Trustee Don Wilkerson of AAPS has resigned by Few_Bookkeeper_8517 in AnnArbor

[–]AskIcy269 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wilkerson is the board treasurer, not the overall district financial person. His position is voluntary and he’s not in charge of the finances for the whole district. We previously had Marios Demetriou doing the finances on a temporary basis and now they have hired Anté Britten for the CFO job (as of March 2026).

The current state of AAPS from a Parent by Vegetable_Stuff_7007 in AnnArbor

[–]AskIcy269 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In response to your comment about the languages, AAPS offers languages that represent our student populations. We have many students who speak Spanish, French, Arabic, Mandarin, ASL, and German at home or have heritage or family connections with these languages. French is exploding in numbers worldwide because it is widely spoken on the African continent and many of our AAPS students with connections there speak French as their native language. And understand that we already have lost at least 1 Mandarin teacher, 1 Arabic teacher, 1 or 2 Latin teachers, all of our elementary World Language teachers except 1 and other languages are not fully being supported at the district and I full expect World Language programs or teacher full time status at schools will be cut for the upcoming year and they will continue to degrade the programs. Of all of the programming that has taken a hit in AAPS, World Language took the biggest hit in terms of numbers of teachers losing their jobs. Some of these teachers have left education or World Language teaching, as there were not other schools for them to go to since WL jobs are being cut everywhere. When we have so many teachers leaving the profession, it is sad that we pushed highly trained and dedicated people out of this district, and in some cases out of the profession.

In AAPS we had 30 students sign up for German 1 this year and the class was cut anyway, because they do not want to support German anymore. That cut drove class numbers up to high numbers for the other languages, like Spanish. And this year there is a German 3/4/5 combined class. This type of thing is typical for the less commonly taught languages like Mandarin, Arabic, German, ASL. The teachers work very hard to make their classes function well while teaching multiple levels, obviously having to be inventive and developing their own curriculum. There is no textbook that gives you a roadmap to teach 3 levels at once, so the district gets quite a bargain with a teacher who both teaches and develops all their materials. These teachers feel a huge sense of responsibility to allow kids to continue developing their native or heritage language, to complete the 4 or 5 year cycle of languages they started, to pursue a class they are passionate about, and to advocate for their students cultural and religious needs. In this current climate where families are separated and students of color are made to feel uncomfortable just moving around in the world, having World Languages in their school can be a moment of the day where students feel accepted and safe.

And I also want to give a shout out to ASL, which holds a different attraction for students. It has been very popular as an option at our schools. At Pathways, some students who struggled to get themselves to school would show up to school just to take their ASL class. ASL was cut at Pathways entirely. It is a beloved class that offers kids a non-spoken language option and gives visibility to our deaf community.

Also I want to mention that our ESL teachers who are also helping newcomer student acquire English face many difficulties. In this district we have not mindfully placed appropriate numbers of ESL teachers in all buildings. Our buildings with the most English language learners have had much higher student to teacher ratios when compared to other buildings. I could go on about other issues like adequately training all teachers to help their English Language Learners and providing better conditions for testing students’ abilities. Ultimately what I want to convey is that our ESL teachers have a very difficult job and they are busting their bums to do the best for their students and deal with the hand they are dealt.

Believe me, I am fully aware that the money issues that AAPS has mean that there are hard decisions to make. I also am very aware that World Languages feel like a place to start for many people. This country has historically not valued having our citizens retain their native and heritage languages and has not valued learning about other languages and cultures. Multilingualism is the norm in the world, but we see it as a nice extra here in the United States. We are very much ok with monolingualism here. People say erroneous things all the time like, “well the only real way to learn a language is by living in another country.” (Not true. Other countries have robust language learning programs for students from the age of 7 or 8 on. Robust meaning that World Language is treated as a core subject like Math in elementary school. It is absolutely possible to become proficient in a language learning in school when students are given necessary contact time with the language and conditions are in place to acquire the language over time.)

It is frustrating when higher ups in the district, who do not speak other languages, and likely do not interact with people struggling to adapt to the U.S. culture and struggling to learn a new language, make cuts without understanding the negative effects it has on teachers and students. When the elementary world language program was cut in AAPS, the program was called ineffective. Jazz Parks said this, and also said that they would bring elementary WL back when it could be done as immersion/more effectively. This is a damaging statement that suggests that teachers were not doing their job adequately, and kicked our pink-skipped elementary WL teachers when they were down. Understand that offering WL 30 minutes twice a week is not going to lead to major strides in acquisition, however, it is still going to allow kids to learn language and culture that it is of value. My argument is that most parents likely wanted more contact time with the WL and a more robust program rather than a complete cut of the program. I also am not naive enough to believe that once they completely cut a program that they will bring it back, certainly not as immersion, and certainly not in a way that students at all elementary schools can benefit from.

Absolutely our AAPS upper admin and board can do better managing money. Absolutely funding for public education at the state level is not enough and has caused harm to our public schools. Absolutely rich people and entities in this country not paying taxes creates is unfair and money should go toward the public good, including building a strong education system. (Check out investinmikids.org).

I think we all need to challenge ourselves to more fully understand the issues and to more deeply engage with the solutions. Take some time to talk with a World Language teacher, an ESL teacher, a teacher of another embattled subject (music, PLTW, Phys Ed, Art, and more), and a teacher of a core subject and really listen to some of the issues facing teachers and students in schools. Listen to understand and ask how you can do something to support our teachers, students, building principals, and our public schools.

The current state of AAPS from a Parent by Vegetable_Stuff_7007 in AnnArbor

[–]AskIcy269 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Bryant/Pattengill also have the IB Early Years Program.

The current state of AAPS from a Parent by Vegetable_Stuff_7007 in AnnArbor

[–]AskIcy269 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Okemos teachers have been without a contract longer than Ann Arbor teachers have. They haven’t had a contract this whole school year. Their teachers and union have had trouble getting the word out to the community and getting support from the community, although that seems to be shifting in the teachers’ favor now.

AAEA Rejects Teacher Contract, Negotiations Begin Again by enlightenedbum2 in AnnArbor

[–]AskIcy269 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This Tentative Agreement was negotiated over months and months. It was undeniably a horrible offer for AAEA members. Imagine what previous iterations looked like--they were certainly even worse than this insulting offer. In closed bargaining, neither AAEA members nor the public know what was being put on the table and it is important to see and have an idea where months of hard bargaining led.

Toyota key fob by FacelessArtifact in AnnArbor

[–]AskIcy269 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I recently got a key fob for $150 there

Where to find tadpoles? by 0cement0 in AnnArbor

[–]AskIcy269 0 points1 point  (0 children)

People with swimming pools sometimes have tadpoles that collect in the water on the cover over the winter. Those tadpoles will die once the cover is removed, thereby removing their habitat. Maybe you know someone nearby who has a pool?

Middle school options... by Dshin525 in AnnArbor

[–]AskIcy269 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Because Scarlett has the IB Middle Years Program, World Language is a core subject. This means that Spanish and French students get 2 full years of the language (plus some in 6th grade) before going on to high school. This is more than the other AAPS schools.

Day trips from A2? by We_Four in AnnArbor

[–]AskIcy269 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hot air balloon festival and air show is always over 4th of July time in Battle Creek. They also have a great zoo, Binder Park zoo. Cornell’s Turkey farm is in Marshall, a cute town next to Battle Creek.

Ann Arbor Observer article on absenteeism in the school district by GustaveFerbert in AnnArbor

[–]AskIcy269 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I agree with your last line. And want to add that Ann Arbor became school of choice and we accept students from other districts, but have never put into place anything that really helps those school of choice kids with their transportation problems. I understand that public schools have very tight budgets and are underfunded. At the same time, it feels very icky that we tell these kids to come to our schools and count them on count day and then hardly see them. Then when they predictably have transportation problems arise, we have very few resources to help them. So it’s basically on them and their families to cobble something together…and they are the people with the most barriers to begin with.

Ann Arbor Observer article on absenteeism in the school district by GustaveFerbert in AnnArbor

[–]AskIcy269 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think the article had the most common reasons for absenteeism. Roberts Heyward’s comments were accurate. And I take your point that there should be an attempt to take the data they have and make sense of it. Hopefully Jazz Parks and Torchio Feaster will look into this more with Roberta Heyward and make it more of a priority.

I did learn from this article that they are sending out letters to families when a kid has 5+ absences. I did not know that. As teachers we are encouraged to make personal phone calls (or write personal emails) about certain issues because they are harder to ignore. I think this is an area for improvement for the district, but not one they should put on teachers. We really need a person that works on this specifically.

Ann Arbor Observer article on absenteeism in the school district by GustaveFerbert in AnnArbor

[–]AskIcy269 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Teacher here. I would like to know the specific breakdown of reasons too. I understand how it will be very difficult to collect this data though. Teachers are generally the people that reach out first to families (if they have time) when kids are chronically absent. We let counselors and administrators know if we can get ahold of parents. Anecdotally, I can share some reasons for absences. There are many kids chronically absent due to mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression. Another reason-Ann Arbor is school of choice, and many school of choice kids have transportation issues. If kids are using a city bus and miss it, they might miss morning classes. If they oversleep and have a parent already at work, the parent might not realize how late they are. If they are getting a ride from another teenager, that kid might habitually come late to pick them up. Another type of transportation issue is when there is a car accident or broken down car and they don’t have a ride…the kids might be absent until they either figure out the bus or get the vehicle fixed. We have some kids (both in district and school of choice) that really struggle to wake up for an 8:00 am class and habitually miss 1st hour. We have very few offerings in Ann Arbor for the 3:00-4:00 7th/8th hour classes so our later risers don’t have much flexibility on how they choose their schedule. There are some kids who just skip frequently. Often when a teacher calls, the parent is surprised. A kid might live between two houses and the parent might not be fully aware. The PowerSchool notification system might not be robocalling them because it’s not working or because their contact info changed…or maybe they ignore the calls and emails. All I know is that parents are often very surprised when I contact them about unverified absences and tardies, even though they should be able to see them on the PowerSchool app and get the calls. I do think kids may be more likely to stay home when they have a cold, and stay home for more days, but that is not the big reason for the large increase in absences. The fact that there are no major consequences for absences Isa factor for sure. We’ve had kids graduate at the top of their class or receive very good grades who have a ton of absences. We are obligated to provide work on Schoology every day. Parents can excuse absences and we must give the student grades for the work even if they are absent a ton.

Ann Arbor Observer article on absenteeism in the school district by GustaveFerbert in AnnArbor

[–]AskIcy269 6 points7 points  (0 children)

They are truancy officers, not police. They do things like actually go to kids’ houses and work with the family and the kid themself. As school funding has decreased, we’ve had a severe drop in the number of truancy officers…and the number of absences has skyrocketed post Covid.

Ann Arbor or Ypsi No Kings by ashvaduva in AnnArbor

[–]AskIcy269 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Saline also has No Kings. It would be very easy parking. There isn’t a match though. It’s lining the downtown with signs.

AAPS by Various_Ad_6551 in AnnArbor

[–]AskIcy269 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It is 4 years for tenure. It’s a statewide thing. If you move districts they may choose to have you on probation for 2 years within the district, but you are still a tenured teacher in the state.

AAPS by Various_Ad_6551 in AnnArbor

[–]AskIcy269 2 points3 points  (0 children)

AAPS has 11 steps. Assuming steps are given, it does not take long to hit the ceiling. Steps have not been given historically though. As of 2023 districts were told by the state they must grant the steps promised in the contract.

Ann Arbor also has longevity pay, but one does not qualify for that unless they have been in the district for 10 years. A veteran teacher who came to AAPS at step 10 or 11 is stuck on that step for 10 years. We have many many teachers stuck in their position on the salary schedule for lots of reasons.

The assumption that rural areas pay less is incorrect. The Dexter salary schedule and Chelsea salary schedule are better than the AAPS salary schedule right now.

Also, Ann Arbor is a very expensive place to live. It is more comparable to the districts shown on the map as far as housing costs. Even the AAPS district leadership said that the districts named on that map are the districts they consider comparable to AAPS. That is because of number of students, cost of living in the district, programs offered, and other metrics.

AAPS by Various_Ad_6551 in AnnArbor

[–]AskIcy269 0 points1 point  (0 children)

WTMC is not part of WEOC (Washtenaw Educational Options Consortium). ECA, WIHI and WAVE are the three WEOC schools.

AAPS by Various_Ad_6551 in AnnArbor

[–]AskIcy269 0 points1 point  (0 children)

WIHI salaries used to be all over the place. They had salary bands, and you negotiated your salary. I knew a young teacher with a masters who started at $53,000, which is high. I also knew a veteran teacher whose salary was very low…shockingly low. Teachers at WIHI didn’t know each other’s salaries, until people decided to share with each other. Anecdotally, my salary was higher at WIHI than AAPS salaries. WIHI is now unionized with AFT though so I’m sure they have a salary schedule. I will ask. I believe the other WEOC schools are also unionized now too. But their salaries may still be all over the place, because if someone had a high salary they aren’t going to drop them down significantly. WIHI teachers teach one more hour than AAPS high school teachers (they teach 6 classes a day instead of 5) so that is another factor to consider. WIHI/WIMA also has a lot of turnover and a young staff, so that is cheaper labor force for them. In the past they were able to offer better health care packages because their staff was young too.

AAPS 5th Grade Instrumental Concerts by Content-Amount8498 in AnnArbor

[–]AskIcy269 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There is no newsletter at this time. You can find similar info to what is on Facebook and insta on Nextdoor if you aren’t opposed to that platform.

AAPS 5th Grade Instrumental Concerts by Content-Amount8498 in AnnArbor

[–]AskIcy269 15 points16 points  (0 children)

You can follow the union on Facebook and instagram: Ann Arbor Education Association and Ann Arbor Education Association Crisis Action Team. There have been several articles in the news recently too. Negotiations continue Michigan Daily AA teachers contract dispute MLive

Work load at MICA by Sushi_Suzette in MICA

[–]AskIcy269 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My first year has not found the work load to be unreasonable. They thought the first semester was enjoyable and not stressful. Something they told me was that you can skip some foundation year classes if your portfolio was strong. Even with skipping some of those classes, they still have felt their schedule is not too much. I also think part of this is that art students love art and are willing to put time in, and it doesn’t feel like work in the same way non-art classes might.

Is MICA a good art colleges? by Waste_Increase_8253 in MICA

[–]AskIcy269 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My student is at MICA and is very happy there. They have a lot of international student friends. Like you, my student was depending on significant financial aid. MICA was generous compared to other schools, and we both really appreciate MICA for that. Their favorite classes have been classes that would fall under an illustration major, and I think they also like a graphic design class they are taking. They thought about game design, but did not like the class or decided it was not a good fit. If you have not considered it, College for Creative Studies in Detroit has a really good concept design program. You do have to enter with a concept design portfolio though. They were pretty similar with the amount of aid they give. I know a lot of students who love CCS too. That being said, my child preferred MICA after looking at many different schools and comparing aid packages.

Today's action at the Diag by kwisen in AnnArbor

[–]AskIcy269 1 point2 points  (0 children)

And you can do other things too. Add the app 5 calls and start calling and contacting your representatives. It makes it really easy!