Ann Arbor school district budget largely depends on outcome of negotiations with teachers union

What savings that agreement could generate for the district’s 2010-11 budget is just one of several variables still in play as the school board moves closer to a vote on its $183 million budget. That vote is expected next month.

Superintendent Todd Roberts discusses the projected layoffs at an earlier school board meeting.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Other unknowns include the number of teachers and other staff members who will retire this year and the amount of state aid the district will receive.

The proposed budget crafted by the school district’s administration is set forth in two parts, depending on those variables.

The district is aiming to cut about $20 million from its budget.

The first part of the plan would cut 82.2 full-time equivalent positions, including 50.7 full-time teaching positions and 9.5 full-time administrator positions. That plan would generate about $16 million in savings.

The second part of the plan largely depends on negotiations with the teachers union, which are ongoing. If the two sides can’t come up with $4 million in savings, another 39 teaching positions and three administrative positions would be eliminated.

Because teaching positions would be eliminated under the plan, the district issued layoff notices to 191 teachers.

How many teachers would actually be laid off depends on the negotiations and also on retirements. A new state law gives school employees until June 11 to file for retirement and receive an incentive for doing so.

Superintendent Todd Roberts told the board the district has seen a steady trickle of employees expressing interest in retiring since the new law passed. He said the pace picked up a bit on Wednesday, and he expects more following the holiday weekend.

Teachers union President Brit Satchwell listens during a recent meeting.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

That same state law allows the district to issue about 30 special exemptions to employees who file for retirement by June 11 to qualify for the incentive, but don't leave the district until the end of the next school year.

Roberts told the board no exemption would be offered to anyone filling a position targeted for elimination under the budget proposal.

Still, the district’s next steps in the budget process largely rest on the negotiations with the teachers union.

“We’re putting our best people at the table and coming up with good ideas,” Satchwell said. “I remain committed to making sure that all of those teachers (who got layoff notices) are recalled by the start of next (school) year.”

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