Parents and teachers urge board to rethink Thurston rebuild and rescind health‑care hikes

Dozens of residents and school staff filled the public‑comment period at the Nov. 6 Ann Arbor Public Schools Board of Education meeting to press the board for changes to the Thurston Elementary rebuild plan and to oppose proposed increases to employee health‑care contributions.

Speakers from neighborhood groups, parents and teachers said the district’s current plan would permanently reduce green space at the Thurston Nature Center, bring significant noise and air pollution to students during a multi‑year construction period, and result in smaller, less usable outdoor play areas once the project is complete. “We are asking that you adopt the alternative building timeline for Logan, King and Thurston,” one parent told the board, urging staging at other sites to preserve long‑term green…