With poll: Ann Arbor school board to decide schools of choice proposal in two weeks

The goal: Raising a projected $1.1 million in revenue for a district struggling to meet a budget hole that could climb as high as nearly $20 million next year, depending on decisions being made at the state level about per-student funding.

Board members peppered administrators with questions about the schools of choice proposal, but didn't offer any opinion on the plan Wednesday. Board members are scheduled to vote on the proposal at their meeting in two weeks.

Ann Arbor Superintendent Todd Roberts

Also at that meeting, the board is scheduled to hear Roberts’ full plan for the district's budget.

Roberts said he’s bringing the schools of choice part early because administrators would like to open the window for people to apply for the seats as soon as April 1 if the board approves it.

Under the plan, parents throughout Washtenaw County would have 30 days to apply for one of the open seats in the Ann Arbor district. If more people apply than there are seats, the district would award the seats using a lottery system. Students who were accepted would be able to stay in the district until they graduate or transfer out at any point.

Under the state’s funding system, districts receive a flat fee per student. That money makes up the bulk of each district’s revenue. The amount paid varies by district - Ann Arbor gets the most of any county school, at more than $9,000 per student.

Under state law, each student who would transfer to Ann Arbor from another district would bring that district's per-student dollars to Ann Arbor.

Roberts said district administrators projected all the students would come with roughly $7,000 per-student funding. That’s taking the lowest amount paid to local districts and projecting a reduction in state aid to it, Roberts said.

Roberts said the goal is to place the students at schools with space available, and not add any additional staff. Current schools with open seats include be all five middle schools and Abbot, Bryant, Carpenter, Dicken, Eberwhite, Lakewood, Logan, Northside, Pittsfield and Wines elementary schools.

“It’s all revenue generating without the expenses,” he said.

Trustee Randy Friedman asked Roberts whether the move would generate short-term revenue but end up costing the district down the line.

Roberts said demographic projections show the district should have the ability to handle the added number of students as they move through the system in the coming years.

The majority of other Washtenaw County schools offer some form of schools of choice.

David Jesse covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at davidjesse@annarbor.com or at 734-623-2534.