will continue to say, I think that the millage is necessary, what I don't know and can't know, given the reporting is: 1) Is the money well spent? 2) Where the local funds (Sinking fund, bond funds, special education millage) are going? 3) Why have they not come out with the special education audit they failed and told the public what they have to fix? How much is that going to cost? 4) Whether reimbursement for expenses are going back to cover those expenses in the future or being put in the general fund and used for anything. The last one bothers me the most, since we are asked for special education money, and we give it, then the state reimburses many of the expenses, to a point that the total for state money and local money exceeds the total cost of special education, then there are blue cross reimbursements for services, then federal reimbursements. The final total exceeds the total amount spent on special ed, yet special ed still does not have books in many classes and they seem to be constantly short of things. So is that special education reimbursement being used to help special ed or going to pay for the football team? Right now I cannot tell, can you?

josber

Thu, Dec 30, 2010 : 10:49 a.m.

Don Bee, what you have is a list of expenses,but you are talking about all money into the district, no? Is this back to the common pot problem versus specific pots of money with some money being designated solely for these costs issue? I think you are asking two different questions. If you want to know what gets spent on special ed, that financial report has a pretty good breakdown. If you want to know if those services result in maximum results, that could be hard to track, but general stats and trends should be clear enough. If you want a total accounting of all money into the district, including grant money, sinking fund money, (and isn't that done with? that if I have understood it properly, went into infrastructure) and what's done with it and how it helps the bottom line, I find that not directly related. Grant money is given for a specific purpose, like that Thurston bike/walk project. Should that money have gone to cover special ed expenses? How exactly could that have happened? If AAPS has some good grant writers and can get some help that way, great, but somebody else has already put the strings on that money for disbursement. I don't particular agree with the campaign drive for a generating money "a million reasons why"though, because that is money that should go into the general fund, not people's pet projects, but that money is given freely, with that particular person's agreement, that there's just a general "helping out" of the district, but people are free to make that choice. So if your argument is that AAPS loses 20 million and those other income sources should cover it, I don't see grant money for things like bike trails covering what that will take out of the general fund. And that's just Ann Arbor, what about the smaller districts who may not have grant writers that can deliver, or don't have a town campaign to raise a million dollars for the schools. Your vote affects those towns and schools too, that don't have Ann Arbor resources. Sometimes we do things for the general good because it's a good thing to do generally.

DonBee

Thu, Dec 30, 2010 : 8:22 a.m.

@Natasha - It is not a busing issue, it is a financial accounting issue. The audit report is so bad, that I don't know that someone is not doing a "Detroit" with my tax money. I don't think they are, but I cannot prove it one way or another. I had a friend who is a Treasury Agent look at the audit report the comments were not good. I want to know that the money is educating our children. @Steve Norton - If you can read that scan of the xerox of the printed version of an on line form, then you are doing better than I. I spent an hour trying to make all the numbers add up to the totals. I finally think I did. It is not specifically the special education budget. The audit report is missing at least $12,000,000.00 in spending. It was collected, but where did the money go? There are more than $23,000,000.00 in grants that are listed as having been obtained, but they don't show up in the budget or show if they were spent, and if so how. The checkbook that is supposed to be up to date on the web site was last updated in August. The quarterly reports for spending are a year out of date. In short, the board and the school are failing to keep their promise to the taxpayers to keep us informed.

Steve Norton, MIPFS

Thu, Dec 30, 2010 : 1:08 a.m.

DonBee and others, FWIW, you can see AAPS's special ed expenditure report to the state for FY10 on page 47 of the FY11 approved budget. It lists $34.5 million in spending, which includes expenses paid for with Federal and state money, as well as general fund and millage dollars. Painfully detailed. Is this what you're looking for?

Natasha

Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 11:48 p.m.

If you feel that strongly about it have the busing issue put on the ballot, but please don't compare my child to a bus. How much of that is due to gas prices. The busing contracts were given to the WISD and pay was cut, they pay more for benefits, ect just like the teachers but it doesn't change the fact that we need bus drivers to transport our children to school. As for quibbling over $8.16 a month it's ridiculous. As a child of a teacher, any teacher, you should know how desperately these funds will be needed. Even if they don't get 100% they get a portion of it and something is better than nothing. As the saying goes I'd rather have a piece of something then all of nothing. Once again please don't compare my child to a bus or staff car he's much more valuable.

DonBee

Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 10:31 p.m.

@Natasha - If the money is well spent, no it does not. Right now, I don't think anyone has enough information to know what is well spent in Ann Arbor. AAPS's budget and financial documentation on the web is out of date and missing millions of dollars in spending. I have no doubt that it was spent legally, but I don't know it was spent wisely. For instance there is about $12,000,000.00 of the Sinking Fund (also a local millage) that is completely unaccounted for in the audit report. You can at least find where $3,400,000,000.00 was spent on a building by building basis, but the rest is missing completely. The transportation fleet (buses? staff cars? maintenance vehicles?) expanded by over $800,000.00 in the 2010 school year, one where there were budget problems. Where did the money come from and what was added to the fleet? The audit report, the check registers, and the quarterly reports all miss these and other issues. @YpsiLivin - The AAPS piece of this millage is $20,120,000.00, so my numbers were for AAPS only.

Natasha

Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 4:08 p.m.

I have to say I haven't commented on this story since day 1 because it's been too emotionally draining. After reading bettyb comment I feel I need to speak out again. First off as a dedicated teacher to our children I THANK YOU. My prayer for my son would be to have a teacher like you. When people say things like my child will get his funding because it's mandated by law(thank god) that's not the whole issue. First off it's the uncaring attitude with which that statement is made. If you've had to watch your child suffer because they weren't invited to the birthday party or to join the team it broke your heart. As parents to these children we experience this everyday. My son is 16 and I had a woman in anger tell me I don't know what it's like to raise a boy!!! Why because he's in a wheelchair and can't run and play like your son??? People have no idea what our childrens life is like and the limitations they face everyday. School is one of the few places my son gets to be just 1 of the kids. My child is at Skyline and for anybody commenting negatively here if your child is there I'm glad they show my son more compassion then you do!! Second if you have a child in general education (which I do also) if this renewal isn't passed their education will suffer also. Why would people be so selfish as to not be willing to help the future. ALL the children need to keep what they have. This renewal adds up to less then $10 a month. How quickly will you spend twice that amount in one stop to a drive thru or a coffee shop, but your not willing to help children?? Third to the people who complain about taxes you take it for granted when you pull out onto a paved street. You take it for granted when the snow plow is out after a snow storm. You would take it for granted if your house was burning when the fire dept. showed up or the police if a crime was committed against your person BUT you complain about this??? Fourth and lastly to the people who have children in private school you very well could be one pink slip away from the public schools. If this happens to you and your not satisfied with the public school education just remember YOU were the one who wasn't willing to fund it...at aprox. $10 a month!!! Does that break your bank...$10 a month???

bettyb

Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 2:53 p.m.

DonBee- Couldn't agree more!

DonBee

Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 2:22 p.m.

@bettyb - I grew up with a mother who taught special education, in a small district. So she had all the children from K-12 in one classroom. Many years the number of children exceeded the state limit. I spent more hours helping in that classroom and helping with Special Olympics than I care to count. I too have had a number of different bodily fluids expelled in my direction. As to books and materials, there is clear language in the state law. Get one of the resident lawyers that post here to help you with this question. I am sure they can and will help you. My issues are not with the teachers and the classrooms, but with the overhead and lack of transparency reporting to the tax payers. I want to see a higher percentage of the money the schools have end up in the classrooms, and less in overhead.

bettyb

Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 2:05 p.m.

Martin Church- Special Educators just spend 5 months (each) re-evaluating EVERY student that was labeled as a child with a Learning Disability to verify that they were indeed, a child with a learning impairment. It will appease you that we exited a fair number of students from special education. However, there are some students that will remain disabled for the rest of their lives. We can't "undo" Cerebral Palsy, a Visual Impairment, Autism or Down's Syndrome. sbbuilder- Until you work in special education, please don't determine how much money special education needs. I am a special educator and have been for 6 years. Not once, have my students had curriculum, text books or work books. The reason why? Everyone is so worried about who will pay for it! General education thinks special education should pay for it because these are special education students and special education thinks general education should pay for it because they are a part of our public school system and should be treated equally. Resulting in the students paying the price because there isn't enough money ANYWHERE for someone to step up and do what's right for the students! Bruno_Uno- You have no clue! Teachers have taken salary cuts! Just this year alone, we took pay cuts and began paying more for our benefits! What you don't get, is that we are WILLING to do this! We decided to do it so that our fellow workers wouldn't have to lose their jobs! That's what community is about! We would teach for free if we could afford to! We love you children day in and day out and take pay cuts and increased health care without batting and eye and you cry about $100.00 a year or less! No matter who is right and who is budgeting which way, we all need to pull together as a community and do what is right for our fellow citizens! josber, babymay11 and Natasha.....Thank YOU!!!!!!!! You get it! Stunhsif: You wrote: "...this is not about the kids, it is about keeping the unions fat and happy at the expense of the taxpayers." Well, consider that no matter WHAT this is about, it's the students that pay the price! How long are we going to let our students suffer because we are trying to prove a point! Ypsilivin- I appreciate you encouraging Natasha, but I am afraid that you might be wrong on this one! No matter where they take the money from (should the millage not pass), it WILL effect the students! So many necessary things for a quality education will be taken from, creating a ripple effect. It is not enough to simply provide the quantity of services were are obligated to by law. We should all be providing quality services to one another! In the schools, in the community and in life! Natasha- You are right! I spend all day hteaching students with severe impairments. I have been hit, spit on, thrown up on, had stomach acid shot in my face, attended to students with severe seizure disorders, suctioned the phlegm out of their throats and even had a student die. This is not a glamorous job, but its the best job in the world! The students are awesome! They are super cool and are great teachers! I love them all dearly and would literally give my life for them. What's comical to me, is that on top of all of their behavior problems, health needs, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and nursing services, we need to make learning happen to (without curriculum materials, mind you)And others have the nerve to call us glorified babysitters!!!???? and to say that we don't need anymore money!!?? Even more comical, is how ignorant people are to your reality as a parent of a child with a disability. I personally challenge all of you who are opposed to this millage to find a school or a home where you can spend 2 hours with a child with a disability. Then I challenge you to vote no anyway! And to all of you who don't accept my challenge, I now pronounce you a coward!

Lisa

Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 1:49 p.m.

VISHa, As I understand it, the state felt that the percentage of special education students (especially males) was much higher than the percentage of African Americans in our general student population.

JSA

Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 11:48 a.m.

I will vote against this millage renewal. Not because I oppose the renewal but because it infuriates me that they are trying to pull another fast one with a May election, otherwise I would probably vote for the renewal. They could have brought this up earlier to get it on the November ballot but they deliberately did not so that they could try to slide it through in a low turn out May election. The Intermediate Districts should be eliminated and the staffs fired. This could all be done out of Lansing at a much lower cost with a much smaller bureaucracy.

Greg

Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 11:24 a.m.

In the US we already put more per capita into schools than most other nations on the planet. Guess I can understand schools are important, but at times the question of "how much is enogh" needs to get asked. Seems we are building palaces, huge gyms and sports fields when we used to be able to teach just about anywhere. What is really needed seems to need some further discussion by those of us who are being asked to pay more and more.

josber

Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 10:19 a.m.

I am of the opinion and experience, that is like the saying, justice delayed is justice denied, special ed services delayed are services denied. If you can wait a year before starting them that's one less year the school has to pay out for those services. While the school fritters around with meetings stretching out over months, a kid who is struggling isn't being tested, or services instituted, material presented is not getting processed properly, a kid's self esteem is getting hosed, and their is the very real potential the child will give up on school.

DonBee

Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 9:41 a.m.

@Wake Up A2 - Oh, the $2,000 starting pay difference is not a mistake, if you work thru the contract for the Fairfax teachers for what they have to pay for medical, dental, and retirement benefits out of their salary, that is the net difference in starting pay. Sorry, I should have included that in the original post.

DonBee

Wed, Dec 29, 2010 : 9:35 a.m.

@Wake Up A2 - Ok - So Fairfax Teachers make more money. It also costs a lot more to live there. I am not in favor of cutting teacher pay, but the comparison to Fairfax County is absurd and only hurts your cause. (2009 data below) But, the average household income in Fairfax County is $102,499.00 In Washtenaw County it is $54,603 So the fact that the starting teachers make about $2,000 more than then they do in AAPS, seems like they are way under paid in comparison to the pay in AAPS. Since 1999 the average household income in Fairfax County has risen by over $21,000 Since 1999 the average household income in Washtenaw County has risen by $2,000 On tax base here are some quick facts: Average home value Fairfax County 470,400 - up from 222,400 in 2000 - more than double in the last decade. Average home value in Washtenaw County 206,300 - up from 170,100 in 2000, an increase, but now where near the increase in Fairfax. Teachers in Ann Arbor are much more likely to be able to afford to live in the county and own property than in Fairfax. Given the median housing costs in Fairfax are $2,508 per month and in Washtenaw they are $1,820. Fairfax teachers have had a 2 year pay freeze and may have a third, it will depend on what the county board decides. That $2000 in starting pay difference is gone in the first 2 months of the school year in higher housing costs. Again that is why this is an absurd comparison. Teachers should be well paid, within the bounds of what the community can afford and it costs to live within the community. I am NOT an advocate of cutting teacher pay. But if you want to compare things, pick things that are reasonably similar, say Plymouth-Canton or Livonia vs AAPS, not Fairfax County VA. Want to check my numbers - www.city-data.com/county/Washtenaw_County-MI.html and www.city-data.com/county/Fairfax_County-VA.html

Wake Up A2

Tue, Dec 28, 2010 : 11:28 p.m.

For all you folks who believe teachers pay is the issue, please see this: http://www.fcps.edu/DHR/salary.htm This is Fairfax County, VA. Similar districts with similar outstanding programs. Also notice this:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/28/AR2010122804635.html For the record, Ann Arbor teachers have never received COLA or anywhere close to it. The current pay cut takes the teacher back back to 2004 levels.

ViSHa

Tue, Dec 28, 2010 : 10:52 p.m.

Lisa, was the slap on the hands because the state thought the schools were falsely categorizing African American students falling behind as special ed? And if so, is it possible that this is true or are more African American students finally getting more testing? Also, at these achievement meetings with struggling students, do you find any resistance from parents concerning categorizing their child as special needs (or however it is labeled). I hope these questions make sense. I certainly don't envy the red tape teachers must have to go through to get help for underachieving kids.

Lisa

Tue, Dec 28, 2010 : 4:39 p.m.

Regarding the new procedures put in place to slow down evaluations. I don't think this was an issue of funding. AAPS was slapped on the hands by the state because our African American students are over-represented in special education. A new process was put in place that has to be completed before students can be referred for evaluation. This process includes at least three meetings about the student which includes documentation about what has been done by the classroom teacher since the last meeting to improve that individual student's performance and the effectiveness of that performance. We are doing these 'achievement team' meetings on all students are struggling, not just those we believe may qualify for special education services by a teacher consultant or speech therapist. While it is beneficial to formally document our attempts to remediate these students, it can be very frustrating to have to wait several months for our students to be evaluated. This is especially concerning with those we have limited documentation on such as our younger students and students new to the district.

Klayton

Tue, Dec 28, 2010 : 2:42 p.m.

Isn't the state legally bound to cover a certain amount of money for each child diagnosed as SE? I need more information as to why we are paying extra on top of the state funds. What are the programs? Who benefits? Kids diagnosed or kids that are not diagnosed? I understand it is a renewal but it is still our taxes.

YpsiLivin

Tue, Dec 28, 2010 : 2:40 p.m.

DonBee said: f the district spent $34,465,314.00 on special education, then the state should reimburse the district for $25,848,985.50 meaning the cost to AAPS should have been $8,616,328.50. Since the millage raises $20,000,000.00 something does not wash in these numbers. There is roughly $11,000,000.00 from the WISD millage that should not be needed based on the numbers reported. There are ten traditional public school districts in the Washtenaw ISD; Ann Arbor is only one of them. The other nine districts have special education expenses, too.

Speechless

Tue, Dec 28, 2010 : 2:16 p.m.

"... Given the quality (or lack there of) in reporting to the taxpayers on Special Education spending by WISD and AAPS... we don't know what they are doing right or wrong.... While I think we need this millage, I don't know how it is being spent.... In comparison to other local districts, the AAPS budget document is a mess.... If WISD and AAPS want this millage to pass, they need to be much more transparent on what they are doing with the money the taxpayers are providing...." These comments represent a reasonable, thoughtful criticism of next May's proposed millage renewal. They are worthy of constructive response from school system staff, special ed teachers, district parents, or others who can help fill in the gaps in available information, or make the data more clear. Among the abundant critical commentary, this is a breath of fresh air.

josber

Tue, Dec 28, 2010 : 12:20 p.m.

The schools can play games with delivering special ed services that is for sure. Sometimes it's at the building level, sometimes it's when the administration crafts policy that slows down the time to evaluate a child. The state of Michigan has been obliging with lowering standards for the children performance before special ed services are required. It's just games to pay less out, because they are paying a whole lot these days. There's also the achievement gap issue, where minorities have disporportionate representation in special ed. How do you measure performance for special ed kids? By number of Teacher Consultants, by paraprofessionals employed,by the number of kids on or off IEP's, by improvement in scores, by rates of improvements, by attendance, by graduation rates,by drop out rates through out the year of children receiving IEP's, by employment versus those on the dole for disability. Those numbers could vary a whole lot depending on whose doing the measuring and what crowd is going to see the data. Charters do a dismal job of special ed delivery. In fact, it's not unheard of for staff at charters to dissuade parents with special ed children to go somewhere else,saying after all, they are just charters. It's against the law to do this, but it doesn't stop them. Given the quality of special ed when they do deliver, they are telling the truth. Sure, ask the district to deliver real numbers that the regular citizen can understand. That's fair. AAPS can in fact, deliver good special ed service and does for many kids. I think consistency is a problem across grades, schools and individuals, as well as adequate professional development.

YpsiLivin

Tue, Dec 28, 2010 : 11:10 a.m.

sh1, Your explanation doesn't cover the other districts and charter schools that experience the same phenomenon. My guess is that the September-February differential is better explained by newly-served students in February who were not identified as needing special ed services in September.

ViSHa

Tue, Dec 28, 2010 : 10:49 a.m.

sh1, I have heard the same thing---it seems parents have to have a minor in Special Ed. to jump through these hurdles, and since most don't, many kids do "flounder" as you said. very sad.

sh1

Tue, Dec 28, 2010 : 10:10 a.m.

If anyone is wondering why the number of special ed students is decreasing in Ann Arbor, it's because the district has changed how teachers can refer a student for testing. Many, many hurdles have to be jumped, and waiting periods are embedded to slow down the process. I predict the district will be claiming success very soon in decreasing the number of students with IEPs they have to service. The needy students, in the meantime, flounder.

YpsiLivin

Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 11:04 p.m.

DonBee, I think the "fractional" student numbers reflect the fact that a student can be classified as having special education needs in one area, and not in another. For example a student may have a reading or speech disorder that requires special education services, but may not have any apparent disabilities in math.

DonBee

Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 10:53 p.m.

EMG - I am not Don Quixote, I have enough to do with work, not to tilt at that windmill. I also know better than to try to drag people's wages down. @YpsiLivin - Interesting according to Section 51 of the state law that includes section 52 and section 53a students - the state reimburses local districts for 75 percent of the cost of students meeting those criteria. If the district spent $34,465,314.00 on special education, then the state should reimburse the district for $25,848,985.50 meaning the cost to AAPS should have been $8,616,328.50. Since the millage raises $20,000,000.00 something does not wash in these numbers. There is roughly $11,000,000.00 from the WISD millage that should not be needed based on the numbers reported. I don't doubt that the money is going to special education, but the numbers don't add and the reports from AAPS don't help.

DonBee

Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 10:35 p.m.

@YpsiLivin - Section 52 is about special education students in the district. Section 53a defines students who are from the district but are institutionalized. However there are a large number of students with Individual Education Plans that meet the definition of needing special education services, but do not meet the criteria for either section 52 or 53a. That is why I find the 404 number misleading. There are a lot more students who need and are receiving services than the budget indicates. If I were to take the numbers you found, then each special education student would be receiving over $95,000.00 in services. I also note that the number of students has a part of a student (360.72), so I would assume that they are adding up the part time services to get full time student totals or they have students that are enrolled in other programs or something because as far as I know counting people does not use decimal points.

YpsiLivin

Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 10:12 p.m.

Don Bee, According to the State Aid Status Report for December, AAPS reports a Special Ed Section 52 membership of 360.72 and a Special Ed Section 53 membership of 0.00. It reports Special Ed costs of $34,465,314 and Special Ed transportation costs of $1,478,900. I don't pretend to know what the numbers mean, other than they appear to represent noses and dollars. I'm not sure why, but all districts with the exception of Manchester and Victory Academy reported a declining number of special education students between the February and September 2010 counts. The increases in both districts were nominal.

DonBee

Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 9:52 p.m.

EMG - Given the quality (or lack there of) in reporting to the taxpayers on Special Education spending by WISD and AAPS, one would have a hard time from public reports to know if the ratio of teachers to students is right or not. The fact that AAPS has withheld the audit report on special education from that taxpayers also means we don't know what they are doing right or wrong. While I think we need this millage, I don't know how it is being spent. If one were to take the budget document for 2010-2011 literally, one would conclude from the main budget that there are 404 students receiving special education services in AAPS and that they do not get the base grant from the state. That the more than $20,000,000.00 for special education is split between these 404 students. That reading is WRONG, but that is what the uniformed reader would conclude reading the budget document. In comparison to other local districts, the AAPS budget document is a mess. If WISD and AAPS want this millage to pass, they need to be much more transparent on what they are doing with the money the taxpayers are providing. I am pleased to see the special education classes out of the portable classrooms, finally. I am displeased to see $800,000.00 spent on a grandstand that will be used for 5 or 6 football games a year and a few other events during the year. I am sure that sinking fund money could have been better spent on improving facilities that get used everyday by students. I am even more displeased that the other $14,000,000.00 plus dollars from the locally provided sinking fund has no easy to find reporting at all. I can find in the 2009 AAPS Audit Report both a statement that the sinking fund was spent legally and when reviewing the tables on a building by building basis, about $3,400,000.00 of the more than $15,000,000 in sinking fund money. I know the auditors determined the other roughly. $12,000,000.00 was spent legally, but as a taxpayer I have no indication as to how or where. I note the last month's check register posted was for August 2010, when they started posting the check register, they said there would be a lag, but it is December. Did they write any checks in the last 4 months or did they put it all on a credit card? The last quarterly report posted ends in December 2009. Transparent reporting would make me happier voting for this millage.

bibbitty

Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 8:15 p.m.

I encourage voters to give a yes vote to this millage renewal for special education. It is an amazing accomplishment that our society has formed and maintained a system that guarantees a public education to our disabled kids, those who are mainstreamed with typical children as well as those who are in self-contained classrooms. And yet, the public education system is not immune from the State's economic woes. The last State budget resulted in cuts that came mid-year for K-12 education. How can any system be expected to plan ahead effectively when it's current budget is a moving goal post? Now is not the time to vote in more changes for the system to have to absorb, in the form of less money from Washtenaw County. Please vote to maintain the current special education millage.

Speechless

Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 8:08 p.m.

From YpsiLivin:  "... Rather than discuss teacher compensation, why not stick to the subject of special ed funding?..." One of my points, exactly!  If this long discussion really were only about special education funding, the majority of negative commentary against millage renewal would never have been posted. A lot of the hostile, negative verbiage derives instead from an ever-present ideological campaign against organized public school teachers, influenced by far-right political outfits like the Mackinac Center or the west Michigan-based creationists and voucher advocates (DeVos). Some other negative comments seem driven by private school advocates (parents or staff?) who see an opportunity here to tear down their competition — the public schools! Defeating the millage next May has quickly become proxy cause for other interests who wish to use special education kids as pawns in their war against teacher unions or against the very concept of free, publicly financed education. Socially speaking, in many key respects we presently live in a bleak and backward time. ------------ "... Nice trolling, however... unions can't just come in and organize. They have to be... voted in by the prospective members. If there were any percentage for a union in doing so, private school teachers would have been organized long ago...." If U.S. laws governing labor organizing were more in line with western Europe, you can safely bet there would be union representation in some percentage of larger, more established private schools. A dedication to the education of others does not inherently call for a lifetime of austerity. I personally knew a few private school teachers who were very devoted to their classrooms but left the profession because they could no longer handle the ongoing financial stress of living on their low salaries. So they moved on to grad school and new careers. Other teachers stayed on, but did so by working evening and/or summer jobs — or by marrying someone with a "real income" — a public school teacher, for example!

YpsiLivin

Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 7:51 p.m.

Tony, Schools are required to provide special education services, whether they pay for it from the general fund or through a special millage. If the money comes from the general fund, schools will reduce their per-pupil expenditure to pay for special ed. If the special ed money comes from a separate millage, it's extra money, and the schools are then free to spend more per-pupil on those children who do not require special ed services. If the millage fails: Will special education services be eliminated? No. By law, special ed services cannot be eliminated. Money will be diverted from regular classrooms to pay for special education services, as was done in the past. Will special education services be reduced? No. By law, special education services cannot be reduced. Schools will divert resources from children who do not require special services in order to comply with the law. Will fewer children receive special ed services? No. By law, any child who requires special education services must receive them. If the number of children who require special education services increases or the cost of providing services goes up, more resources will be diverted from regular classrooms to cover special ed spending. If the millage passes: Will special education services be improved? No. Schools must provide the special education services required by law, but they are not required to provide anything else. Will special education services be expanded? No. Schools must provide the special education services required by law but they are not required to provide additional services if more money is available. Will more children qualify for special education services? No. Special education services are deemed appropriate only for children who meet specific diagnostic criteria. This designation is made independent of available funding. WIth a millage, resources will only be diverted from regular classrooms if the millage is unable to cover the full cost of special education services. So tell me, why do you believe this millage will help special ed kids, given that it will have no discernible impact on the delivery of special education in Washtenaw County at all?

Tony Livingston

Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 7 p.m.

How so, Ypsilivin? I don't understand what you are saying. If the services are required, someone will have to pay for it. It either comes from the millage or from the general fund. How are you calculating that the millage will fund kids that don't need it?

YpsiLivin

Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 3:06 p.m.

Tony Livingston, As you vote, keep in mind that your vote will not change special ed funding in Washtenaw County by one thin dime. Special education services are required by law. They will be delivered just as they are today, no matter what the outcome of the election is. Special ed services will neither improve nor decline as a result of your yes vote, your no vote, or your non-vote. Your vote will have absolutely no impact on the delivery of special education services here. This election is merely about how (not whether) to fund special education services. It is a mechanism to shovel all of your "money well spent" into general education classrooms. Special education services won't see one iota of improvement and the beneficiaries of your largesse will be the "60%-70%" of kids who don't need special education services. Before someone accuses me of not understanding how hard it is to have a special needs child, guess again. I know all too well about how special education services in the schools work. I have plenty of experience with medical treatments and therapies that the schools don't provide and insurance doesn't cover. And I'll be more than happy to take time out of my day next May 3 to vote no on this thinly disguised general education money grab. Why should I give more money to children who don't need assistance, when I can use that money to pay for the "special needs" of my special needs child?

Heardoc

Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 2:49 p.m.

stop the unions -- get accountability into the classroom (regarding teachers), and cut the garbage about money for kids -- just money for unions. Once I see this happening then maybe, just maybe, I will say yes to the millage -- not before.

YpsiLivin

Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 2:40 p.m.

Speechless, Nice trolling, however... unions can't just come in and organize. They have to be invited in, then voted in by the prospective members. If there were any percentage for a union in doing so, private school teachers would have been organized long ago. Public school districts are very easy targets; private schools, not so much. Second, private school teachers always have the option of seeking employment in a unionized shop. Since a huge percentage of them don't, one can only assume they have personal reasons for not doing so. Third, money isn't always the motivator you think it is. Rather than discuss teacher compensation, why not stick to the subject of special ed funding?

Tony Livingston

Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 2:35 p.m.

If you have a child who does not need special education services, consider yourself very lucky. It is a pain in the neck to have to contact the school to get help, spend tons of money to get private help, and spend tons of time giving help yourself. Schools serve that 60 - 70% of students who are mainstream learners very well. But, for the rest of the students, there is a definite need for additional programs like special education services. I will definitely be voting for this. It is money well spent.

Speechless

Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 12:46 p.m.

Given that attacks on the special education millage renewal have been driven to a large degree by the existence of effective teachers' unions in the district: An optimal solution for resolving the unfortunate pay differential between teachers at private and and public schools does not involve seeking ways to destroy the livelihoods of public school employees. Instead, widely organize teachers at private schools into strong unions of their own. For their hard work, allow them the chance, as well, to move up to middle class living standards. Memo to UAW or AFL staff:  Are you listening? Get moving — now. Private schools typically exploit their teaching staff, too often compensating them at levels relatively more proximate to store clerks rather than to what public school teachers receive in Ann Arbor or suburban Detroit. This should end. These schools shouldn't reduce costs on the backs of their paid staff.

YpsiLivin

Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 12:04 p.m.

Steve Norton, Tax bills are itemized, and I suspect that this millage is collected only once per year. If that's the case, then no, the tax revenue from the millage would not be halved should the issue pass in May. It does, however, raise the question of why WISD is essentially jerking the school districts around by not having held the renewal election earlier. If the millage does not pass in May, the schools will have already set their budgets for the coming school year, using the assumption that the millage would pass. They'll need to make cuts immediately to pay for special education services out of the general fund for the 2011-12 school year. The next special election is technically in August, but I'm not sure you can put a ballot issue together in 90 days. (Anybody know?) If August is a miss, then it's on to November, which is what WISD wanted to avoid in the first place. Sounds to me like WISD is counting on an easy win.

Steve Norton, MIPFS

Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : noon

AlphaAlpha, you wrote (to me): "You may ignore the question if you wish. Can't blame you. Your private school peers earn way less than AAPS as well. They are just as educated, just as experienced. The bigger concern for you: the average taxpayer is becoming increasingly aware that the school teachers - middle class jobs - are earning upper class wages. That will not sit well with them." First off, I'm not employed in education in any way. I do run a parent based advocacy group that lobbies for stable and adequate funding for public education. So my only stake in this is the tax I pay, and I'm happy to pay it. Secondly, private school teachers (and I've known quite a few) trade the higher pay and benefits for smaller classes and not having to deal with disruptive students in the long haul. It's a workplace quality vs compensation thing. Lastly, you may be surprised at what middle income means these days. Nationally, median income for people with a bachelors is nearly 48,000 and 68,000 with a graduate degree. Michigan's numbers are similar. ( There is a huge gender difference, though.) So even AAPS teachers are not out of line. Unless you simply don't believe teachers deserve to be treated like professionals. Yes, there area other worthy professions which are paid less than they are worth; does that excuse us as citizens from paying the educators we hire to teach our children what they deserve?

Steve Norton, MIPFS

Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 11:24 a.m.

As to timing, this millage was last approved in September 2004. The ballot language authorized collection of the tax "through 2010." If I am reading this correctly, May is the last opportunity to renew this millage in time to include it on the summer tax bills. If it were renewed in November, only half of the funding would be collected for this year.

AMOC

Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 10:23 a.m.

Lisa said "Here we have someone who is outraged that teachers are paid what they are (far less than most with our education) because people make less than they used to..." Even before the recession significantly reduced total compensation for many/most Michigan taxpayers, Lisa's contention that Michigan teachers are paid less than people in other occupations with equivalent education is simply not true. Don't just take my word for the pay scales, do what the 7th and 8th graders are required to do in AAPS when selecting their high school classes and research the pay levels and education required in several professions. If you check out the employment ads on CareerBuilder or Monster for accountants, social workers, sales managers, computer programmers, librarians, or engineers, what do you find? All of those jobs require a minimum of a bachelor degree to be hired, and frequently require additional certification or a master's degrees in order to progress within the profession. Entry level positions in those professions were paid $28-$40,000 annually back in 2005, equivalent to entry-level teachers at Wayne and Washtenaw County districts. They are, for most employers, paid from 10-25% less than that today. But the people hired into these jobs are required to put in 1/3 more work hours each year than teachers do. Nor are teachers underpaid at higher levels of experience and education. Librarians, and social workers typically need an MA just to enter their professions, but their payscale tops out well below the $75,000+ salary a teacher with 10 years experience and only one masters degree will earn in SE Michigan. However, this discussion should not be about how much teachers are paid so much as it should be about how Washtenaw County school districts are going to pay for the legally-mandated education and other services for students with disabilities. We can, as a county, choose to pay for these services by RENEWING a targeted millage, or we can decide to find the money in our school systems' general funds. It's really that simple. The need to provide services will NOT go away if the millage is not renewed. For the most severely disabled students, basic self-care skills may be the most they are capable of learning. If only out of long-term self interest, we taxpayers should insist that our severely physically and cognitively disables citizens get the opportunity to achieve as much independence and self-support as they possibly can. For many, many more students, getting appropriate special education interventions will mean the difference between becoming a productive, positive, happy, tax-paying adult member of society or becoming under- or un-employed, depressed, or even imprisoned adult. As the parent of special-need kids, some of whom are still in the public educational system, I know first-hand that the special education system we have is not ideal. The general education system in the US is very, very far from being ideally effective or efficient. Our public schools spend much more per pupil than other OECD countries do, but our students' test results are mediocre. But that is not the issue this millage vote, however badly timed, however badly explained, is intended to address. The question before our voters is, will we as taxpayers continue to give WISD and the school districts a distinct pot of money which may be spent ONLY to meet the educational needs of students with disabilities, or will we force the school districts in our county to meet those legally-enforceable needs out of the general funds provided by the state of Michigan. Which funds have been dropping on an average per-pupil basis.

YpsiLivin

Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 10:07 a.m.

Ms. Webster, Private schools do not receive direct federal funding for special education. Certain federal statutes require the child's public school district to provide special education services, regardless of which school the child is enrolled in, so children in private schools get special education services paid for with federal dollars through their local public school district. Both public and private schools receive federal funding for special education services. Federal funding does not necessarily cover the entire cost of special education services. Some private schools specialize in certain disabilities and deliver services to special needs children (e.g. Ann Arbor Academy, Veritas Christi)as part of their tuition. Some private schools don't provide special education services beyond what's available through their local public school district.

MsWebster

Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 9:31 a.m.

The article commenters are responding to is about millage renewal for county-wide special ed services. Comparing public and private schools can be an important component to a decision whether or not to renew the millage if the assumption is that private schools receive funding to educate special ed students under federal law. If they do not, then how do private schools go about educating the special ed students in their schools?

Wake Up A2

Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 8:12 a.m.

Well for the first 10 years of my life I went to a private school. Whenever the local district faced hard times the private school tuition went up. When the district could not hold up there end and let us use their gym and other facilities, also guaranteed by law, they had to build a bigger one and guess what, the tuition went up. When folks at the private school complained, the private school ran a deficient, and that was during the early 1980's. Your dollar for years has been buying less in the US. When costs go up, so does the bill to continue those services. If you hold the line and say no more, you will loose something. Even in a private school, you will not get the same education when costs go up..... one less field trip, one less choice at hot lunch, one less extra curricular day, one less teacher, one less new textbook......go get the picture. Even if you home school, there are costs which continue to rise. I have friends that do so and their children's materials keep going up.

YpsiLivin

Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 1:28 a.m.

Wake Up A2, Busing is provided to private schools as a federal mandate because it is a direct aid to the children riding the bus, and has no benefit to the school itself. I send my children to a private school and guess what? When the school dropped the local bus service, the tuition didn't go up one dime.

Wake Up A2

Sun, Dec 26, 2010 : 11:03 p.m.

AlphaAlpha..... No sweat, Private schools get public school buses under law. So we will cut you buses to those schools. Your Tuition will go up. I noticed you didn't argue with the fact educators make less then you childcare folks per child. I also didn't here about your health care slam, well here is an actual number for you: My grandmother just got her new statement for the state since she was in education. Her prescription copay is now $30 and $60 per.... That is the same as my Mother who has it through General Motors..... Sounds like state copays and business copays are the same to me. I said it before and I'll say it again.....How much blood...... Same folks, saying the same comments about educators.

YpsiLivin

Sun, Dec 26, 2010 : 10:50 p.m.

Lisa, Just a clarification on your post. Seven schools on the list have posted tuition rates of less than $9,000 per year. (Allen Creek School is a pre-school. It's not really in the same class as any of the other schools on the list, nor does it compare to a public school district and probably shouldn't be counted for the purpose of your discussion.) See: Ann Arbor Adventist Elementary School Ann Arbor Christian School Father Gabriel Richard Regional Catholic High School Michigan Islamic Academy St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School St. Thomas the Apostle School Spiritus Sanctus Academy Second, your argument that these schools receive support from their communities, so the tuition there is subsidized is slightly specious. All parents who send their children to these schools are "part of their communities." In addition to paying tuition, these parents also support the parish/church/congregation at a specified level, which is then used to support the schools. Also, certain schools on the list aren't associated with a specific parish or church, so they don't get any "community" support.

josber

Sun, Dec 26, 2010 : 10:06 p.m.

Alpha. Don't fight the unions with this funding issue. Special ed kids get the short end of the stick frequently and 20 million dollars is a lot of money to try to negotiate down in compensation in one year. I understand that when people are living better than the people paying their salaries, there's bound to be hard feelings. There's Rick Snyder going after this problem, so what happens when he wrests concessions from public employees, is that when you finally break down and support these kids?

AlphaAlpha

Sun, Dec 26, 2010 : 8:48 p.m.

Probably it will be a matter of perception. Regardless of the stats, arguments, persuading pleas, statistical citations, it ultimately becomes a question of value. Is it worth paying upper class wages to our teachers? Time will tell. Special Ed is for the students; are we providing for them the best we can with what we have? Many believe that lower wages would allow more teachers to be hired, spreading the workload. Obviously, those currently employed want to preserve their cherished compensation. Tax increases are a bit problematic during recessions. Time will tell. Good luck.

AlphaAlpha

Sun, Dec 26, 2010 : 8:35 p.m.

Sorry for the double post - this new click free mouse seems...sentient. Mr. Norton - You may ignore the question if you wish. Can't blame you. Your private school peers earn way less than AAPS as well. They are just as educated, just as experienced. The bigger concern for you: the average taxpayer is becoming increasingly aware that the school teachers - middle class jobs - are earning upper class wages. That will not sit well with them. In the age of austerity which most are experiencing, there will be significant searching for value. If you and yours persist with the tactics of evading simple questions, instead of perhaps showing why you should be paid at the 90+ percentile, you may be in for some financial surprises.

Lisa

Sun, Dec 26, 2010 : 8:27 p.m.

AlphaAlpha, Private school teachers are not required to be certified by the state of Michigan. I have no data on the average experience and education of private school teachers. Nor do I have data on whether they ever worked in public school or were unable to get jobs in public school districts. Do you? But please compare apples to apples. Ann Arbor's per pupil spending is NOT 14K but 9k. http://www.arborweb.com/cg/t0054.html Here's a list of 22 private schools in Ann Arbor and tuition for 17. Only FOUR list tuition less than $9000K (and that is strict... I included one at $8900) and ALL FOUR are religious schools with support from their community. So MOST of Ann Arbor's private schools do not serve special education students or students with behavioral problems, don't have to test their students as we do nor serve low income students. Yet they still charge more in tuition than our per pupil allotment, please tell me precisely why you think they are more efficient.

Steve Norton, MIPFS

Sun, Dec 26, 2010 : 8:23 p.m.

The wage comparisons so far have been between teachers and the average for all private sector workers (fast food employees to lawyers). The comparison for people with similar educations does not, as I recall, support your argument. But this does help clarify the real issue: are we willing to invest in education, or not?

AlphaAlpha

Sun, Dec 26, 2010 : 8:12 p.m.

"Here we have someone who is outraged that teachers are paid what they are (far less than most with our education)" Goodness. Outraged? Hardly. Why do you assume that? No, not outraged. Curious, and concerned. Thank you for showing that at least most private schools are cheaper than 14K per year. Also, you can be sure that if folks don't want to contribute additional amounts for things like capital expansions, they don't have to. Irrespective of public/private, the question of value is increasingly on the minds of many. You danced nicely around, but avoided answering, a key question: Why the enormous disparity between teacher wages and taxpayer wages? Education levels? Nope. Experience? Nope. Easier negotiations? Possibly. You may not like the question, but it will be an increasingly problematic issue for public education funding.

Lisa

Sun, Dec 26, 2010 : 7:48 p.m.

AlphaAlpha said, " 1. Most private schools cost less than the $14K AAPS price discussed here,you might want to reconsider your claim that 'private schools are for the few who can pay'. 2. Why do you ignore the key issue of comparatively excessive teacher compensation? This issue is huge. People are significantly less wealthy than they were recently. Most taxpayers, that is. " Here we have someone who is outraged that teachers are paid what they are (far less than most with our education) because people make less than they used to can at the same time they are claiming private school tuition is affordable. I've looked at private schools in Ann Arbor. They range from about 7K to 17K a year. That's tuition and excludes the expected fundraising that is expected in those schools and any money coming from parishes or donors. Ann Arbor's per pupil allotment is about 9K. And we don't get to kick out kids because of their behavior or performance or their parents inattention or lack of funds. We have to take everyone... even those kicked out of the private schools. If you think Alpha Alpha's criticism's are both reasonable... that private school tuition is affordable for most AND tax payers can't afford to continue to fund education at its current level, you are clearly not thinking about this logically but emoting on ideological lines.

AlphaAlpha

Sun, Dec 26, 2010 : 6:21 p.m.

Mr. Norton - 1. Most private schools cost less than the $14K AAPS price discussed here, you might want to reconsider your claim that 'private schools are for the few who can pay'. 2. Why do you ignore the key issue of comparatively excessive teacher compensation? This issue is huge. People are significantly less wealthy than they were recently. Most taxpayers, that is.

Hillbillydeluxe

Sun, Dec 26, 2010 : 5:23 p.m.

not voting for it when rick's going to cut my pay

Steve Norton, MIPFS

Sun, Dec 26, 2010 : 5:15 p.m.

AlphaAlpha, to answer your question, teachers and others covered by MPSERS receive pension benefits calculated by some percent of "final average compensation) multiplied by years of service. (I'm doing this from memory, so I may be off.) The legislature can play with several variables, like the "multiplier" (used to encourage teachers to retire last summer), and how many years are counted in final average compensation. That has been increased in recent years. I've no idea how city workers are covered, except that they are not part of MPSERS. Josber, I realize the anger is real, but I think it's misplaced. I don't think that teachers' unions are responsible for the funding problems our schools face. Teacher compensation did not rise as fast as private workers in the boom years, and it has not fallen as fast as private workers in the recession. But if they are providing a critical service, should we not focus on paying them sufficiently for the service they provide? Demand for a good education has never dropped, unlike the products of many private firms. On the other hand, I think the anger at unions has been stoked to take the focus away from how our common commitment to education (that is, taxes) has fallen over the years. Even during the recession, the share of total personal income spent on K-12 education has fallen. Some people think that's a good thing. I don't.

Steve Norton, MIPFS

Sun, Dec 26, 2010 : 5:02 p.m.

AlphaAlpha and others, When we have a school system that works, that for the vast majority of students in the vast majority of communities provides a good to excellent education, then I think the burden is on those who want to CUT funding to show that the cuts will not simply make things worse. Private schools are just that: schools for the few who can pay. Private schools existed at the founding of the Republic as well; providing a free public education was a critical part of what made American democracy different from European aristocratic systems. Education is the classic example of "market failure" in economics. sbbuilder wrote: "Study after study, test after test shows us to have a woefully inadequate educational system that is on the slippery slope in the wrong direction. You can't fudge those numbers. You can't even argue them away,.... We have an education gap with the rest of the world that is probably the most serious problem facing our country." Wow. But the evidence is not as clear as it seems. See this US Dept of Education review of recent results: http://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/2009/analysis/ Is the US at the top? No. But we aren't so bad and not too far down the list. Could we stand improvement? Yes. (Do you think that those other countries spend less of their GDP on education? I doubt it. Especially when you count social services that cover all citizens in many of these countries, like pensions.) Many international comparisons are long on rhetoric and short on reality. Take a look at what AAPS delivers to its students and to our community. Is this system "pitifully broken"? Hardly. That is hyperbole used to justify trashing the current system. Everything, including our schools, has room for improvement. But efforts to improve need to be based on a real assessment of the system's strengths and shortfalls, not sweeping ideological judgments. If you just want to "starve the beast" of government, admit it and be clear. Don't cloak it in half-truths and disingenuous expressions of support for "efficient" education.

Speechless

Sun, Dec 26, 2010 : 4:39 p.m.

It's fascinating that so much of the discussion lately has veered well off-topic, shifting toward yet another debate over pay and benefits for public school teachers. The kids in special ed classrooms seemingly fade into the rearview mirror — they're merely useful pawns for the teacher bashers, anyway. Although outwardly worthy of heavy moderation, I feel this ongoing distraction is actually appropriate under the circumstances. It more accurately and more honestly reveals a commonly shared agenda found among the repeated attacks on renewal of bond money for special education. The strategy being employed here involves smearing special ed programs as wasteful, inefficient and corrupt, so that voters will reject renewal. There is no necessity for these smears to have any relationship with everyday reality. For political purposes, completely fact-free assertions will work just fine. Then, when public school systems have to cover these costs anyway, with the voter-rejected bond money no longer available, public school opponents can watch gleefully from the sidelines while school boards wrestle with how to financially cannabilize their budgets so as to alleviate serious shortfalls. A likely aspiration among opponents of the special education bond is that very desperate school boards will opt to go to war with unionized teachers during future contract negotiations. Hence, those children who need special education services will have become political pawns whose misfortune — should next May's bond renewal fail — helps trigger that kind of showdown. Beyond using the special education bond vote as an indirect means to attack teacher pay and benefits, the creation of additional budget crises in public education also benefits private schools. Deteriorating conditions in public schools weaken their primary competition. That would be good news, too, for fans of intelligent design, charter schools and private vouchers.

AlphaAlpha

Sun, Dec 26, 2010 : 3:33 p.m.

"But before you ask me to accept the logic of a "no" vote, please show me the documented evidence that schools are wasteful" And you have 'documented evidence' showing your schools are efficient? Please share it.

roadsidedinerlover

Sun, Dec 26, 2010 : 3:28 p.m.

Does the writer of this article know the exact date of this renewal vote? What day in May? Sorry...but I am voting no...I am not against kids education but I can't afford it...

AlphaAlpha

Sun, Dec 26, 2010 : 3:25 p.m.

"But before you ask me to accept the logic of a "no" vote, please show me [...] that teachers receive pay and benefits that exceed the value they give to society. I think you'll find that's a hard case to make." On the contrary; it is an easy case to make. Private school teachers earn approximately half the compensation public school teachers do. That is a huge difference. Public school teachers are now at the ~90th percentile for all compensation. Many believe that is too high. The hard case to make is why teachers should be paid as much as they are. Yes, they are important. Very important. Much like many other workers earning far less. I

AlphaAlpha

Sun, Dec 26, 2010 : 3:14 p.m.

"private market does not provide the kind or amount of education we desire as a society" Like private schools?

josber

Sun, Dec 26, 2010 : 2:34 p.m.

Steve, it's more than that. AAPS alone needs 20 million/ year to maintain special ed services, and as Sally has mentioned, it's not even maintaining current service level.. The anger at the unions are real.

Steve Norton, MIPFS

Sun, Dec 26, 2010 : 2:23 p.m.

We're losing the forest in the trees. Why does millage exist? Because state and federal rules on special education increased the range of mandated services, but the per pupil funding did not increase to cover the mandate. (That was the basis for the successful Durant suit against the state.) A regional millage for special ed is one of the three options still available to locals under Proposal A. In Washtenaw county, we use this millage to pay for special ed services provided by each district and the WISD. Does this free up operating dollars for general ed? Kind of. What it did was prevent increased service requirements from taking funds from the limited general ed pot. Opposition seems to rest on the idea that stopping the millage will force schools to be "more efficient" or force unionized teachers to sacrifice their "bloated pay" and "Cadillac benefits." Evidence of inefficiency? "Everybody knows it." Bad unions? "Unions are bad so public sector unions are even worse." Comparisons to the private sector are spurious, because the private market does not provide the kind or amount of education we desire as a society. The logic of selling widgets does not fit well with the education of our children. That's why the creation of public schools has been a priority from the founding of our country. Does our money need to be well spent? Of course. But before you ask me to accept the logic of a "no" vote, please show me the documented evidence that schools are wasteful (not just not perfect), or that teachers receive pay and benefits that exceed the value they give to society. I think you'll find that's a hard case to make.

josber

Sun, Dec 26, 2010 : 1:40 p.m.

snapshot. Your potshot at the insurance mandate is way off base. There is a astounding rise in the incidence of autism worldwide, it is following a pandemic's pattern. Early intervention improves significantly the outcomes for function and independence and competently done enables about 40% of those preschooler to diagnosis off the sprectrum. 90% are significantly improved. That that intervention isn't covered is a public health policy crisis. Children who are nonverbal become verbal, children who would otherwise not toilet independently would, children who could attend school in LRE(Leat Restrictive Environment) with no to minimal service instead of slowly failing and ending up at home, taking classes on computers, instead of being productive wellintergrated members of their society, all the while saving billions of dollars across the state if they received their treatment. Sallyxyz keeps trying to tell us all that many children are not getting what they need, many of these kids need much more than they are getting. It was the Republican caucus that deserves to be slammed, not all the legislators, because it was thought that had the legislation come out of committee it would have had the votes in the State Senate to pass. Randy Richardville has been a staunch supporter, he understands the issue, and now he is Senate Majority leader. Brian Calley came out and made a video support the mandate, even though he has insurance, because he came to learn that his daughter had autism, after he sat through hearings by the autism community, with testimony regarding the efficacy of appropriate treatment. This unaddress social crisis is the reason special ed needs are so high, and they keep going up. AAPS is working on improving the situation, but it is difficult without adequate funding, and they are likely as good as any district to be the trendsetters in the state for how to manage this. So absolutely, this is about very poor public policy as led by Mike Bishop's ignorance and intransigence. The costs for this autism tsunami are dumped on local school districts, they keep getting the poorly therapized or not at all therapized kids and it's debilitating in it's expense. Bad enough this is happening, worse is the poor public/government coordinated response. Does anybody get out of this without paying something? No, these kids, these families need support and help, and if nobody thinks it's they are their's to support,they need to think again. Communities will be paying many times over for the costs that shouldn't have occurred in the first place. You want accountability about where all this money is going and what good it's doing, go to your legislators. It's their fault they don't have the courage to do the right thing by all of us.

snapshot

Sun, Dec 26, 2010 : 12:14 p.m.

Murrow's Ghost, so you would advocate the union drop it's suit against the taxpayers in an "altruistic" gesture?

snapshot

Sun, Dec 26, 2010 : 12:04 p.m.

I'm amazed at how many "educators" plead the case for the "children" and slam the legislature for not mandating increased insurance coverage at taxpayer expense, and then support their union taking the state to court to get their 3% contribution to their cadillac healthcare benefits overturned. I also like the way these same "educator's" insinuations that the posters they disagree with are obviously misinformed, uneducated to the facts, and don't "understand" the issues. This is evidence that these educators have become increasingly insulated from the financial realities of the real world outside the classroom and academia. Let's hope the voters can continue to provide a financial moral compass for these folks to find their way through these dark financial times. Vote NO on this "continued" tax burden to help the educators increase their "focus" on their "core" mission.

AlphaAlpha

Sun, Dec 26, 2010 : 11:35 a.m.

Valid questions. Where is WISD interim superintendent Richard Leyshock? One would think he would be involved in this discussion. Part of the job? Yes.

snapshot

Sun, Dec 26, 2010 : 11:25 a.m.

mmppcc,it amazes me that the educated folks in this county are continuously duped into thinking supporting education means caving in to union demands of inflated pensions, benefits, buyouts, early retirements, top heavy management, lucrative, but ineffective consulting contracts for retirees, and supporting inefective teachers, all this with no documented or quantifiable increase in student progress. Voting no on the continuation of this millage will force administrators and unions to face reality and start making quantifiable decisions on the use of tax dollars. We'll see the "true" colors of these "educators" and their willingness to function on behalf of the "needs" of the students, rather than their own financial "wants". Vote NO to put fiscal responsibility back into education. Why don't the "charter" schools get some of these dollars if the concern is so high for students? Why do parents send their kids to charter schools in the first place?

AlphaAlpha

Sun, Dec 26, 2010 : 11:04 a.m.

Hello Mr. Norton - We are glad you frequent these pages. A tangential question, please: when our AAPS (and city employees, if you know) retire, is their pension based on their final year's pay, or career average pay, or some other calc? Thank you.

Kerry

Sun, Dec 26, 2010 : 10:57 a.m.

RENEW- no new tax! total tax amount will be lower.

Steve Norton, MIPFS

Sun, Dec 26, 2010 : 10:14 a.m.

Aataxpayer - yes, in the 2009-10 year, the district contribution to AAPS teacher health care did cover the cost of a BCBS HMO plan. That's a plan primarily chosen by younger teachers, and they agreed to help them out. The MESSA PPO and POS plans, normally chosen by mid-career teachers, required substantial employee contributions. In addition, in that year, the employee costs under the prescription drug plan also went up, again shifting more cost to the older teachers who can better afford it (in general). However, in the 2010-11 year, the district contribution did not increase, while health plan costs rose by an average of 8%. DonBee and others- without the 2004 bond, Skyline would never have been built, and most of the capital upgrades to all the other schools would have been tabled indefinitely. As a vignette of deferred maintenance, just two years ago ceiling tiles fell on my son in his fourth grade classroom because of roof leaks. Do you recall the 2003 bond proposal, for expansions at Pioneer and Huron? It did not pass (which was good IMHO), and those projects did not go forward. Finally, no private school embarks on a major capital project using tuition dollars. Savings and a capital campaign are inevitably involved. Just trying to stay grounded.

DonBee

Sun, Dec 26, 2010 : 8:47 a.m.

EMG - Gee I wish HTML6 was here, I really need that Irony tag, I can't find it in HTML5. The opening portion of my last post was intended to be ironic. All - In reading the Ann Arbor Observer, it looks like Washtenaw County will ask for more taxes in the fall, so maybe the school districts are smart asking in the spring. I know several townships who are discussing a millage increase to cover the increase in cost from the Sheriff's department for the fall too. That way the other tax increases may not be on the ballot.

AlphaAlpha

Sun, Dec 26, 2010 : 8:01 a.m.

Agreed, josber. Autistic kids are some of the most unusually gifted. We need to care for them the best we can.

josber

Sun, Dec 26, 2010 : 7:43 a.m.

To AlphaAlpha, Autistic kids often have dietary issues that complicate their problems,because of poorly treated behavior and sensory problems. All goes back to competent, early intensive intervention for these kids..

Wake Up A2

Sun, Dec 26, 2010 : 7:33 a.m.

aataxpayer.... Well, new teachers do not have those same guarantees, just like a business. No matter how YOU slice it, Everything edu-haters wanted out of de-valuing teachers has happened. So how much blood is enough????? BTW: you need to do your research.... Also, the superintendent already makes more then then the governors of some states. AAPS isn't that big or important to pay that much for so little.

averagetaxpayer

Sun, Dec 26, 2010 : 12:24 a.m.

I voted no for the initial millage and will vote no again. It wasn't and is not a vote for special Ed. It is a vote to free up district general fund dollars that can then be spent on admin salaries and employee benefits that greatly exceed averages of the typical taxpayer. It also frees up dollars that can then go towards a sizable salary raise for the next aaps superintendent. Do not be deceived into thinking this is about special ed. It is really about everything but special ed.

AlphaAlpha

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 10:27 p.m.

For everyone else, EFAs are crucially important nutrients which most westerners in particular are not consuming enough of, due to diets which contain too much refined food; refining removes the EFAs. Lack of EFAs has been conclusively linked to a wide range of mental and physical maladies; within the context of this Special Ed discussion, EFA shortage has been linked to depression, ADHD, autism, etc. The research is out there and easily available to all; it was once 'controversial' because to date, Big Pharma can't patent or profit from EFA treatment, because FDA classifies EFAs as food, but the evidence is now overwhelming that EFAs can help many conditions. In fact, it seems plausible that all Special Ed consumers should be tested for EFA levels; those needing supplementation should improve their diets; and supplement with cheap easily available EFA oils like flax and fish, as needed. With MDs monitoring. Many have already benefited, many more will.

AlphaAlpha

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 9:46 p.m.

OK then.

Meg

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 9:40 p.m.

@AlphaAlpha: I'm trained in health sciences research and am thoroughly familiar with CINAHL and PubMed, as well as reading articles not in "understandable language". EFAs in autism are very controversial, and given the oral aversions of my kid, I'm not willing to risk traumatizing him for a therapy of uncertain value.

AlphaAlpha

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 9:38 p.m.

Now there is a potential dialog...

Stuart Brown

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 9:15 p.m.

I'm still ticked over the way the Bus drivers and the Custodial staff were treated by the AAPS. I'm also still ticked over the way Skyline was rammed through. How about we approve the millage so long as we consolidate all 10 school districts into one system and fire a bunch of administrators and spend the savings on the kids? Downsize the administrators and help AAPS replace Dr. Roberts by not making it necessary! Let any kid go to any school they want in the county as long as there is room.

AlphaAlpha

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 9:06 p.m.

Hi Meg - Um, wasn't suggesting you were looking for anything, though you, like most, would likely opt for an optimized outcome; cure was not mentioned. We all want the best, right? There have been many exciting developments in the field of autism recently, in fact in many areas of human health. Many likely very useful discoveries have not yet made it to the classroom, but that's another story. You can goog autism + omega 3 for starters; likely you already have. Look for hits from reputable sources like PubMed; there are many. Many are not written in ordinary English, and tend to be understated. The evidence is growing every day: many special needs people can greatly benefit from the addition of these EFAs into their diets. There are many reasons why they are called essential. Good luck!

Meg

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 8:49 p.m.

@alphalpha: I stay current on the peer-reviewed literature on autism, thanks. If you have reliable citations, I'd be happy to look at them. Also, my son is autistic. He doesn't need to be cured, and we're not looking for one.

AlphaAlpha

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 8:43 p.m.

Meg - Just so you know, and as an aside, there is a rapidly growing body of good scientific evidence demonstrating essential fatty acids (omega 3, 6, 9) can help many, perhaps most, cases of autism. YMMV.

Meg

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 8:25 p.m.

My son has autism. He has a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects how he can be effectively educated. He has the right to a free and appropriate public education, guaranteed by federal law and renewed by that bastion of conservatism, George W. Bush. I pay for private services for him. Our insurance pays some of the costs of his services. His IEP guarantees that his other needs are met. This is the social contract we have: we educate our children. All of our children. My son has autism. He has a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects his ability to navigate social situations. He is also a talented artist, a creative writer, a precise thinker who will contribute to our society. He has value. Arguing that anyone has the right to judge whether his education should be funded denies that value. My son has autism, and he has empathy and intelligence far beyond that being demonstrated by many of the commenters here.

AlphaAlpha

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 7:34 p.m.

Many here have significant experience with special needs situations. A key issue is the cost and efficiency of services provided, not whether the services should be provided. Many believe tax dollars are not being used as effectively as they should be. In this new age of austerity, we must question, and evaluate, costs, and cost benefits, better than ever, to assure the most services possible are being delivered to the students needing them.

Terri

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 7:28 p.m.

Moreover, my son, like all children, is federally entitled to a free and appropriate public education.

Terri

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 7:24 p.m.

@Macabre Sunset: I got your name wrong in the last post. I'm sorry about that.

Terri

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 7:19 p.m.

@Macabre Street: You think that I don't use my money to secure additional services for our son? Seems you do and you're wrong about that. I challenge you to shadow an elementary-aged child with special needs for a week, then get back to me about their outrageous demands for special funding.

sbbuilder

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 6:39 p.m.

Evidentally school spending must be Terra Sacra, because if you dare even suggest the very idea of questioning this topic, you are subject to a pile-on lambasting. Whenever this type of reaction occurs, I invariably conclude that I was right to kick over this can of worms. What nobody seems willing to do is to come up with an amount that they consider fair or reasonable for per-student spending. Currently we hover around the 14k amount. Are we getting 14k worth of education for our children? Are these monies being spent wisely? Are there long standing obstructions to streamlining the budget? These are the kinds of questions certainly worth asking. The metric that I think most germane in looking at this issue from a larger perspective is how we stack up with the rest of the world. Study after study, test after test shows us to have a woefully inadequate educational system that is on the slippery slope in the wrong direction. You can't fudge those numbers. You can't even argue them away, unless you think we still live in the 50's. We have an education gap with the rest of the world that is probably the most serious problem facing our country. So, is the solution to pour more money into a pitifully broken system? No. Plain and simple. Do we continue to fund special ed to the same levels of the past 20 or so years? Good question. And valid. I don't think that qualifies me as a scrooge contender, but if that's what makes you feel smug, then go right ahead.

Wake Up A2

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 6:16 p.m.

What many folks fail to realize is this: Cheap child care around me is 5 bucks an hour per child. If I take vacation, I still pay a certain amount to that person to save my spot. So, at 6 hours per day that is $30 per child per day. Now teachers, 34 kids per class at $5 per child that is $170 per hour. 6 hours is $1020. 192 days of school is $195,840. Now, teachers need to have a BS and since April 1992 have to go back every 5 years and get 6 credit hours of class. Add in State Objectives, National Mandates, Special Education issues, Job Politics, Teacher haters and Parents like yourself and you ask why the average teacher lasts 3 years teaching..... Really??? Then have legislators, with no memory, changing retirement 3 times in the last 20 years. I had to remind Randy Richardville of this and he co-sponsored the last change. Well you folks are getting a world class education in Ann Arbor at less then minimum wage per child and yet you complain....Got to love the first amendment......

magnumpi

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 4:52 p.m.

yes, i would like to know about the failed audit also. is it on the AAPS website, buried somewhere or is this something one must FOIA?

AlphaAlpha

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 3:40 p.m.

Wow. Speaking of proactive: DonBee, will you please elaborate on this failed audit? That didn't seem to get much attention here. Thank you.

AlphaAlpha

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 3:35 p.m.

There are very few, if any, teacher haters here. The issue is the cost. Many taxpayers are significantly less wealthy now than they were recently; the average total compensation (= taxpayer cost) for most public educators today is dramatically higher than is the average total compensation for non educators. $104K teachers; $58K others per BLS. This fact is increasingly problematic for the public education professionals. They might try being proactive; demonstrating how well they are using the tax dollars they are entrusted with. Otherwise, even tax renewals are problematic.

DonBee

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 3:33 p.m.

@Wake Up A2 - Defined Benefit Plan? You mean a pension, that promises you a specific amount per month for the rest of your life? That is what a defined benefit plan is. Give me a link to this document, whether state or local, show me where you are getting this from? Then I will ask our resident stay at home lawyer to explain it to me, so I don't make any mistakes in how I read it. As to cuts, why don't you ask the AAPS bus drivers what a real cut is? All (& Especially AA.COM) - Can anyone explain to me why AAPS failed, yes failed their audit for Special Education? Ann Arbor.Com - how about it, want to really report a story? Find out what areas of the Special Education Audit AAPS failed and why. Can you tell me what it will cost to fix the problems? Can you tell me what went wrong with the program to cause it to fail the audit? Can you tell me why the AAPS system has not told parents of special needs children that they failed this audit? EMG - Bake sales and fund raisers are common in all schools, from car washes, to wrapping paper. Not just the private or church supported schools. Seem to me that AAPS had or has a thrift store to help raise money, as well as a foundation to raise private donations. So if you want to do complete apples to apples you are right we need all the donations to the schools in question, including the booster money for the various teams. Until you can tell me how much the crew teams, the football boosters and the other folks raised from various fund drives, it is very difficult to compare total budgets between local private and public schools. The amount raised by formal methods - tuition in the case of private schools and taxes for the public schools the only transparent comparison available. Oh, as to money, I am happy AAPS found over $23,000,000.00 in grants over the last 12 months, should we add that to the comparison too? Or does that money not count either? As to restricted funds, you are right, some things would not have gotten done, like maybe building Skyline, which is driving the budget way beyond what the board and administration promised when the millage was passed. Remember the promise of only 19 new staff members, total for Skyline? Well, that one and many others history. Or, maybe building the pre-school which was promised to be a break even project, funded by tuition and federal money instead of being a drag on the budget? Don't get me wrong, good pre-schools are important. I happen to think the Special Education Millage is probably needed, but the way the board(s) are going about it means that they will probably struggle to get it passed.

Wake Up A2

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 2:45 p.m.

DonBee..... The state did it to the teachers. On every account. As for the retirement, if you are a new teacher, you have no choice but to a defined benefit. All of the changes wanted by the edu-haters has happened over the last couple of years. Reduced pensions, paying more for health care, new evaluations and pay cuts have happened. How much blood is enough? I'm guessing a couple of you wouldn't be happy until there is no education system left... That way you could push something else.

DonBee

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 2:04 p.m.

Like the $800,000.00 AAPS budgeted for a new grandstand this year? The only item that is shown specifically in this year's budget for the $15,000,000.00 sinking fund? The one area of the budget that has zero transparency?

DonBee

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 12:08 p.m.

@Steve Norton, MIPFS - What other sources do most private schools have but the tuition? I was trying and will continue to try to compare apples to apples. In this case total available funds of the private schools to the total available funds of the public schools. This is only fair. I will not rehash the - this money can only be used for this purpose, so it does not count argument that you seem to love. Any restricted dollar frees a dollar for use in other purposes from the general fund - if the restricted funds did not exist, the general fund would have to cover the costs.

Sallyxyz

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 11:43 a.m.

LGChelsea: There are buses everyday from Lincoln, Saline, Ypsi, Willow Run, etc, dropping off special ed kids to AAPS schools. These are not WISD kids. They do not live in the district, but they are receiving special ed services from AAPS. Obviously, there is some kind of financial arrangement between districts to allow this. However, my point still stands. This overburdens AAPS in needing to provide more and more special ed services for not only A2 residents, but those in surrounding districts with more severely disabled kids. In addition, there are many classrooms around the district, in regular buildings, not WISD, with severely disabled kids who receive custodial services all day long. I'm sure they have IEPs as required by state law, but much of the time they are in the classroom, it's custodial services. Some parents with severely disabled kids don't want them at High Point, for whatever reason, even though they have good facilities and staff, so once again, this continues to be a staffing issue for AAPS and contributes to overcrowding and understaffing. There are not enough assistants in the special ed classrooms in AAPS. The number of special ed students increases and the number of assistants decreases each year. Other posters have commented on this issue and it's real. Some of the posters on this board should spend a day in a special ed classroom in AAPS and see what it's like first-hand. If you do not have a special ed child yourself, or if you have not worked in a sp ed classroom, you have little idea of the requirements and needs. Back to my original point: when the institutions that housed disabled individuals of all ages were dismantled over the last 20 years, there was not a system or organization to replace it. These old institutions were not performing well, did not meet the needs of the populations they housed, to say the least, and needed to be dismantled, but the school age kids ended up in public school systems, not all of which were equipped to meet the demands of an increasing sp ed population. I personally think that the entire model for providing special education services to more severely disabled kids needs to re-evaluated on a national level. With many states across the country in financial distress and federal mandates to provide sp ed services in schools, it's not a sustainable model. And many public schools are simply not equipped to accommodate the needs for these kids, either in their facilities or staff. Hard decisions will need to be made as the special needs population continues to increase.

Jay Thomas

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 11:37 a.m.

I don't feel that we are getting $14k/student worth of an education now. I would have rather taken that money to a private school. Thanks DonBee for posting the numbers.

Steve Norton, MIPFS

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 11:28 a.m.

Merry Christmas, all! A couple of factual corrections: 1) Teacher retirement benefits are not in the local contract. They are determined at the state level, by the Legislature. If a pension portion is underfunded, the state pension system administrators increase the mandatory contributions from districts. The mandatory employee contribution to pensions has been raised several times in the last few years, but there are constitutional restrictions on applying those changes by force to current employees. Retirement health care is pay-as-you-go, meaning today's contributions pay for today's benefits. When the Legislature made all teachers pay an additional 3% to a health care trust, they made clear in the law and in statements of legislative intent that this DID NOT guarantee that retirement health benefits would exist in the future. (Only pension benefits are guaranteed in the state contribution.) The point is that current employees have no guarantees of what, if any, benefits will be available when they retire. These benefits are not negotiated locally. 2) DonBee continues to lump in revenues legally restricted to pay off bond debt in with operating revenues. That's simply misleading. 3) Both WISD and AAPS have on their websites painfully detailed reports spelling out how special ed funds are spent. These are required by the Feds. AAPS includes this in their annual financial report. 4) Districts differ, but AAPS does not pay the full bill for teacher healthcare. The District pays a fixed amount, and the employee pays the difference for the plan the choose. The district's contribution has been frozen for the last couple of years. Let's stay grounded in reality, shall we?

YpsiLivin

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 11:27 a.m.

Josber, The number of kids requiring special ed services, expensive special ed services, continues to climb... Irrelevant. Special ed services are covered at a mandated level, regardless of how many children are affected. People who think shorting the special ed fund will be one way to stop teachers from getting excessive compensation... I never said anything about teacher compensation; my particular beef is with the size and expense of school administration. Busing kids to school is not mandated unless the child is special ed, so that's concievably on the chopping block. Why are the schools paying to transport children to school in the first place? School is compulsory, and parents have a responsibility here. How much money could be saved if transportation were shifted to a pay-to-ride system (even on a sliding scale) and the cash redirected back into the classroom instead of into the bus garage? Let's just say you get your pie in the sky wish that all the renewal milllage money is taken from the school staff... Not my wish. You must have me confused with someone else. That's why special ed services are mandated by federal law, with penalties for not delivering them. Yes. That's exactly why this millage will neither increase nor decrease the services going to special education students. This millage is not for the benefit of special education students; it's a general ed millage in sheeps' clothing.

bluehoo

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 11:07 a.m.

Putting the responsibility back into individual districts would be disastrous from more than the financial impact to each district. The consolidated services might end, which is not only more efficient financially,but better the the students. And most of the students who can be, are mainstreamed--but that requires individual aides for each classroom or student (mandated, not an option). And those who say they want to see how money is spent and details--please go to the WISD and your local district and ASK FOR THE INFO and visit the classrooms. The info is available and the schools put it out the best they can--but their first priority is teaching--YOUR PRIORITY should be learning how they operate and use the money when the info is available.

Fat Bill

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 10:48 a.m.

The ISD provides the mandated special education services for some of the most difficult (and expensive) cases in the county. Our county is small enough geographically that we have been able to consolidate these highly specialized services, and we would be hard pressed to find better efficiencies in individual districts. Let loose of the dollars for the greater good and renew this millage. These kinds of services are what makes living in Washtenaw County better than in many other places.

PaperTigerSaline

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 10:43 a.m.

Nope. No more taxes, even if it IS a renewal. Like most posters here, until you can give me a line-by-line account of where you are already spending the money, nothing from me. Learn to make due with what you have, like the rest of us have to do. Period. I don't care if it is special education or any other kind of education, learn to live within your means. Period.

sh1

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 10:25 a.m.

So, if people don't want to spend their (averaged) $98.50 to help the neediest in our community, where do they want their money to go? What will you do with your windfall? (And teachers are the ones being called selfish here...)

Martin Church

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 10:19 a.m.

First let's stop the fighting over the wages of the teachers and their benefits. Yes they are high and in some cases better then most of the rest of us. This discussion is on how to fund the needs of our students. Two we have two distinct groups of students we are trying to educate. One is what some would consider main stream, the other special needs. Those needs will vary depending on the student. I know I was considered Special needs for most of my life. My Brother in Law was also considered special needs. Why, Because of our inability to vocally communicate in an articlulate manner. For my brother in law he was labeled developmently challenged and was placed in special ed. Today he works at Big Boys as a dishwasher, he is 51. Me I have completed College and running my own business. For both of us, we became pawns in the special needs money recieved by our districts. I fought for the right not to be treated like some mentally challenged person and fall into the stero types. I wanted something different. Now my nephews (4 of them) have all been told they have ADHD and one of them is autistic. This means even more money to their districts. Payed for by the taxpayers. Are they Special Needs. No they are not, do they need some extra help. Yes they do, but that help needs to come from the parents and the methods used to organize them to help themselves. My sister has determined that because one of her sons has autism he can no longer support himself. That is not true, but she will not let him continue with college and get a better paying job. This is just like some of the citizens of this community. Do we allow people to use their disability to stop functioning or are we really giving them a chance at life. I have a neighbor kid who is going blind, from what I have seen of his education, I have to ask is our special need education accomplishing the goals from him. Right Now my answer is NO. Therefore I have to ask do we continue to throw money at a problem.

sh1

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 10:03 a.m.

I recognize several names of people commenting here as the same people who were upset over the Happy Holidays/Merry Christmas posts from last week. Funny, they are worried about "taking Christ out of Christmas" but they don't seem worried at all about ignoring Christ's teachings when it comes to helping their fellow man.

sh1

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 10 a.m.

In regards to "the teacher's union took the least cuts from local negotiations,and were entitled to get the money back when the money came back in with two more days off, and the the money did come back," the problem with comments posted here is they can be patently false and start rumors. Teachers took cuts to pay, retirement, and health benefits in the last two contracts. The two additional days off are unpaid. No money has been returned to teachers since, as this person claims. I just don't understand all the anger against teachers. And I really don't understand people thinking teachers should pay for special education students' education.

ViSHa

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 9:31 a.m.

If this passes, AAPS must commit to getting more teacher assistant's in the schools. Some special ed kids require a TA all day, which leaves only a few TA's left for the kid's who aren't as severe in each school. Legally, a school must provide services, but if anyone thinks the schools don't try to give the least amount required by law, think again. It's all dependent on how much of a "squeaky wheel" the parents are, not on what the kids need. And then there are the kids who don't have an official diagnosis who still need extra help.

chalkboardjoe

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 9:29 a.m.

One commenter stated that as of 2006, teachers have the same pension program as the private sector as well as other benefits. Yes, but mostly NO. In 2006, teachers began to have the opportunity to make a voluntary contribution into a performance based retirement program, yet the guaranteed, defined benefit retirement program is still in place. A year or two later (?), the amount that the state contributed was dropped to just under 17% (accounting trick to balance the state budget and preserve as much educational funding as possible and knowing the amount to contribute would increase). Now the current contribution from the general fund is around 20% (reminding everyone that none comes from the teachers salary and MORE is now taken from the general fund than there ever was). Plus, almost every district in Washtenaw County (if not all-as well as most of those in Michigan) has their entire health care costs paid for by the district (amounting to $11,000-$15,000 depending on the option picked-not including the co-pays (5/10) and standard deductibles-of which most are lower than the private sector). All of this type of information can be obtained when you go to a school district webpage and click on the icon of "Budget and Salary Compensation...Transparency Reporting" that is now mandated by law to allow for better transparency of district finances. Suggest all read it and skip the novel you got for Christmas, then maybe we would have more informed and factual comments. As for my comment on election costs (which would have been zero if WISD chose to hold the election in November), I believe it will be between $200,000 and $300,000 based on prior information I read, but I have to wait until Monday to get a more precise number when the Election Office is open...till then, Merry Christmas to all.

DonBee

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 9:27 a.m.

@Wake Up A2 - Please show us where in the AAPS AAEA teacher's contract the changes to the pension and health care for retirement are? Michigans teacher pension fund is underfunded by nearly $61 billion. That is about 1.5 years of the total budget for the State of Michigan. So please point me to the language in the contract that you are referencing. In 2009 AAPS total budget (all sources) was over $243,000,000 for 16,439 students. That is over $14,000 a student in total budget. By your number of $10,000 per student (typically the only source of funds for a private school), that means that the private education you sight is doing the job with about $4,000 less per student.

josber

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 9:16 a.m.

Ypsilivin The number of kids requiring special ed services, expensive special ed services, continues to climb, of fueled by the rate of increase of estimated to be about 10-15% a year,in the diagnosis of autism in particular. Much of this increase of caseload costs have been covered by this millage, sparing general education fund cuts. If insurance covered the appropriate care for preschool alone for these kids the saving would be phenomenal to the schools right now, because a poorly therapized or untherapized kid costs many thousands more a year to educate. These aren't costs that should belong to the schools, but I digress. People who think shorting the special ed fund will be one way to stop teachers from getting excessive compensation should think again about what the likely scenario would be, not your wish or your vision of what should be, but what is likely to occur, to play out in reality. Teachers will end up laid off, instead of taking an across the board cut, making class sizes bigger. Busing kids to school is not mandated unless the child is special ed, so that's concievably on the chopping block. Other extra's would go, and others can enumerate that better than I can. Let's just say you get your pie in the sky wish that all the renewal milllage money is taken from the school staff, do you think that maybe the teacher's might take it out on the special ed kids? Do you they may try less hard with these kids, and some of these kids are quite challenging, come up with reasons to not work on including those kids in Least Restrictive Environment, try to have the para's do double duty. Maybe general ed parents will shun special ed kids, blaming them for why their child has to be driven to school every day, while "those" kids get busing?People will begin to blame the special ed kids for those bigger classrooms, less extras. Do you really think people aren't like that? Of course they are. That's why special ed services are mandated by federal law, with penalties for not delivering them. Schools are made to deliver service, because it's hard and expensive Special ed kids already have the deck stacked against them before they ever cross the school's threshold.

Wake Up A2

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 6:30 a.m.

Well the teachers unions pensions changed from great to what everyone else in business gets back in 2006. The new teachers don't get anywhere near what the older got. Two, teachers pay more for their retirement as of last year. Also retirement health care has changed as well. Why don't you anti-education folks do your homework..... The teaching job is like every other job now as far as benefits and such. Have most of you compared a private school education to what A2 public schools provide? If you want a school system with as many offerings as the public schools and the higher test scores, you are over 10,000 dollars a year. What is A2 providing for the same services??? Far less then that......

digger

Sat, Dec 25, 2010 : 5:50 a.m.

Michigan needs to become a right to work state not to eliminate unions but to create some competition. Right now it's their way or the highway.This is not only true with the teachers unions but with all govt and private sector ones. Competition is the best thing for any economy. I sure don't mind renewing millages for things if i don't think i'm being bent over.

stunhsif

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 11:52 p.m.

This millage will go down in flames unless the unions "taste" reality and come to their senses, I am very hopeful they will let go of their selfish desires and quit holding our children hostage to funding their ridiculous pensions and healthcare. We can then start putting the money in the classrooms where it belongs. Merry Christmas Good Day and No Luck Needed But Very Welcomed!

YpsiLivin

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 10:45 p.m.

josber, Special education services are required by law. They are a non-negotiable part of a school district's budget. Regardless of the outcome of the millage, special education students will get the services they're entitled to by law. The relative number of special education students in the system is irrelevant. The school districts must provide services for these children, millage or no millage, and regardless of how many students are designated to receive these services. Approving the millage will not INCREASE special education funding and voting it down will not DECREASE special education funding. In other words, no special education student will be harmed by the defeat of this millage. The purpose of the millage is to determine HOW special education services are paid for. Do they come out of the general fund, or do they come from a special pot of money? If the services are paid for out of the general fund, fewer dollars will be available for general education students. If the services are paid for out of a special pot of money, the general education students get more. Regardless of the millage's outcome, the special education students get the same as they've always gotten; no more, no less. No matter how you slice this one, this millage isn't about special education students. It's all about how much money the general ed kids get.

Jay Thomas

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 10:07 p.m.

This should not be funded at the county level; it is a local or state matter.

sbbuilder

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 9:19 p.m.

Speechless: You see, you again refuse to rise to the challenge. Again, you resort to hyperbole. Again, you take refuge in pseudo-syllogisms to Scrooge. All I did was question the amount being spent. All I was trying to do was highlight the inept process that has led to near unlimited funding for special ed. The prime question remains, and remains unanswered: Where do we draw the line? Liberal that you are, that test of character too often escapes serious consideration. I am competely unmoved, unimpressed, yet slightly neauseated with you oblique attack at my character. BTW, have I ever returned the favor? Ghost: I never intended to chronicle the misuse of funds, the lavish expenditures, etc. I thought I made it clear that these programs serve a vital purpose. In the same vein, it is completely appropriate to highlight the monies spent. You can keep your broad brush.

AlphaAlpha

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 7:26 p.m.

How efficiently is current funding used?

Soothslayer

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 5:30 p.m.

No child left behind! Where is the line drawn folks? 5, 10, 15, 20k per child? Honestly.

Macabre Sunset

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 5:08 p.m.

I'm ashamed of all the people here who are teaching their children that there's no limit to how much money you can take from others. I think people like Terri should take a crowbar to their own wallets if they want more. The holiday season should not be about how much you get from others, it should be about learning to be thankful for what you have.

Wake Up A2

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 4:07 p.m.

I have read over the years that Ann Arbor is the "best" or "top ten" or "brainiest" or, you get the picture, in various magazines and blogs.... Why? Well one thing that pops up over and over, next to the U of M, great health care system is the public schools. I find it amazing that folks complain about the vary thing that brings people to this town. Maybe you should keep kicking the same system that gets praised over and over again........

Speechless

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 3:39 p.m.

"... But what I am wondering, is where do we draw the line in how much we want/need to fund this program. From what I have personally observed, I think this program is skewed too far...." Why is it so important to directly assault a program that serves students who are among those in the greatest need of attention and services? So... if by chance program management by local schools does not meet an artificial expection for total perfection, then the knives must come out. This essential service can therefore be slashed to pieces, with enthusiasm. Or, alternately, are special needs students being used here, heartlessly, as helpless pawns by those whose larger agenda is a frontal attack on public school funding? In relation, why is it so important to resolutely ignore the state's subsidies to the rich and to corporations, all of which work to eviscerate Michigan's budget — which, as ERMG pointed out, fund public schools as much as, or more than, property taxes. Do you seriously want to fix school funding while also lowering taxes on the middle class? Then we should do ourselves a favor and not continue, year after year, to let wealthy citizens and corporations off the hook for their social responsibilities. The real bottom line for fiscal opponents of next May's renewal millage: Tear down special education to help underwrite subsidies for the wealthy. Some opponents care less about taxes and more about intelligent design: They'd like public schools closed in favor of fundamentalist-run operations. During this holiday season, social conservatives and libertarians long for the Dickensian world wholeheartedly embraced by Scrooge at the beginning of the story. They condemn the changed person Scrooge became by the end of the story — he would no doubt be denied entry at tea parties. If some millage renewal opponents could rewrite that tale, Tiny Tim may well die at the end. It'd be a sad, but necessary, result which followed a sober, deliberate process of carrying out Randian protocols for fiscal responsibility.

josber

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 3:11 p.m.

Is this millage a money grab for the schools? That would be true if the schools took this money and didn't give service to special needs kids. However, given the rising rate of autism, it's unlikely. If insurance covered early intervention for autism, the costs saving would be staggering, but we're don't have coverage for that in this state. No doesn't equate to a solution to a problem.

YpsiLivin

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 2:56 p.m.

For those of you with children who receive special education services: did you see improvements in these services when this was on the ballot in 2004? I thought not. This millage isn't about providing special education services. They're required by law, no matter what. It's a money grab designed to fund general education classrooms.

sbbuilder

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 2:27 p.m.

I take great umbrage in some of the posters who equate comments with greed, avarice, Scrooge, etc. Who the heck are you guys to judge us? We have a different opinion. You guys are so quick to pull the trigger when your opinion is different from someone else. Does special ed play a vital role? Yes. Should these students receive extra care and attention? Yes. But what I am wondering, is where do we draw the line in how much we want/need to fund this program. From what I have personally observed, I think this program is skewed too far. Of course, practically noone wants to be the public figure who says that this particular program needs trimming. So, year after year more money goes to this program. We need practice as Michiganders in drawing lines. Fuzzy open-ended funding is a thing of the past.

jcj

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 2:12 p.m.

"The idea that my child's education should not be funded is the most asinine and offensive thing I have ever heard." I don't think most are saying don't fund education. But I do hear people saying lets make the best use of whatever funds we provide. To me the most asinine thing would be to continue to fund ANY program without questioning where the funds are spent.

Soothslayer

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 1:43 p.m.

Sorry but the public education system doesn't meet its objectives and too small of a portion of the resources reaches the actual student. Privatize the entire system then competition and PERFROMANCE will be the measuring and determining factors. Just like any business those that do an inefficient or poor job won't survive and can do something else's. The system in place is counter productive for us as a nation. We fall further and further behind the world each year. No more resources down the drain to fuel these bloated and ineffective institutions. For the students and our future's sake may the best education win, always.

LGChelsea

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 1:40 p.m.

Sallyxyz: You claim that districts send their most severely impaired students to Ann Arbor. To which districts are you referring? Surrounding districts cannot claim to have a lack of services. They are required by law to provide all services and create specific programs, if necessary. Do several close, small districts share boundaries to provide services in one setting in order to not duplicate expensive programs? Perhaps. When necessary, the most severely disabled are placed at High Point. They are not placed there for the convenience of the district. WISD provides bus services for all students, from all districts, to High Point School. Many do travel a long time, but buses service individual districts. Students aren't transported en masse in the entire county; they travel by bus, by WISD, by district. In addition, all students require an annual (or more frequent) Individualized Education Plan. I can't imagine a district in Washtenaw in which only "basic custodial" support is provided. This would be illegal. Parents and the district staff design the individual plans. There are many goals and objectives for each student. Providing assistance for bodily functions is NOT a goal, but a "given". Many goals in process are not seen or recognized by the casual observer. Finally, Special Ed. teachers receive the same salary as equally-qualified and experienced general ed. teachers.

Cash

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 1:32 p.m.

Well, well, I guess I had the holidays wrong.... this the Festivus Eve....time for the airing of grievances. My grievance here is that we should put the needs of the neediest children ahead of all else and we don't. We buy fancy foreign art, build expensive public buildings, fund wars, and support politicians that don't always serve us well. And a happy Festivus for the rest of us!

babmay11

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 1:28 p.m.

@jcj, taxes WILL NOT go up if this is renewed, in fact it's likely they will continue to decline since housing values have done the same. It is a RENEWAL.

Terri

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 1:25 p.m.

The idea that my child's education should not be funded is the most asinine and offensive thing I have ever heard.

Speechless

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 1:19 p.m.

Happy Holidays!  Once again, the anti-public schools, anti-union, and anti-tax trolls all come crawling out of the woodwork in considerable force. The Koch brothers and others have trained them well on how to do this. Some of these posters are the same folks who routinely champion the divine right to untrammeled greed among the robber barons of Wall Street; who defend spending $700 billion annually in special entitlements for the military and its publicly-subsidized private contractors; and who believe the way to fund government is through huge tax breaks benefiting large corporations. Can't they all just move to China, a nation that firmly embraces their values? Here, they gleefully attack essential services provided for some of the most vulnerable children in our society. For them, this is simply more tax money seized from their wallets — which they'd prefer be spent on building a new corporate tax loophole. An additional notion on their part, maybe, is to compel some of these young students into private schools based upon intelligent design. Better yet... let them throw Tiny Tim under the bus and be done with it.

babmay11

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 12:54 p.m.

Contrary to what some have posted, this IS ALL about the students. Who do you think are the ones who get hurt while you're trying to squeeze blood out of the union? Also, point of clarification - the $20 million is what it would cost the Ann Arbor district alone, not the whole county.

Sallyxyz

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 12:32 p.m.

This is a tough issue. The special ed needs of the AAPS district are great and growing. Surrounding districts send their special ed kids to A2, compounding the problem. Those other districts claim they don't have "services" for these very severely disabled kids. Then, these kids spend hours on buses each day traveling back and forth to their homes in the other districts, and in my view, these kids are least able to handle that kind of travel on a school bus. They are exhausted by the time they get to school from a very long bus ride, to say the least. With the cuts already in place in AAPS this year, there are fewer paraprofessionals to assist with special ed kids due to vacant positions not filled when people retired or left, etc., creating even bigger burdens and disruptions for regular ed classes where special ed kids are "mainstreamed," and for the special ed classrooms, many of which are overcrowded and understaffed. Many of these special ed classrooms are way too small for the number of students in the classroom, compounding an already difficult situation. And many of these kids are very severely disabled (not all, there are varying degrees of severity), and the question of where the most severe can get the best treatment and support is one that I believe needs to be addressed more widely than at the local level. Some of these kids with the most severe disabilities are only given basic "custodial" support all day long in a school classroom (changing diapers, being fed by a staff member, put in a walker, etc) because of the severity of their disabilities, and maybe the public school system is not the best place for these young people. Because institutions that treated these kids in the past have been dismantled over the last 20 years, these severely disabled kids are in the public schools during the day, and more and more tax dollars are being spent on highly paid special ed teachers and support staff to perform basic custodial services. Is this the right place for these high need kids, are they getting the best support and treatment for their disabilities, and is this the best use of tax dollars? These are questions that need to be addressed, as well as the entire premise of funding for schools. Property taxes are not a viable source of school funding in the long run, as the current recession and declining property values demonstrate.

Rodney Nanney

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 12:27 p.m.

For me, it is the apparent lack of fiscal discipline emanating from the WISD that suggests a "No!" vote would be best in May. I've not been impressed with what I've seen of their "leadership" in this area. Equally important to me is the WISD's virtually complete lack of accountability to the taxpayers. I was appalled when I found out during the 2009 "enhancement" millage debate just how detached the WISD Board is from those who provide the funds to pay their bills. That sort of detachment is a recipe for abuse and waste. I understand that there are far worse examples of poor management of public funds than the WISD (such as the Michigan Economic Development Corporation), but this is the agency proposing to hold a special election at significant extra cost next spring, rather than put this matter on last November's ballot (yet another example of waste and inefficiency). The WISD leadership will have to make some significant and fast changes in leadership and management of their organization to secure my "Yes" vote.

Leslie Morris

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 12:26 p.m.

My ten-year-old granddaughter (who lives in Massachusetts) is autistic. For two years, her Massachusetts local school system tried to save money by mainstreaming her. It was a horrendous experience for her, for her parents, her teacher and the other students in the class. Increasing doses of tranquilizing drugs did not alleviate the situation. Finally the school system gave up, and authorized her transfer to a special school for autistic children. She is much calmer now, and is making academic and social progress. The school system is paying about $70,000 a year for her schooling. I recognize that our system in Michigan is different, but no matter how the funding system is arranged, special education is expensive. It is our common obligation as a decent society to pay that cost, and to pay it without damaging the education of other children. I am very tired of people who take every opportunity to attack teachers. I will be voting for this millage renewal, as will my husband.

jcj

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 11:54 a.m.

@huronbob I am sorry if I missed where your experience in special ed comes. I can only assume it comes from having a family member of some kind in special ed. I for one and probably most of the posters here would be happy to fund special ed at a higher (or the same) level. The problem is we tend to lump all types of education together. And when we see higher education ( U of M professors ) getting exorbitant salaries is is hard not to recoil at any thought of funding even at the same level. If you can't admit to the level of salaries being too high from some in education then we have nothing to discuss and I will just vote no. And then you can go ask the highest paid in education to fund special ed!

Natasha

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 11:54 a.m.

I thought this was a conversation about educating our differentlyabled children??? Second if this millage is passed that's less $ out of the general ed fund which needs to be left for general ed classrooms. Without this $ coming in childrens education will be effected. Be it special ed or general ed. We need to support and get behind ALL education. Lastly if people don't like all their $ being put towards taxes and millages why move to an area that's known for taxes and millages?

jns131

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 11:50 a.m.

As Washtenaw County voters said no to the mileage a year ago November, so will this mileage fail in May. As the schools had to figure out another way to pay for things? So shall WISD. Belts will be tightned again. WISD took on a roll of transportation? Then they need to figure out another way to pay for this as well. Glad to see WISD realizing they took on too much. Ypsilanti is now using Trinity to help with transporting their students, so shall WISD need a way to reinvent their methods of transporting students as well. Vote no in May and let WISD know that you can't reinvent another way to pay for something you thought you could.

magnumpi

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 11:50 a.m.

If this millage passes, will that mean it wont be like pulling teeth to try to get minimal services from the schools? Will that mean they wont piggyback services by putting several lower achieving kids in the class with the assigned teaching assistant, often at the expense of the child who is suppose to be getting the services?

bruno_uno

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 11:44 a.m.

mmppcc- no ignorance, no hatred, just reality. unions in the public sector need to open up the contracts and understand the new economy, i dont need to waste any more words to someone who has obviously a narrow minded opinion. happy holidays everyone.

jcj

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 11:43 a.m.

@josber If the northerners are so educated why are Michigan and California leading the way in high unemployment? One would think with all the brilliant minds they could figure it out! After making some of the statements I have seen one might surmise that you speak from experience about the lack of education in the south.

AAW

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 11:32 a.m.

Well there are a few out there who understand that the unions can't cut pay for all school staff to make up the $20,000,000.00. There are 10 local districts. That would mean the school would have to cut spending by $2,000,000.00. I suppose that they could end busing, food service, gym, art, music, sports, and any other class that doesn't have anything to do with reading, writing and math. That doesn't count the services for special education students, this would include, speach, OT., PT, services for the blind, and deaf. I am sure the list could go on. Does that work for everyone? The state could change the state law and only give services for special education to age 21 like all the other states, that would save the school money, oh wait then the county would have to step up, then taxes would have to go up in that area also. I don't see a win win anywhere. No matter what the out come of this millage, students wiil get services, it will just be with limited staffing. I will still love my job and students but wish I could do more.

LGChelsea

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 11:31 a.m.

Martin Church: mainstreaming students does not remove their needs and ALL of their needs must still be paid for with federal Special Ed. money. When students are mainstreamed, do you think that their hearing is suddenly restored or they can now walk and no longer need a wheelchair or their cerebral is suddenly gone? Mainstreaming does not mean that students are "cured" of their disability. In addition, those students with the greatest needs are often not serviced in the public schools, but at High Point School, where many are medically fragile or too impaired to be placed safely in a public school. Furthermore, individual student goals are bound by law and there have been lawsuits in our districts when individual plans and goals are not adequately addressed. Perhaps commenters who are not familiar with Special Ed. law ( PL 94.142) should read up on the complexity of the services mandated

YpsiLivin

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 11:20 a.m.

Natasha, Your child will get the services s/he is getting right now, regardless of whether the millage passes. Millage failure in this case does not mean cuts to special education. If the millage fails, the cuts will occur elsewhere in order to preserve special education funding, since special ed services are required by law. This election is about how (not if) special education is funded.

David Briegel

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 11:15 a.m.

Ghost and Cash, Don't EVER confront Christians with the beliefs of their Christian Faith. Especially at this time of the year. To all these anti-union folks. You should move to China where our American corporations (remember, corporations are people) are "investing" in the non-union future. You might be happier there!

stunhsif

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 11:14 a.m.

mmppcc said: "stunhsif, what makes you so angry and full of hatred? Did you lose your job and decide to blame unions for it? Sure, Michigan has unions and a bad economy. Nevada is a right-to-work state. Have you seen their economy?" I don't hate anybody, please don't equate not supporting the teacher's unions with hate. You all start throwing out strong words like hate when you are exposed for what you are. You do care about the kids, we all do. But what you care more about is the chance that your bloated pensions ( I didn't say salary--have no problem with your salary) and benefits might get cut. Then you all start crying and saying, "we don't want the kids to get hurt". Today, after 68 years of builing cars and automotive components, GM's Willow Run facility closed. Twenty years ago there were 12,000 union workers earning a paycheck there every single day. About 15 years ago, half those jobs went to Texas (still union but more productive). Now they are all gone. The ACH plant in Milan owned by Ford Motor will be closing down within 2 years under new ownership, another 500 plus union jobs gone. The tax base is eroding and we all just want to stick our heads in the sand like an ostrich. Did any of you watch 60 Minutes this past Sunday, the bit on how virtually every state in the union is going broke because of public employee's bloated pensions and healthcare? Good Day No Luck Needed

Steve Norton, MIPFS

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 10:57 a.m.

Ghost - well quoted. Thanks to all who point out the importance of providing services for the most vulnerable. Not all special ed services are confined to special ed classrooms. But I also agree that the school districts and WISD need to work hard to publicize the need and the work they do in special ed; we all need a better understanding of the work our schools are doing on our behalf. I'm especially amused by the Mackinaw Center numbers on ISD staffing. Let's see: over that period, there have also been huge increases in legally mandated special ed services and also pressures to consolidate services at the ISD level because of funding problems. Any connection, you suppose?

stunhsif

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 10:53 a.m.

Natasha said: "If this was your child you wouldn't hesitate to pass this renewal. Well this is my child and I won't hesitate." Natasha, I am all for funding special education and educating our children but this is not about the kids, it is about keeping the unions fat and happy at the expense of the taxpayers. If the WISD and the various school districts actually get real concessions from the unions then you will see broad and overwhelming support from the tax base. Till then, most of us are going to vote down millages. Their must be equal and shared sacrifice from all, that is not happening right now.

mmppcc

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 10:51 a.m.

stunhsif, #1, posts don't get deleted just because you don't agree with them. #2, he's right.

josber

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 10:48 a.m.

Be mad if you want, but there is a very skilled pool of workers up north.For example, when GM set up Saturn in Tennessee, it recruited from Northern factories, not locals. When the Japanese auto makers set up shop down south, a large problem was the local education level wasn't that strong. The education you receive stays with you and carries you through the ups and downs of life. The more education and skills set you have, the better able to negotiate and succeed in what life throws at you.

stunhsif

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 10:43 a.m.

jobser said: "A problem down south is that it is hard to find educated workers...hence Northerner's have an edge over the locals." First off, that is an ignorant statement and completely false and secondly, I find it offensive that A2.com has not deleted your post? And jobser, the bottom line is the jobs are going where the talent pool is the strongest and where folks are willing to work hard. If the talent pool is so strong in Michigan why aren't companies coming to Michigan to set up shop? In fact, exactly the opposite is happening so you are dead wrong my friend. The unions are going to cry and complain until the last remaining union member loses their job. Then perhaps Michigan's economy can begin growing again. This is 2011, not 1955. The sooner we realize unions are job killers the sooner Michigan's economy can begin to grow. Good Day No Luck Needed

Natasha

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 10:33 a.m.

All I am going to say is be the parent of one of these children for a day, then what would your opinion be. The schools, teachers, and other staff go out if their way to help give our children an education and better life. If this was your child you wouldn't hesitate to pass this renewal. Well this is my child and I won't hesitate. As the parent of one of these children it hurts my heart some of the heartless comments I've read on here today. Every day we face people who feel because of these differences we are less then. Don't they at least deserve a decent education. I'm just thankful that from a humanitarian position when these issues come up on the ballot I'm willing to say yes. Sometimes you have to give from the pocket to help those who can't help themselves. Just remember when it's time to vote your beloved son or daughter sitting in a wheelchair and needing this...would you do it for them?

mmppcc

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 10:25 a.m.

I don't know YpsiLivin, while you're right that special education can't just be cut, that's a lot of money. You're talking about 75 thousand, compared to 20 million.

cinnabar7071

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 10:22 a.m.

Of all the comments I find the following the most disturbing. "heh.... is that your wife's new car you're using as an icon, or would that be yours?"

YpsiLivin

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 10:15 a.m.

The AAPS crowd passed this money grab in order to fund special ed separately, thereby increasing their general operating funds. This millage is a prime example of "What Ann Arbor wants, everyone else gets to pay for." Don't make the mistake of thinking that special ed services will be cut if this millage fails. They won't because most special ed services are required by law. In order to preserve their own jobs and salaries, administrators will make cuts to the general operating funds. Those who think "It's a renewal! It doesn't increase taxes! Go back to sleep!" are exactly the voters WISD and AAPS are hoping to see at the polls in May. Millages like this one allow AAPS to "find" $75,000 in the general fund to pay for the new superintendent's pretty impressive base pay raise.

mmppcc

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 10:13 a.m.

bruno_uno, economics is a very complicated subject, so I don't expect you to fully understand it. Yes, Michigan is the only state to lose population, but it is one of many states that is not a right-to-work state. some pro-union states are doing well, some, like Michigan, are doing poorly. Michigan's fortunes have long been tied to a single industry, and while fur, timber, and mining all had replacements, the auto industry has not been so lucky. Blaming one thing, teachers unions, for Michigan's failures just shows your lack of any understanding of the complex problems that have brought Michigan to it's current state.

josber

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 10:10 a.m.

A problem down south is that it is hard to find educated workers...hence Northerner's have an edge over the locals.

bruno_uno

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 10:04 a.m.

well put stunhsif- mmppcc- this is the new economy, the latest census had michigan as the only state that lost population. do you know what that means? it means people are following the jobs to the south (which you just insulted) because the have no powerful unions. the jobs will come back to michigan when the unions lose power here too. they are just waiting for the public sector to give in to the inevitable. just some take longer to learn the facts that the system is broken. i wont mention any names.

bruno_uno

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 10:01 a.m.

well put stunhsif- mmppcc- this is the new economy, the latest census had michigan as the only state that lost population. do you know what that means? it means people are following the jobs to the south (which you just insulted) because the have no powerful unions. the jobs will come back to michigan when the unions lose power here too. they are just waiting for the public sector to give in to the inevitable. just some take longer to learn the facts that the system is broken. i wont mention any names.

mmppcc

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 9:53 a.m.

stunhsif, While everyone is entitled to their opinion and their vote, it still makes me sad that I have to live around people like you.

stunhsif

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 9:47 a.m.

huronbob said: "heh.... is that your wife's new car you're using as an icon, or would that be yours?" First off, the picture of the car is an 2011 Saab 9-5. I do not own a new car. My newest car is 3 years old, second newest car is 13 years old. And your point is what? That if I have the money for a new car then you can hold a gun to my head and make me pay more taxes? Yep, my money is really not my money eh, it belongs to the teachers unions? And why do you even need to ask about what the out of control spending is, many have already pointed it out. This is all about the unions and their bloated contracts and benefits, it isn't about special needs children or kids without special needs. The money needed can come from re-negotiating contracts, till then, the voters are going to vote down any and all millages.

mmppcc

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 9:45 a.m.

Bruno_uno, why do you choose to live around a university town? Wouldn't you be happier somewhere like rural Mississippi, with people more like yourself?

josber

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 9:42 a.m.

@ stunhif You vote no summarily without full regard for what that means to vulnerable children. You want every school district of Washtenaw County to manage money the way you see fit, not just your own district no less before you would even consider voting yes. Why? Those school districts don't answer to you at all. Well, last I heard all the districts took cuts, and AAPS more than anyone else in the county. And while stat tax receipts are modestly up last month,good news, but Michigan is still in a severe depression. Yes, the teacher's union took the least cuts from local negotiations,and were entitled to get the money back when the money came back in with two more days off, and the the money did come back. They also took a 3% cut delivered from the state, and to be fair, they signed on with promise of pension at the end of service. A contract is a contract. Rick Snyder has promised to go after public sector compensation. That fight is well underway. So think about kids who don't talk,or walk well, or kids who have all kinds of difficulties you probably have the good fortune of not knowing what that is like and I ask you to think again about your vote. You will pay more for the care of these children later for their increased dependencies than you will for renewing the millage. Do not cut off your nose to spite your face. Or do not kick out Tiny Tim's crutch out from under him because other people's negotiating proficiencies or deficiencies. This is an important millage, affecting all children in all schools in most direct fashion.

babmay11

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 9:38 a.m.

It is very sad that the commentary that Ghost posted is so accurate. People seem to be so mean spirited even at this time of year. Unless you know what special education laws are and what these students need, unless you've spent time with them, you really have no idea. But it would be nice to think some people could actually have compassion even if they don't have the same issues themselves. And as some have pointed out, the students are required by law to receive the services they need, they don't just get cut if the millage goes away, the money comes out of the general fund. And those spouting the same old BS, schools spend too much. Why do you think Ann Arbor and the surrounding communities have good schools? Because people have supported them. And the schools have cut spending for the last several years, so people who talk about out of control spending have no clue as to what they are talking about. If you want low taxes, go buy a house in Detroit for $20,000, that will lower your property taxes, and you can enjoy their school system too. If you want to live in Ann Arbor and have the benefits of living here, then stop whining about the taxes. Or go move to Texas or another state with no state income tax. Lastly, sorry if you've taken a pay or benefits cut, but why do you want everyone else to suffer just because you have? The ultimate in selfishness, I guess.

mmppcc

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 9:36 a.m.

I believe the renewel will pass in Ann Arbor. The real concern for the WISD is the less educated voters in far-flung areas of the county. As long as literacy tests are still illegal, anti-tax conservatives will always have a good chance of prevailing!

bs

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 9:35 a.m.

sigh... you all have a happy holiday, and, give me a call when that child not receiving services is yours, or your grand-child.. we'll talk about it then.... And, remember, there's no point in funding a fire department millage until you actually smell smoke in your house... save some $$$'s......

bs

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 9:30 a.m.

"Until all the school districts in Washtenaw County can get their spending under control like the taxpayers have had to do, I will vote no as will my wife." heh.... is that your wife's new car you're using as an icon, or would that be yours? I guess my other question for you would be, could you please give me an example of out of control spending that you're talking about?

bruno_uno

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 9:27 a.m.

HuronBob, AAW, and any other propogandists, the system is broken, your band aid solutions of just passing millages has lost support by the status quo. I could care less if your in the union or the president of the country. We all know opening up the contracts can provide the money for the children. Stop hiding behind them for your own greed.

stunhsif

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 9:26 a.m.

DonBee said: " I suspect that the school districts will encourage and assist every employee to vote. The question is will there be enough employee votes to swing this election?" I know I cut out a lot of what you said DonBee but I simply want to respond to your last question and my answer would be, "I hope not". Until all the school districts in Washtenaw County can get their spending under control like the taxpayers have had to do, I will vote no as will my wife.

bs

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 9:25 a.m.

Chalkboardjoe... michigan capital confidential is not exactly a balanced news source. And, instead of taking statewide figures about increases/decreases in staff/students, could you give us the local figures, because that's really what is important...?

bs

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 9:19 a.m.

Bruno, I'm not a teacher, I don't work in public education, I don't belong to a union, I don't accept health care benefits from my employer... so you might want to get off of that particular horse. Now, tell me, from your vast knowledge, just what IS the salary and benefits of the typical special education teacher? Break that down hourly, include the time they spend "off the clock" preparing for classes, and, please, deduct the money they spend from their own pocket for supplies and materials. How does this salary compare to others with an advanced degree and specialized certification? And, please, spend a few minutes elaborating about YOUR experience in a special education classroom. What was it like, did you find it difficult, or were these children just coddled with unnecessary services, I'm sincerely interested in your perspective based on your knowledge and experience. Words are cheap... Others have said it well up thread, and better than I can, this is our most vulnerable population, and if services are not provided now, the cost to our community down the road will multiply greatly.

chalkboardjoe

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 9:17 a.m.

Although the merits of the renewal are worthy of a balanced discussion on issues such as whether our monies are (or are not) being spent the best that they can, or about the affordability to the taxpayer when it is asserted that it is just a renewal and we are already paying those taxes (but can we really afford the monies when our pay is flat or cut, yearly 10-15% health insurances increases for us which are out of our own pocket and gas is already over $3 gallon in the middle of winter-my increased gas costs since this summer exceed the renewal costs) are certainly worthy of discussion. I for one can not dismiss the blatant selection of the election date in May which will result in an extremely low turnout at such an extremely high price since the election costs for all ten school districts will be not be born by the state like the school elections that are now being held in November. Holding the election in May is an absolute waste of taxpayer dollars and an insult to the families who rely on WISD spending the needed monies where they are really needed IN THE CLASSROOM and NOT IN THE ELECTION BOOTHS where next to nobody will show up. The majority of school districts moved their elections to November to keep money in the classroom and it is an absolute shame that WISD has not followed suit. Of course it was recently reported that Intermediate School District hiring has increased over 35% (see paste below) while overall enrollment has decreased. It would be great if we could get a report on the total costs that will be taken out of the classroom to pay for this election. MIDLAND, Mich. - Intermediate school districts in Michigan have increased staff and payroll significantly in the last decade, numbers that cant be explained by larger student enrollment or transfer of duties from local public school districts, according to two analyses reported in Michigan Capitol Confidential. The analyses were done by Michael Van Beek, education policy director at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. The Mackinac Center publishes Michigan Education Digest and Michigan Capitol Confidential. Van Beek said that personnel data collected by the Center for Educational Performance and Information shows that the number of intermediate staffers increased by 35 percent from 1996 to 2002, while student enrollment rose by 3 percent. From 2003 to 2006 and again from 2007 to 2010, intermediate staffing rose by 9 percent, while enrollment fell by 1 percent and 5 percent, respectively. Those numbers take into consideration state-level changes in the ways employees are counted, a concern raised by a reader, according to the second analysis.

josber

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 9:12 a.m.

Communicating about accountability about the quality and need of special education services is a great way for the district to convince people who don't have direct contact with special needs and schools to understand why they should continue to pay for these costs. The need for special education services continues to escalate,and the dump on the school system ( and localaities)to manage and to assume the large costs of this is real by the legislators, swayed by the lobbyests. Let's have transparency by the districts and increased reporting of this by the media.

AAW

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 9:11 a.m.

huronbob~~~~ You are right on. It is easy for someone who doesn't have or know of a special education student to say no to this renewal millage. It is easy to say take from the unions. If every person could come and spend a day visiting a special ed classroom at High Point or any other classroom for special education and see what I do every school day you would gladly say yes. This is not an easy job but one that I love. I hear from people weekly after hearing what kind of job I have that they "could not do it, it takes a special person to work that kind of job". That may be true but daily these classroom teachers and staff spend their own money to support these students. It is a choice please say yes on this renewal.

Martin Church

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 9:05 a.m.

This may be a renewal, but we also need to look at the results and determine what we as a community want. for instance has the goals of special education been meet by this current funding. Has the students been properly placed in this group or are they a way for districts to receive extra funds because a student has been placed in this group. One goal we had was to main stream as many students as possible. Completeing this means school districts should see less need for special eduction. I am not convinced of the need or goals meet by the WISD. if the purpose of this is only to allow school districts to receive more money from the tax payers then I will vote against it. If the purpose is to support a real need then I want to see the goals and I expect the reporters to investigate what is the truth of the funding goals. Stop using little timothy with the bad leg at christmas time to tell me we have a need. I want facts not heart break stories. Till then I am leaning toward not approving a tax renewal.

bruno_uno

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 8:56 a.m.

huron bob, stop putting the union first and think of the children..this is same old same old, union propaganda on how difficult this is for the children without the extra millage. how about cutting some of the union salaries, making teachers pay into more benefits, then that would provide more pie from the general fund to support this essential service.

Macabre Sunset

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 8:54 a.m.

A renewal is still a tax increase. When the original tax increase was passed, it had a time limit and that was how it was presented to the voters. That time limit has been reached. After that, it's a new tax. When the state reforms teacher pensions and benefits to match the private sector, I will consider voting for another millage. Until then, not a chance in the world.

josber

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 8:53 a.m.

I too think that taxes are high, too high, especially in Ann Arbor. I get very angry at the waste the Ann Arbor city engages in, and don't think their cost cutting efforts are smart. But this millage renewal is for our most vulnerable citizen, costs that don't go away if the millage isn't renewed, it will directly cut into the money going into general ed kids. Think about what cutting 20 million more from Ann Arbor's budget will probably mean. Even with concessions from the union, (and that might make people think things are fairer), but it's doubtful that all 20 million will come from a union concessions, that's a lot of money. It'll come from direct services to kids, upkeep to buildings, programs, busing, etc... Remember, if the districts gets sued, and parents of needy children are people to be reckoned with, it'll cost even more.

AlphaAlpha

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 8:52 a.m.

Mr. Feldscher - Will you please elaborate: how efficiently this education money spent? Special Education services are important; many people would quite justifiably like to know how efficiently their tax dollars are being spent. Thank you.

1bigbud

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 8:47 a.m.

http://www.annarbor.com/news/thurston-elementary-school-receives-federal-funding-to-improve-walking-and-biking-experience/ Get the money from here Same pot Just a differant spout

ribs1

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 8:36 a.m.

People do understand that this is a renewal. We don't want to pay it anyway. Taxes here are high enough already.

josber

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 8:35 a.m.

Supporting all our students is the social contract woven into our society. The school is obligated to pay for these services, and if they don't they can be successfully sued, costing the district money. A big pressure on the schools is the increasing prevalence of autism. Now, 1 in 110 children have it, 1 in 70 boys do, and it's expected that the rate continues to increase and shortly the numbers will be released that 1 in 54 boys will have it. The insurance mandate failed to make it out of Senate committee earlier this month. That is unfortunate, as it was expected to have passed had the full Senate had an opportunity to vote on it. Had it passed, it would have offered significant financial relief to local school districts in the state. However, the probusiness lobbies prevailed. They didn't want to pony up the money for the modest increase in insurance rates, so now the schools will have to pay much, much more for kids who would have been in whole lot better shape had they received or are receiving appropriate services. Basically, business managed to talk the legislators into passing the buck of the costs of educating these kids to the schools and to the local communities. Nice. If these kids, and other children with special needs don't get their education, they cost society a whole lot more down the road.

DonBee

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 8:34 a.m.

This morning there was a story on NPR (WUOM) that talked about the falling wages in Michigan. Another talking about closing the $1,600,000,000.00 budget gap at the state level. With some of the dumb things that the various districts have done (e.g. the bad choices for administrators in some districts and the massive pay raises in others for open positions) it will be very difficult to campaign for this money. Public Relations and Community Communications will be critical to get this millage passed. Given the track record of some school boards on communications, I think this one is an uphill fight. Putting the election in May means that many voters will not bother to go to the polls. I don't know if that will help or hurt. I suspect that the school districts will encourage and assist every employee to vote. The question is will there be enough employee votes to swing this election?

bs

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 8:33 a.m.

I would suggest that those who are about to post some knee jerk, "no new taxes", "education sucks" type of response spend about 1 hour in a special education classroom, evaluate the amount of mandated services (for kids who have tremendous needs), watch a teacher try and manage 10 very disabled students at a time, and THEN post their comment about this millage. Because, until you've done that, your opinion is really pretty worthless.

babmay11

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 8:28 a.m.

The comments already show that people do not understand that this is a RENEWAL, not new taxes. It is simply keeping the same level of funding that we have right now. Actually, the tax level will decrease even if this millage is renewed at the same rate, because of the property value declines in the past several years. If this just is renewed, the district is going to lose a couple of million dollars already, but the ISD wanted to be sensitive to not raising tax rates. Special education services are mandated by state, but mostly by federal law. If the millage doesn't pass, the services still have to be provided, and the money will come out of the general education fund. If you don't renew, you will cost the districts a huge amount of money, so large further cuts will have to be made and the quality of everyone's education will suffer. I hope people think about the damage already caused and that they will do the right thing and renew this millage. You can watch your property values decline even further by hurting our educational system even more. Hopefully people will see the value in keeping our community's school excellent. Please look at actual facts before making a decision.

cinnabar7071

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 8:28 a.m.

"Ann Arbor's Thurston Elementary School receives federal funding to improve walking, biking routes" The Gov't is like a big game of three card monte. We need money, we need money, oh don't look over there, never mind those walking and bike path being put in, we need money!

mmppcc

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 8:22 a.m.

A millage renewel is an automatic yes, period. It's not an increase; we're already paying it. It amazes me how people from an area in which their existance depends on handouts from taxpayers to support education, would vote against supporting education.

bruno_uno

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 8:20 a.m.

This can and should be from the general fund....the union has to cut their own fat and stop putting the burden on addtional public funding. the special education funding should be allocated as part of the general fund, start managing your budget with the times unions like the rest of society.

cinnabar7071

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 8:18 a.m.

Gov't doesn't work I'm paying taxes towards the school system now yet have to pay for private school so my kid can get a good education. So no more money from me until you can get it right.

sbbuilder

Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 7:36 a.m.

Some amount of funding for special ed is needed, just not this much. The whole concept of special ed on a state-wide level needs to be reevaluated.