2004-05 News & Events

AAPS Staff Address the Achievement Gap

Glenn Singleton, Gerry Middleton, Deputy Superintendent for Instruction, and Susan Baskett, AAPS Board of Education Trustee, met with students at Pioneer High School during the district-wide professional development symposium on student achievement.

On Tuesday, March 8, 2005, more than 2000 Ann Arbor Public Schools employees participated in a district-wide symposium on Student Achievement, focused on closing the achievement gap. The staff began their morning at Pioneer High School, treated to an abbreviated Jazzistry performance led by Vincent York and his band. Following the performance, Glenn Singleton, a nationally recognized expert on diversity, spoke to the staff regarding his own experiences growing up as a student of color, and the impact it on his education and his life. Singleton encouraged staff to engage in "courageous conversations about race" in the afternoon building-sessions, so that all staff could share, and learn, what their role in student achievement is, and how we can all work to close the gap.

In addition to the morning presentations at Pioneer High School, district members participated in total staff group discussions at the school sites. The feedback from the discussion sessions have been overwhelmingly positive . Staff members have strongly signaled a desire to continue the dialog and for the district to create a plan of action.

An open discussion of how the district can learn from the work of other MSAN districts engaged in "Closing the Achievement Gap" work was the subject of a luncheon meeting attended by Glenn Singleton, Dr. Fornero, board members Kathy Griswold, Susan Bassett, Karen Cross, and Helen Gates-Bryant, along with Gerry Middleton and the Achievement Directors.

The district Food Service Staff and managers met in Balas II for a work session on "Diversity in the Workplace" which was facilitated by Eugene Norris. This was the first time the total food service staff has had the opportunity to dialog together around this topic. The feedback from the 70 staff members in attendance was positive and indicated a desire for future training sessions.

The March 8th facilitators did an outstanding job in their role of guiding the various building level discussions. Buildings are in the process of sending the notes and key points of their discussions to the Office of Professional Growth & Development. A summary of the discussion notes will be compiled and shared district-wide. The facilitators' feedback is being collected in an on-line survey and a group meeting to debrief the process will be held at Huron High School on April 12th.

Plans will be made at that time to determine the process for developing a district action plan incorporating the results of the March 8th staff inputs.

Administrative Changes Announced at Pioneer High School
Henry Caudle appointed to bond/sinking fund office;
Louis Young to serve as interim principal at Pioneer High School

The Ann Arbor Public Schools announces administrative changes effective today, March 3, 2005 at Pioneer High School. Principal Henry Caudle has been appointed to the Ann Arbor Public Schools bond improvement project team. He will serve as Administrator for Pre-K–8 Bond and Sinking Fund Projects. Pioneer Assistant Principal Louis Young will serve as interim principal at Pioneer until a new principal is selected. Superintendent Dr. George V. Fornero announced the administrative changes today.

“The implementation of the $240 million bond and sinking fund improvement projects approved by voters last June is crucial to the future of our school district,” said Fornero. “The first major phase, which includes design of the new high school and the Early Childhood Preschool Center, along with major upgrades to Scarlett Middle School and Haisley, Allen and Thurston Elementary Schools, is well underway. Because we are about to launch the second major phase involving improvements to five more elementary schools and two middle schools, we need to strengthen the bond implementation staff. Mr. Caudle’s background as a teacher and administrator going back more than 30 years, qualifies him to step in and take over the preschool through grade eight segment of the bond project.”

Caudle has served as principal at Pioneer High School since the fall of 2000. Previously he was a teacher and principal in the Davenport Community Schools in Iowa.

Fornero noted that the appointment of Lou Young as interim principal allows a smooth transition in leadership at Pioneer High School. “Lou is a well-respected veteran at Pioneer, so he can step right in without missing a beat. We’re very excited for him and for the students, faculty, parents and staff at Pioneer because we know he’ll do a great job.” Young has spent a total of 33 years at Pioneer, first as a teacher, then since 1989 as assistant principal.

Two ballot questions for improvements to school district facilities were approved by voters in the Ann Arbor Public School District on June 14, 2004. They included a $205,465,000 bond for major projects and a 1.0 mil sinking fund, which is estimated to generate about $35 million over a 5-year period, for smaller projects throughout the district.

Major projects include a new comprehensive 1,600-student high school, remodeling of Pioneer & Huron High Schools to respond to new student capacity and program upgrades, modernization and improvements to all schools K through 12, Early Childhood Development Centers, a new centralized preschool facility, tuition-based pre-school at seven satellite centers, expanded, extended day Kindergarten options and up-to-date technology tools for every student and teacher in every school. The project also will include new bus purchases, musical instrument replacement and extensive upgrades at Scarlett Middle School to create a model, community-centered middle school.

The Ann Arbor Public School District serves the City of Ann Arbor and parts of eight surrounding townships covering 125 square miles. The district has 20 elementary schools, one K-8 open school, five middle schools, two comprehensive high schools, three alternative high schools, one pre-school and one adult education program. As of September 2004, enrollment totaled 16,901 (excluding adult education and a portion of pre-school). The district employs 3,000 full and part-time staff members; approximately 76 percent of the teaching staff hold a master's degree or above.

Media Contact: Liz Nowland-Margolis at Ann Arbor Public Schools, (734) 994-2236.

Community High Orientation & Application Deadlines Changed

Due to the snow day on Tuesday, March 1, the final Community High orientation and application deadline has been changed:

Final Community Orientation Session for Parents and Students
Thursday, March 3
7-8:30 p.m.

Application Due Date
Friday, March 4
4:00 p.m.

The orientation meeting is mandatory for all parents and students. If you have not attended a session yet and plan on filing an application, you must attend this final session.

Ann Arbor College & Career Fair

You may have already had some discussions with your son or daughter about post-high school education and career opportunities. If you haven’t, it’s not too early to begin. To assist you in this task, the Ann Arbor Public Schools have scheduled their 20th annual College & Career Fair at Pioneer High School on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 from 6:00 - 8:00 P.M. It is our goal to offer students the chance to explore both educational and career opportunities to plan for their future. Representatives from colleges all over the nation and businesses from the Ann Arbor area will be present to meet with you, answer your questions and provide you with pertinent literature. The colleges will have tables in the cafeteria, which is located near the clock-tower entrance to Pioneer High School, and the businesses will line the A-wing hallway outside of the cafeteria. This night will provide your family with up-to-date information and enable you to make a person-to-person contact with college and business representatives. We look forward to seeing you there.

College & Career Fair Committee

Ann Arbor Educational Foundation Announces Special Grant

The Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation is offering a special $5,000.00 grant to teachers and other staff members of the Ann Arbor Public Schools for 2004-2005 school year.  Preference will be given to grants that are teacher facilitated, student centered and meet the following criteria:

• Projects that affect a large number of students over an extended period of time. 
• A focus on student achievement and/or enhancement of cultural diversity and cultural appreciation
• Demonstrates extended benefits by expanding teacher expertise, student learning or material acquisition – i.e., equipment, materials, programmatic change.
• Statement of additional financial support if project costs exceed $5,000.00 – i.e. funding from PTSO, PTO, School Improvement Team, district initiatives other funding sources.

Download the application (180kb PDF), fill it out, and return to the AAEF Office by February 1, 2005. The recipient will be notified by February 15, 2005.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Education of the Public Schools of the City of Ann Arbor, County of Washtenaw, Michigan, will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, the 10^th day of November, 2004, at 7:00 p.m., at the Ann Arbor Public Library, 343 S. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor, Michigan, to consider the implementation of the election consolidation law.  The implementation requires a choice between an annual or biennial election cycles and also requires a choice between May or November election dates.

Information regarding election consolidation is on file with the Secretary of the Board of Education at the offices of the Public Schools of the City of Ann Arbor, 2555 S. State Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan for inspection during regular business hours.  Information is also available on the school district’s website at aaps.k12.mi.us from the October 13, 2004 board packet.  At the public hearing, all citizens, taxpayers, and property owners in the Public Schools of the City of Ann Arbor shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard in regard to the implementation of the election consolidation law.

Implementation of the election consolidation law will be the subject of this hearing.

This notice is given by order of the Board of Education of the Public Schools of the City of Ann Arbor, County of Washtenaw, Michigan.

Stone High School is School of Choice for All Washtenaw County Residents, Age 16 to 19

The Ann Arbor Public Schools is proud to announce that Stone High School, beginning its twelfth year meeting the needs of teens experiencing frustration with traditional high school, is now a School of Choice and available to all Washtenaw County residents between the ages of 16 and 19.