Ypsilanti Voters: Vote Yes Tuesday May 2nd, 2017

Did you know there was an election coming up this Tuesday, May 2nd? Well, there is. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Both Ann Arbor schools and Ypsilanti schools have proposals on the ballot. [So if you live in the school district, you need to vote. It's not about whether you live in the city.]

Find your polling place here.

If you are a voter living within the light purple boundaries, you need to vote!

Key Facts About the Ypsilanti Community Schools Proposal

1. Ypsilanti's proposal is really pretty simple. It is a renewal of a millage. It is basic maintenance of the status quo.

2. IF THE MILLAGE DOES NOT PASS, YCS will lose $2,370 per pupil each year.

3. 100% principal residential dwellings are not affected. This is a millage on what are called non-homestead uses. Non-homestead=industrial, business, second homes.

So please--vote yes.

This proposal will allow the school district to continue to levy the statutory rate of not to exceed 18 mills on all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance.  The remaining .5 mill is only available to be levied to restore millage lost as a result of a reduction required by the “Headlee” amendment to the Michigan Constitution of 1963, and will only be levied to the extent necessary to restore that reduction. 

Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Ypsilanti Community Schools, Washtenaw County, Michigan, be renewed by 18 mills ($18.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) and also be increased by .5 mill ($0.50 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation), for a period of 5 years, 2018 to 2022, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and 18 mills are levied in 2018 is approximately $25,816,000 (18 mills of the above is a renewal of millage that will expire with the 2017 levy and .5 mill is an increase in millage which will only be levied to the extent necessary to restore millage lost as a result of a reduction required by the Michigan Constitution of 1963)?

VOTE YES! PLEASE! 

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Upcoming Meetings About the AAPS Bond (May 5, 2015 Election)

There are two items on the May election that concern the schools. One is a local Ann Arbor school bond proposal (this is essentially a renewal). The other is Proposal 1, which is a statewide initiative that involves both schools and roads. I'm supporting both of them.

There are some upcoming meetings about the local school bond proposal. If you have questions, this is a good way to learn more.

Five Community Meetings On the May 5 Bond Proposal 

Ann Arbor Public Schools Superintendent Jeanice Swift will host five community meetings this month to share information about the bond proposal appearing on the May 5 ballot.  

Each community meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the following locations:

• Tuesday, April 14,  Slauson Middle School, Media Center

• Thursday, April 16, Tappan Middle School, Media Center

• Tuesday, April 21, Scarlett Middle School, Media Center

• Thursday, April 23,  Clague Middle School, Media Center

• Thursday, April 30, Forsythe Middle School, Media Center

Superintendent Swift encourages all citizens to attend and learn more about the proposal and have the opportunity to ask questions. 

The bond proposal would raise $33 million for capital improvements across the district’s 32 buildings, while keeping the millage rate at or below the current 2.45 mills for taxpayers.  Improvements in the plan include security upgrades at school entrances, new musical instruments, the replacement of more than 100 buses over five years, and new furniture and other upgrades in classrooms across the district.
More information on the bond proposal is available at: 

http://news.a2schools.org/community-bond-meetings-begin-next-week/And
http://news.a2schools.org/aaps-millage-request-may-5-2015/

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The Education Bills Are Still in Committee: Keep the Pressure On!

Yes, there are the Right to Work protests tomorrow, Tuesday 12/11/12.  But meanwhile, from Steve Norton of Michigan Parents for Schools:

"There is a House Education meeting TOMORROW [Tuesday 12/11/12] at 8:15 a.m., in the House Appropriations room in the Capitol building, where HB 6004 is on the agenda, and another meeting at the normal time and place (9:15am in the HOB) for Wednesday [12/12/12], with the same two bills on the agenda." (I'm not sure if you can watch on Michigan House TV or not, but here is the link.)

If you are going to the RTW protests, think about going FIRST to the House Appropriations Room, and then to the protests outside. Assuming you can get into the Capitol.

Meanwhile, for the rest of you--please email the entire House Education Committee. Thank those who are opposing these bills currently, and ask the rest to join them. I have some links with talking points, and below that, the email addresses.

Links with talking points: 

Novi Superintendent's message: Is there a campaign to discredit public education?

Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood's (D-Taylor) message: Education Authority legislation spells trouble for school districts

Ann Arbor School Board Resolution

Michigan Parents for Schools: Destroy public ed as we know it?

Here is the information from the policy brief of the Michigan Association of School Administrators--this is a nice succinct summary of the issues

And last, but not least, there is a new group, Michigan for Quality Schools, opposing these education bills, and they can be found at the web site miqualityschools.net. Their slogan? Stop Experimenting With Our Children: Proven Education Reforms Only! Now that's a slogan I can get behind.

Here are the email addresses of the House Education Committee:

LisaLyons@house.mi.gov,  ThomasHooker@house.mi.gov,  HughCrawford@house.mi.gov,  TomMcMillin@house.mi.gov,  RayFranz@house.mi.gov,  KurtHeise@house.mi.gov,  AricNesbitt@house.mi.gov,  MargaretOBrien@house.mi.gov,  AmandaPrice@house.mi.gov,  DebShaughnessy@house.mi.gov,  KenYonker@house.mi.gov,  JonBumstead@house.mi.gov,  lisabrown@house.mi.gov,  georgetdarany@house.mi.gov,  lisahowze@house.mi.gov,  rudyhobbs@house.mi.gov,  davidrutledge@house.mi.gov,  thomasstallworth@house.mi.gov,  douglasgeiss@house.mi.gov

Election Results

I think the last two days have been my biggest blog visit days ever! Thanks everyone for the linking and sharing, and most especially, for taking the election seriously.

Get election results for Ann Arbor school board here. (Thanks Jill for the h/t.)
Update: Congratulations Andy Thomas and Simone Lightfoot! Thanks everyone else for running.

LINCOLN CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS BOARD MEMBER
MANCHESTER COMMUNITY SCHOOLS BOARD MEMBERMILAN AREA SCHOOLS BOARD MEMBER - FULL TERM
MILAN AREA SCHOOLS BOARD MEMBER - PARTIAL TERM
NORTHVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD MEMBER (Partial Results)
PLYMOUTH-CANTON COMMUNITY SCHOOLS BOARD MEMBER (Partial Results)
SALINE AREA SCHOOLS BOARD MEMBER
Update: Congratulations David Holden and David Zimmer (I think)--Patti Tanner is less than 30 votes behind so this might not be final. 

VAN BUREN PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD MEMBER (Partial Results)
WILLOW RUN COMMUNITY SCHOOLS BOARD MEMBER - FULL TERM
WILLOW RUN COMMUNITY SCHOOLS BOARD MEMBER - PARTIAL TERM

YPSILANTI PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD MEMBER
Update: Congratulations Andy Fanta and Linda Snedecar-Horne! Thanks Eric Temple for running.

and

NAPOLEON COMMUNITY SCHOOLS BONDING PROPOSAL (Partial Results)
NORTHVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OPERATING MILLAGE RENEWAL (Partial Results)
VAN BUREN PUBLIC SCHOOLS OPERATING MILLAGE RENEWAL (Partial Results)

All other county results can be found here.

If you want to follow the Paul Scott recall in Genesee County (he is a Republican state representative who was targeted for recall because of his support of Rick Snyder's education reforms), you can find that information here. (Scroll down to State Rep Recall, 51st District.)
Update, Wednesday morning: Paul Scott is recalled!


And! Traverse City votes to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation!