The Board's web site has a FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) section. Here are some of their questions (as of 9/5/04), along with some of their answers, and questions their answers bring to mind.

1. How was the plan developed?

Widespread input was sought from the community, parents, staff and students through a series of well-attended community dialogues and surveys.

If so, why are so many citizens now wondering how the District could have settled on the proposed site for the high school without any traffic studies, environmental studies, and ignoring the demographic needs of the areas of growth in Ann Arbor.

3. How does this plan differ from the one proposed in June 2002?

• In 2002 a bond proposal to expand Huron and Pioneer high schools to address overcrowding was defeated. In response, administration developed the June 14, 2004 bond proposal which includes construction of a third comprehensive high school as well as renovations to every building in the district.

• The process to form the June 2004 proposal included wide spread community and staff involvement through public forums. The final plan was developed through a consensus building process.

Consensus seems to have been built without any of the necessary investigation being done. The location was decided upon nearly completely because the AAPS already owned the land. Only now, are traffic studies and detailed environmental studies being undertaken.

• A thorough review of financial projections persuaded the Board of Education and administrators that operating a third high school is financially feasible.

The bond will pay for the construction of the school. Operation and maintenance expenses are based on uncertain projections of student population increase and the hope of "attracting" new students to the school. There was/is no discussion of the cost to taxpayers of drastic road changes, expansions, etc. which will be necessary to mitigate the paln to make an already bad traffic situation a terrible one.

7. Why is building a third comprehensive high school a better choice than expanding Pioneer and Huron?

Voters in the 2002 bond election clearly voiced their opposition to expanding Huron and Pioneer. In addition, large high schools diminish the ability of staff to effectively serve all students. The Board has concluded based on research which has shown that both instructional and extracurricular programs are adversely impacted in large high schools.

If the Board argues that large high schools are such a bad idea, then why is it insitent on building another large school now? See more about large schools.

9. Where will the new high school be located?

The district is recommending land that it currently owns at Maple / M-14 as the site for the new high school. This site was chosen primarily because the district already owns it and it meets key criteria. The site has been thoroughly evaluated by experts including architects, engineers and construction professionals. Their consensus is that this location meets all major criteria, including:  educational programming, aesthetics, safety, air quality, noise, traffic, water, sewer, storm water, utilities, zoning and annexation. Site feasibility studies assure this project can be effectively and safely sited here within the bond and operating budget. In addition, the City of Ann Arbor's master plan has long recommended that the site be used for a high school.

• The site is already owned. Rather than looking seriously at alternatives that might be better, the plan for one large high school on that site was rushed through. The ballot never mentioned the site.
• The site was not thoroughly evaluated by experts before the plan and ballot wording were developed. Studies worthy of consideration are only now being performed. It is in no way certain that the "project can be effectively and safely sited here".
• Finally, though it has long been assumed that the site would be used for a high school, the area around the site has evolved dramatically in the nearly 4 decades since it was purchased. It cannot support the traffic being proposed.

10. Will road improvements be needed?  If so, where will the funding come from?

Normal road improvements such as acceleration, deceleration, and left turn lanes on Maple Road are envisioned. These improvements are funded within the bond proposal.

Some of the "normal" road improvement may be funded within the bond proposal. However, the District and its planners have already talked about major widening of Maple Road (up to 4 lanes in spots), several traffic lights along it north of Miller, and since the traffic considerations are pointing to impact on the entire area's roads, it is clear that much of the cost of any needed changes will be borne by the tax payers of Ann Arbor.

11. Some residents have recommended a location in Pittsfield Township for the new high school. Was it considered?

Yes, the Pittsfield Township site met many of the criteria, but its major drawback is that the district does not own it. Pittsfield Township has not planned for the site to be a high school. The site has water and sewer in the proximity, but it is not included in the Township's sewer district. Therefore, this would require additional connection costs.

• The fact that the site does not already own the Pittsfield Township site is a non-issue. Surely, the land could be acquired if this were a better alternative.
• What, in fact, are the connection costs? If the connection costs for the Pittsfield site are the only reasonable drawback, we hope the District and the Board reconsider it. Why not consider several alternative sites and alternative plans?

12. What will be done to protect the wetlands that adjoin the proposed new high school location?

The major wetlands on the site will be protected. In addition to having two wetlands studies conducted, we have walked the site with representatives of the City to get a close-up look at the wetlands and the area's other natural features. It's important to note that less than 65 percent of the total site will be used for building purposes. The district plans to leave the remaining acreage accessible to the community. The likelihood of selling any of the land is limited because of wetlands and other natural features.

Only the most preliminary and tentaive studies have been done. See it here.

13. Won't all the new building projects in the bond create more storm water problems for the Huron River Watershed?

While building in and of itself does impact the water quality, the district is committed to safe and effective storm water management. Our program will address the storm water management techniques of the past including slowing and filtering storm water before it reaches the river.

How? When will we see plans for this? Why weren't plans for these drawn up and shared before the plan and the ballot?

14. What will be done to prevent traffic problems at or near the new high school?

The safety of drivers, passengers and pedestrians - along with other traffic issues - have been discussed with experts from the City of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, and an independent traffic engineer. All of them agree that the Maple / Mi-14 site will be workable and safe from a traffic standpoint. Improvements to the road are planned.

• There is no plan for the massive changes the roads in the area will have to undergo that has been shown . Not all experts agree that that the site will be workable and safe.
• What are the "improvements" to the roads?
• Who will pay for the "improvements" to the roads?

15. How will the addition of the new high school affect the average class size?

Planning for the new high school anticipates that class sizes do not exceed current levels.

Does this mean we are planning to expand the status quo rather than improve it?

17. When will drawings or models of the proposed new high school be made public?

Drawings, models and final plans will be developed after the bond is approved.

57. If I have questions not covered in this website, where can I get additional information?

Contact the District's communication department director, Liz Margolis at 734/994-2236 or email at margolis@aaps.k12.mi.us.

We urge you to contact Liz Margolis as the Board recommends, and also the AAPS, the Board, the City of Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor Township, your representative about your concerns.

---