Why is AAPS in such distress and not neighboring schools?  

A: We have more staff than neighboring school districts and we have lost more total students than neighboring schools causing the district, in recent years, to use its fund balance to cover its expenses. This caused the fund balance to be lower as a percent of expenses than neighboring districts.

Why was the only 2-year plan 12.5 each year? There are other ways to split up 25M. 15-10 for example. This would allow more time to test the assumptions made.

A: We showed a variety of scenarios, from using attrition to reviewing a mix of multiple year options. The one that provides the best financial results is to make the cuts in one year. To spread this out over more years leaves the district in turmoil for a longer period of time and requires more total cuts to get the same results.  

When will your “comprehensive plan” be available? And will you take feedback on that plan once you provide it?

A: The comprehensive plan is being developed over the course of the next several weeks. The recommendations will be submitted to the Board of Education.

Describing the deficit as being caused by three factors, more hiring, fewer students and inflation. Was the 14 million dollar error not a factor?

A: The $14 million dollar budget issue gave the impression that the school district was in a much better financial position than it actually was, but the budget is a spending plan and it is not actual revenues or actual expenditures. The financial distress is caused by the three factors (increase in staff, decrease in enrollment, higher operating costs) and not the $14 million budget issue that was already corrected in the March budget amendment.

How much money is spent on substitutes?

A: In recent years we have spent approximately $8 million annually.

Can you release the operating budget beyond a high-level executive summary? If not, why not? Currently, there is a large gap in knowledge between what central office knows and what the community knows.

A: The budget consists of about 20,000 line items. All school districts follow the Michigan Department of Education 1022 Manual on how to account and present information so it is consistent across public school districts in the state. The district's transparency page is available here: https://www.a2schools.org/Page/17061

The district’s reaction reads as complete surprise at the shortfall. But when was the last time the AAPS was within 5% of the statewide amount? If greater than a year ago, why wasn’t the district looking into the shortfall and communicating it out sooner?

A: Last year (2022-23) the school district ended with a 4.06 percent fund balance, this was the first time we finished below the required five percent.  The 2022-23 audit was presented in November 2023.

What tangible steps have been taken to ensure future accounting errors don't take place?

A: We're implementing new procedures and updating our internal controls in order to make sure this does not happen again. This includes updating our transparency protocols. We have also hired Plante Moran to conduct an independent third party review of what occurred and review our estimates for the 2024-25 and 25-26 budget.

Is the plan submitted to the state on Monday available to the community so that we can better understand your direction and thinking?

A: Yes it is here: https://www.a2schools.org/Page/20103

The projection of cutting 25 million to get to a fund balance greater than 10/11% seems irresponsible given that this money should be going to the schools, not sitting in an account. 7-8% is understandable, more seems like hoarding.

A: The latest audited figures which is for the 2022-23 fiscal year the average fund balance for MI school districts is 23.27%.  

Will the district continue to add child care programs at schools that don’t currently have them? 

A: Yes. We understand that child care is important for working families, and are committed to opening child care at all elementary and K8 buildings. Currently Rec & Ed provides care for 9 school communities. They will open after care programs at four more buildings in the fall, and may be able to serve the remaining buildings during the 24-25 school year. 

Can reinstating more child care programs be a source of income for the school district? 

A: Rec & Ed’s Before/After Care program is self-funded through fees; it has operated independently from the General Fund for decades. Rental fees for 3rd party providers are not a significant source of revenue for the General Fund. 

How has availability or lack of availability of child care impacted enrollment? 

A: The Office of Student Accounting and Enrollment analyzed enrollment trends at all elementary and K8 buildings since 2019. Enrollment trends did not align with the absence or presence of a child care program (either Rec & Ed or an outside provider). 

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Why was decision made to accept 100 fewer SOC students in 2022 and 2023?

A: As the District returned to in person learning post COVID, the District anticipated an increased need for focused attention and support for currently enrolled students and made the decision to reduce the enrollment for Schools of Choice.  

What specific steps are being taken to ensure that any teacher layoffs don't have a negative impact on enrollment in our schools?

A: We will remain within our established classroom limits. The goal is to build efficiencies for classrooms that are significantly below established limits.

How are you going to cut the budget in a way that doesn't further drive students into private schools?

A: Through budget analysis and carefully considered efficiencies, the AAPS will remain an exceptional school district. Our climbing graduation rates, now over 90%, exceptional teaching staff, fine arts, athletics, extracurriculars, community supports, and so much more, will continue to be hallmarks of what makes the AAPS an extraordinary place to grow and learn.  

Where did the students go who left the district in the past 4 years?

A: While improvements must be made to the exit survey process, an annual analysis of enrollment data includes the capture of all students entering and leaving the district coming from or exiting to parochial schools, charters, out of county, and out of state movement.  Those data can found in our annual enrollment report HERE. 

What % of our student population comes from outside Ann Arbor?

A: About 10% of AAPS enrollment comes from school of choice students and non-resident students of district employees.

How are projections determined?

They are based on factors including In-district transfer applications, Schools of Choice applications, Student matriculation, and New developments throughout the district 

Are there ways we get more precise projections? 

•Confirmation of enrollment through Powerschool and individual family phone calls

•Pre-enrollment via Infosnap

•Steadfast deadlines for capturing full enrollment for In-District Transfer and Schools of Choice

•Student records requests to ensure enrollment confirmation

•Property development research

•Improve process for exit survey

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What buildings are being considered for sale?

A: AAPS is looking to sell the Balas Administration Building. Most of the proceeds from this sale can be deposited into the general fund based on the depreciation of this building. The estimated value of Balas is being assessed. AAPS is making arrangements to move IT to another appropriate area if the building sells.

Will this inhibit building repairs or upgrades?

A: Most renovations come from the Sinking Fund and Bond fund so general fund shortfalls won’t prevent work from taking place.

Our building had new AC installed, along with some other bond work. There have been numerous problems with the systems. I understand the parts are under warranty, but the labor is not. Does the labor for these repairs come out of the general operating budget or the bond fund?

A: Bond project funding includes labor.

Why exactly do we have a plot of unused land right by Clague Middle School and what are you going to do with the land?

A: The land associated with Clague Middle School is being used as part of the bond program plan as the site of a new Logan Elementary School.

Why not also sell earhart, send those funds back to the bond, and save on maintenance and operations for that building?  And administration can work out of school buildings?

A: Eahrhart was purchased with bond dollars and does not impact the general fund budget.

Is it true that you have earmarked $800,000 for renovations  to the new building?

A: The renovation project at Earhart for a school board meeting space has been halted, even though the funding was coming from the bond.

What is the total cost for substitutes? 

Edustaff Sub Expenses for FY23 was $7,595,578, as of 4/26/24 for FY24 is $5,432,579

What reductions have been made in building subs? 

A: As of 4/1/24, Building Subs (Long-term) were reduced by 1 at each building 

Can the subs that have been eliminated get other sub jobs in the district? 

A: Yes, they can select other daily jobs at regular daily rate in AAPS, or they can choose a job offered in another District.

How many retirements do we have?

A: Number of AAEA retirements/resignations/exits over last 4 years* 

• 20/21 - 64 exits (25 retired)

• 21/22 - 175 exits (46 retired)

• 22/23 - 137 exits (26 retired)

• 23/24 - 127 exits (17 retired) as of April 24, 2024

• 24/25 (anticipated after July 1) - 7 exits (2 retirements)

* based on fiscal year of exit date 

What does it mean to reduce staff through attrition?

A: Staff reduction through attrition means that if a position is vacated by a retirement/resignation and deemed unnecessary to fill, that position could be eliminated.

If teachers are laid off, when will their health insurance expire?

A: Health insurance for teachers who are laid off will end on August 31, 2024.

How many teachers will you need to layoff? 

A: We have not yet determined the number of potential layoffs as we are gathering input from staff, students and the community to determine other areas of the budget that may be reduced or eliminated prior to making staffing reductions.

When will we know if we are being laid off? 

A: Our goal is to make staff aware of layoffs as soon as possible.  We have not yet determined a specific date as we are reviewing input and feedback from all stakeholders as we develop our district plan.

For paraprofessionals that are currently in a cohort at EMU through the WISD program, will they lose their funding if they are laid off? In other words, if laid off, will they be kicked out of the program because they are no longer AAPS employees?

A: We have confirmed with the WISD that if a para who is laid off finds a position in another district within Washtenaw county, they would be able to continue the program.

How will evaluations be utilized when making decisions?

A: We have not yet determined the number of potential layoffs as we are gathering input from staff, students and the community to determine other areas of the budget that may be reduced or eliminated prior to making reductions. We will use the Administrative Regulation 4830.R. 01 to determine what teachers will be laid off: first, by effectiveness rating, then discipline, certification, previous experience, and other factors listed in the administrative regulations.

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Is it sustainable to continue to provide the A2Virtual+ Academy?

A:  MCL 388.1621F requires that students in grades 6-12, enrolled in a public school, be allowed to enroll in up to two online courses during an academic term.  By providing these courses within the AAPS, we ensure that the funding remains here in the AAPS to the greatest extent possible. 

What are the costs of NWEA? 

A: NWEA is fully funded by a State grant and fulfills the State requirement to benchmark students in grades K-8 regularly.

Will the District make cuts to Schoology, Dreambox, Lexia and other software?

A: The District is analyzing the usage statistics and impact of all instructional software seeking ways to significantly reduce costs.  

Will the district analyze software and similar subscriptions and make sure we need them/they are useful/being used? 

A: The district technology team is currently reviewing usage and negotiating with vendors to determine software needs for the future and will make adjustments to maximize cost savings and services for students as we move forward. 

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Will the district reduce special education staff?

The district is required to provide programs and services as documented in students’ Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and is required to follow the caseload guidelines outlined in the Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education (MARSE).  We will review caseloads for efficiency and ensure that supports are equitably and appropriately distributed across the district. If there is a reduction in students needing a particular program or service there may be a reduction in staff in that particular area.

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