Ann Arbor Schools board to vote Monday on how to cut $20M deficit

A vote is expected next week on cutbacks and layoffs to cut a $20 million deficit, down from a previous figure of $25 million, in the next school budget, the Ann Arbor schools board of education said Wednesday night.

The Ann Arbor Public Schools board voted 6-1 to postpone a decision on a budget plan by Superintendent Jazz Parks during a sometimes emotional meeting at Pioneer High School. The board said it would vote at 7 p.m. Monday at a special meeting.

The superintendent's plan included ideas to slash a $20 million deficit triggered by fewer students, excessive staff and operating costs. The district has a $315 million budget.

The district "did not act quickly enough to take action, and so now, some more significant action is necessary," Parks said.

The superintendent said $20.4 million was recommended to be cut.

"... It is not the $25 million target that was set for us," Parks said. "However, we do plan to stop here. We felt that going any deeper than this at this time, we would begin to strip away at what makes Ann Arbor Public Schools."

The district has said it projects a loss of 105 students a year through 2028. The district currently has 16,838 students. It is expected to run a $2.7 million deficit by 2028 in enrollment losses alone.

The superintendent said the district could cut costs by closing middle school pools and eliminating world language courses at the elementary level, making the elective available only at the district's International Baccalaureate elementary schools. The plan also includes cutting band and orchestra courses that fell below maximum class limits of 100 students at middle and high schools.

Selling the district's Balas Administration Building, layoffs and a voluntary severance agreement also are suggested, according to Parks.

"We have shared with the Board of Education and the community that we are looking into the sale of the Balas Administration Building, although that is a one-time and not a recurring cost, we will still be able to add it as some revenue."

In April, the school board authorized layoffs for nearly all employee groups for the 2024-25 school year to address the budget shortfall.

Some of the district's staff during public comments wondered how such a large deficit emerged.

"Why do we ... have to pay for your negligence and your misappropriation of funds?" one teacher said.