The Ann Arbor School Board will have a new look after next month's election. Ten Candidates are running for four seats on the board. While I will be interviewing all of the candidates, Jack Panitch is the focus of today's report.
The Chair of the PTO Council is seeking a seat on the school board in an effort to support Superintendent Jeanice Swift and create some stability. Jack Panitch says community members are tired of the revolving door at the top of the district and the resulting lack of consistency in educational efforts.
He wants to avoid the old model of proposing major cuts every year to balance the budget. "Place sacred programs or important programs on the cutting block and the community sort of goes after itself. It's an atmosphere that we don't want to see," Panitch says.
Panitch believes the enrollment growth possible from the Whitmore Lake Public Schools annexation proposal can help avoid these types of budget cuts. He says the ballot language makes the plan look unattractive to some, so it's important for supporters to share accurate information to break down misconceptions.
Like 89.1 WEMU on Facebook and follow us on Twitter— Andrew Cluley is the Ann Arbor beat reporter, and anchor for 89.1 WEMU News. Contact him at734.487.3363 or email him acluley@emich.edu.
