Ann Arbor Public Schools Explained

Ann Arbor Public Schools
Motto:Lead. Care. Inspire.
Streetaddress:2555 S. State Street
Zipcode:48104
Country:United States
Superintendent:Jazz Parks (Interim)[1]
Staff:1,256 (as of 2015-16)[2]
Asst Superintendents:[3]
School Board:8 elected members
Schools:32
Grades:Prekindergarten–12
Enrollment:17,070 (2021–22)
Teachers:1,256.38 (FTE)
Ratio:13.59
Budget:$299,577,000
(2019–20)

Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS) serves the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan and parts of eight surrounding townships covering 125sqmi. The district operates 20 elementary schools, 2 K-8 schools, 6 middle schools, 4 comprehensive high schools, 1 alternative high school, 3 preschools and 1 adult education program; the district maintains 640acres of real estate and 3300000square feet of building space. The Ann Arbor Public Schools is the 8th largest school district among 555 districts in Michigan. The district is one of the best in Michigan, and it has a statewide reputation for academic excellence.[4] [5]

History

The district was founded in 1905 by Geoff McEggson.[6]

In 2013, the voters approved maintaining the 1 mill sinking fund tax.[7] This rate had been levied since 2002.[8]

As of April 2015, the district's overall millage was 2.45 mills. It was scheduled to decrease, but the ballot for the May 5 election included an extension to the millage. District officials stated they would use the millage to pay for transportation and infrastructure upgrades, worth a total of $33 million.[9]

In 2015, Washtenaw County Circuit Judge Carol Kuhnke ruled that the Ann Arbor district can continue banning guns on its campus properties.[10]

In 2019, the district put up an election for a school bond worth $1 billion, the largest amount in the state post-1994 if passed, with the district's tax rate now being 4.1 mills, an increase by 1.65. Voters approved the measure on November 5.[11]

In July of 2023, local media began reporting that a school aide had assaulted a 7-year-old student on an AAPS school bus. The aide was convicted of child abuse, but a lawsuit from the family alleged that the school covered up the abuse.[12] [13] [14] By September, superintendent Jeanice Swift had resigned, and in October interim superintendent Jazz Parks was appointed by the Ann Arbor Board of Education.[15] [16]

Demographics

As of 2015 the district had 16,815 students. As of that year, there are about 64 languages and 85 countries of origin represented in the student body.[6]

Schools

Elementary schools

Middle schools

High schools

Other schools

Awards

Controversies

Despite being ranked as having some of the best schools in America, AAPS has not been without controversy.[19]

Racial hostility civil rights complaint

In 2020, a black student at Pioneer High School filed a complaint with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights alleging racism in Ann Arbor schools.[20] [21] The filing came after an earlier petition from the school's Black Student Union requesting the teacher's dismissal.[22] In October, a local group protested in front of the school demanding action against the teacher. The school system hired its own attorney to perform an independent investigation of the allegations.[23] The next year, a parent filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against AAPS, claiming they withheld documents that would provide evidence of racial discrimination at the high school and uncover the teacher's history of racial antagonism.[24] [25]

Student abuse cover up scandal

In December 2021, an aide on a special needs bus to Carpenter Elementary in Pittsfield assaulted a 7 year old autistic child. In 2023, a lawsuit alleged that AAPS had covered up the incident. By August, there were calls for the school system's superintendent Jeanice Swift to resign.[26] [27] In a special meeting, the Ann Arbor Board of Education voted 4-3 to approve a pre-termination letter. At the same meeting, the school board voted to approve the school system's attorneys entering into negotiations with Swift about a separation agreement.[28] [29] [30] In September, Swift resigned, and in October she was replaced with interim superintendent Jazz Parks.

Gaza ceasefire resolution

On January 18, 2024 Ann Arbor Public Schools approved a resolution that called for a ceasefire in Israel's war on Gaza, while also "encouraging its teacher to discuss the conflict" in classrooms. The approval came after 120 people gave commentary both in support, and opposition, of the resolution.[31]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Slagter . Martin . 2023-10-12 . Longtime administrator appointed as Ann Arbor Public Schools interim superintendent . 2024-01-07 . mlive . en.
  2. Ann Arbor Public Schools Annual Reports to the Board, Staffing Report 2015-1016, by Janice Swift, 28 October 2015, http://www.a2schools.org/domain/2663
  3. Web site: Welcome / Superintendent's Office . 2024-01-07 . www.a2schools.org . en . 2024-01-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20240107233345/https://www.a2schools.org/Page/672.
  4. Web site: See how Washtenaw County schools rank in state's top-to-bottom list. 2017-01-24. mlive. en. 2020-03-15.
  5. Web site: Ann Arbor Public Schools School District in Ann Arbor, MI. GreatSchools . 2024-06-02 . www.greatschools.org.
  6. "Enrolling." Ann Arbor Public Schools. Retrieved on July 6, 2015.
  7. Biolchini, Amy. "Ann Arbor schools millage passes with strong voter support." MLive. November 5, 2013. Retrieved on July 6, 2015.
  8. Biolchini, Amy. "On the ballot: Ann Arbor schools seeks to continue tax for property upkeep." MLive. November 5, 2013. Retrieved on July 6, 2015.
  9. Knake, Lindsay. "If Ann Arbor voters say yes, what will $33M bond issue do for schools?" (Archive). Mlive. April 23, 2015. Retrieved on July 5, 2015.
  10. Higgins, Lori. "Judge rules Ann Arbor school district can ban guns" (Archive). Detroit Free Press. September 23, 2015. Retrieved on October 20, 2015.
  11. Web site: Slagter, Martin. Ann Arbor school district voters OK $1 billion bond, largest in Michigan since 1994. MLive. 2019-11-05. 2020-04-05.
  12. News: Baldas . Tresa . 2023-07-27 . 'Help! Help!': How Ann Arbor schools allegedly covered up autistic boy's bus assault . live . https://archive.today/20230727143440/https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2023/07/27/lawsuit-ann-arbor-schools-covered-up-bus-assault-of-autistic-boy/70410879007/ . 2023-07-27 . 2024-01-07 . Detroit Free Press.
  13. Web site: 2023-08-03 . Letter to the Editor: A Tragedy at Ann Arbor Public Schools, and a Call for Accountability . https://web.archive.org/web/20230923184044/https://www.damnarbor.com/2023/08/letter-to-editor-tragedy-at-ann-arbor.html . 2023-09-23 . 2024-01-07 . Damn Arbor.
  14. News: Slagter . Martin . 2023-07-31 . Autistic boy's assault on Ann Arbor school bus wasn't reported to parent for 5 weeks, lawsuit alleges . https://web.archive.org/web/20231004170743/https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/07/autistic-boys-assault-on-ann-arbor-school-bus-wasnt-reported-to-parent-for-5-weeks-lawsuit-alleges.html . 2023-10-04 . 2024-01-07 . MLive.com.
  15. Web site: Lin . Joey . 2023-09-14 . AAPS superintendent Jeanice Swift resigns after 10 years . 2024-01-07 . The Michigan Daily . en-US.
  16. Web site: 2023-10-12 . Ann Arbor school board unanimously approves new interim superintendent . 2024-01-07 . WEMU-FM . en.
  17. Web site: The 2006 "Best 100 Communities for Music Education" Roster . American Music Conference . 2009-05-09 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070928211046/http://www.amc-music.com/news/articles/survey/final2006.htm . 2007-09-28 .
  18. Web site: ANN ARBOR: Sunshine Review salutes city's informational transparency. Ann Arbor Journal . 2013-05-14 .
  19. Web site: Bruckner . Meredith . 2022-05-04 . Ann Arbor ranked No. 4 city with best public schools in US . 2024-01-07 . WDIV . en.
  20. News: Slagter . Martin . 2020-08-24 . Black student alleges racially hostile environment at Ann Arbor high school in civil rights complaint . https://web.archive.org/web/20220929212211/https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2020/08/black-student-alleges-racially-hostile-environment-at-ann-arbor-high-school-in-civil-rights-complaint.html . 2022-09-29 . 2024-01-07 . MLive.com.
  21. Web site: 2020-08-24 . Civil rights complaint brought against Ann Arbor Pioneer High School . 2024-01-07 . Michigan Radio . en.
  22. News: Slagter . Martin . 2020-02-20 . Students raise issue with Pioneer High School teacher who grabbed student's arm . https://web.archive.org/web/20220624052300/https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2020/02/students-raise-issue-with-pioneer-high-school-teacher-who-grabbed-students-arm.html . 2022-06-24 . 2024-01-07 . MLive.com.
  23. Web site: Yu . Ann . 2020-08-25 . Black Students Matter protest demands action from Pioneer High School . 2024-01-07 . The Michigan Daily . en-US.
  24. Web site: Hodder . Hannah Mackay, Paige . 2021-11-30 . Parent files FOIA lawsuit against Ann Arbor Public Schools, claims racial discrimination . 2024-01-07 . The Michigan Daily . en-US.
  25. Web site: Staff . Ann Arbor Family . 2021-03-19 . Parents Push for Public Release of Pioneer High Racial Climate Investigation - Ann Arbor Family . 2024-01-07 . en-US.
  26. Web site: Parlette . Sarah . 2023-08-10 . Ann Arbor Schools Board of Education moves to oust superintendent . 2024-01-07 . WDIV . en.
  27. Web site: 2023-08-05 . Letter to Dr. Swift . https://web.archive.org/web/20230921223201/https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JhqmumFc6Mm3uZ5ocnY3s0jaG6tEe_fDweUMmbT7ENs/edit . 2023-09-21 . 2024-01-07 . Google Docs.
  28. News: Slagter . Martin . 2023-08-08 . School board approves 2 options toward removing Ann Arbor superintendent . https://web.archive.org/web/20230920202931/https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/08/school-board-approves-2-options-toward-removing-ann-arbor-superintendent.html . 2023-09-20 . 2024-01-07 . MLive.com.
  29. Web site: 2023 . Board of Education/Board Calendar . https://web.archive.org/web/20231201120840/https://www.a2schools.org/Page/576 . 2023-12-01 . 2024-01-07 . Ann Arbor Public Schools.
  30. Web site: BoardDocs® Meeting: 7:00 PM - Special Meeting - Earhart Building, 3700 Earhart Road, Ann Arbor Wed, Aug 30, 2023 . 2024-01-07 . go.boarddocs.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20240107224712/https://go.boarddocs.com/mi/aaps/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=CV5N685E5BBD. 2024-01-07.
  31. Web site: 2024-01-17 . Ann Arbor Public Schools approves Mideast cease-fire resolution that had stoked controversy . 2024-04-26 . AP News . en.

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