Economic Development Entities and Public Schools

Thank you to The Ann Arbor Independent and Rep. Jeff Irwin for working to expose the damage being done to public schools across Michigan by so-called “economic development” organizations such as Ann Arbor SPARK.

Before the AAPS superintendent outsources another job to save money, I will expect to hear from her on the subject of these economic development dollars from her district that go to Ann Arbor SPARK. If Dr. Swift believes she can do without the money that each year goes to economic development, she should make that case to the public. As the article pointed out, this money could be used to relieve the pay-to-play financial burden from AAPS parents, for starters.

It’s my belief that public school money ought never to go to anything except public schools. We need to protect our children and the money collected for education from crony capitalism.

Chris Yeager

Ann Arbor