Ann Arbor Public Schools Budget Crisis

Photography by Jenille Boston, Nell Boss Photography

Copy quoted from Jazz Parks, Superintendent of Ann Arbor Public Schools, unless otherwise noted

This past November, as part of our regular budget review and audit process, the prior Superintendent made the Board of Education aware of a shortfall in our current school year budget.

The initial review has revealed some significant budget challenges for our district that will require immediate and long-term actions, some of which will be painful. These challenges result from three main historical factors:

Staff has increased by 480 in the last 10 years
Student enrollment has decreased by 1,123 over the last 4 years
Recent agreements with our staff, including raises for employees, approved by our Board of Education resulted in increased staffing costs

The district will need to cut approximately $25 million from the 2024-25 operating budget to comply with state and Board of Education requirements.

AAPS 23-24 General Fund Budget Amendment Revenue Highlights

Adjusted for increase in local tax revenue $6.1M
Eliminated one time state retirement funding from prior year ($14.0M)
Adjusted remaining state revenues to actual enrollment and expected reimbursements ($1.4M)
Increase in federal funding by $2.4M primarily due to carryovers from prior year
Additional Special Education Act 18 funding from WISD $3.4M bringing the districts share of the Countywide Special Education millage to $40M
Overall the district revenues have decreased by ($3.4M)

I am a teacher and parent in the district and I am furious that you continue to use teachers and our “raises” as well as your decision to hire 480 teachers as the public PR reasons for this financial catastrophe. Teacher pay has been frozen for the better part of a decade while district admin pay has continued to rise. For many teachers, their effective pay has decreased with rising healthcare costs. The real reason for this mess is that in the last decade YOU literally made a $14 million dollar accounting error, YOU put far too much faith in our former superintendent, AND you doubled the upper administrative roles. All those who were part of those decisions should RESIGN, and all of your pink slips should start at the TOP. You have truly lost the community’s trust.

- Jessica Rodriguez, AAPS Parent & Educator & Jennifer Oldham AAPS Parent

While it's a data error, not a loss of actual money - it listed money we expected to get, but didn't get - If that $14 Million was not included in the proposed budget, the fund balance would not have looked as promising as it did. We would have been alerted and might have acted earlier.
I can’t explain how this error wasn’t caught. Wishful thinking perhaps? Too trusting?

- BOE Trustee Jeff Gaynor

Central Office Purchase Card Transactions

December 2023

12/28/2023 Biercamp $103.00
12/28/2023 Getaway Tours & Charters $1,840.00
12/28/2023 Panera Bread $121.69
12/28/2023 Olive Garden $666.14
12/28/2023 Union Rec $607.50
12/28/2023 Panera Bread $347.32
12/28/2023 Panera Bread $144.75
12/28/2023 Chelas $908.00
12/28/2023 Chelas $2,038.00
12/28/2023 Anthony's Gourmet Pizza $435.00
12/28/2023 Frasers Pub $276.03

12/28/2023 Panera Bread $95.25
12/28/2023 Tradewinds Island Resort $596.64
12/28/2023 Dimos Deli & Donuts $30.42
12/28/2023 Pistons Sports & Entertainment $640.00
12/28/2023 Panera Bread $873.01
12/28/2023 Panera Bread $2,100.06
12/28/2023 Tradewinds Island Resort $596.64
12/28/2023 Tradewinds Island Resort $994.40
12/28/2023 Panda House $107.05
12/28/2023 Cottage Inn $222.90
12/28/2023 Little Caesars $300.00

Last week, we unveiled a comprehensive budge plan that addresses the district’s financial shortfall and puts the Ann Arbor Public Schools on solid footing. During last night's meeting, a majority of our Board voted to support this plan so we can continue addressing our financial challenges.

The vote, while difficult, will allow us to move forward. While none of the decisions in the plan are desirable, our goal has been to make the necessary changes while minimizing the impact on students.

For the 2024-2025 school year, the elementary world language program will be eliminated.
Most librarians will remain full-time in a single building. In a few cases, librarians will be shared across schools.
Secondary band and orchestra teachers will continue to have the support of a co-teacher; however, co-teacher support will be reduced.
Close middle school pools. Middle school swim programs would be eliminated.

In total, the plan calls for the reduction of 141 AAPS employees, which is six percent of our total workforce.

Timeline for Teacher Staff

May 20, 2024: Final list of reductions given to Human Resources
May 21-24, 2024: Human Resources prepares list of who will be laid off
June 1, 2024- Voluntary Separation Notices Deadline
June 3, 2024: List provided to union (AAEA)
June 4-5, 2024: Impacted staff receive face-to-face notification
June 5, 2024: Notices are e-mailed/mailed to staff from HR

We have voices. Hear us.

Stella Rodriguez, 1st & 2nd grade Ann Arbor Public School teacher and I am not the problem.

Diane Vandorn, Kindergarten Ann Arbor Public School teacher and I am not the problem.

Christine Deucher, I am an Ann Arbor Public School Librarian and I am not the problem.

Kayleigh Robb, 5th & 6th grade Ann Arbor Public School teacher and I am not the problem.

Johnny MacPhail & Luke Jackson, 1st & 2nd grade Ann Arbor Public School teachers and we are not the problem.

Sarah Karis, 1st & 2nd grade Ann Arbor Public School teacher and I am not the problem.

Jamie Martin, 1st & 2nd grade Ann Arbor Public School teacher and I am not the problem.

Jesse Deucher, Physical Education Ann Arbor Public School teacher and I am not the problem.