Hundreds of residents urge Ann Arbor board to prioritize teacher pay as FY2027 budget looms

At a public hearing on the Ann Arbor Public Schools proposed fiscal 2027 budget, long lines of residents pressed trustees to prioritize teacher pay and greater transparency in district spending.

Speakers included parents, students, and union representatives who said the district's tentative contract offer and multi-year pattern of constrained raises have left teachers falling further behind. "Pay us, please," Carly Bartholomew said, summarizing the emotion in the room as dozens of speakers linked teacher compensation to classroom stability.

Multiple speakers advanced the same lines of concern. Aaron Wolf, a parent, said he found it hard to reconcile rising revenue with stagnant teacher compensation and asked the district to publish line-item spending so the public can see where non-classroom funds have grown. Angela Gilardi Prince, a finance professional and AAPS parent, told trustees the proposed FY2027 budget projects a $4.3 million deficit and a fund balance below the board's own policy minimum of 9 percent; she proposed forming a citizens' financial advisory committee to improve oversight.

Union leaders framed the debate as a workforce issue. A representative of the classroom educators' association noted the union's recent vote rejecting a tentative agreement: "Our members spoke with one voice," they said, reporting a large majority against the proposal and warning that recruitment and retention will be strained unless the agreement and health-care terms are revisited.

Students and alumni also addressed the board. A number of current and recent students said canceled extracurriculars and reduced teacher-led activities — a consequence they attribute to protracted negotiations — have diminished their educational experience and their confidence in stability at school.

Superintendent Jazz Parks responded to concerns about special education cuts, saying the district "has not cut special education services" and that any future decisions would come to the board so families and staff would be aware.

Why it matters: The public feedback came while staff briefed trustees on a draft FY2027 budget that projects shrinking reserves and continued spending growth in purchased services and supplies. Community members repeatedly linked fiscal choices to classroom outcomes and urged the board to consider priority-setting that puts teacher compensation first.

What's next: Trustees will continue budget deliberations in the weeks ahead; staff proposed several measures to close gaps including vendor renegotiations, targeted land and building sales, and right-sizing staff in partnership with unions. The board is expected to deliberate and vote on budget items in subsequent meetings.