AAPS Science & Environmental Education Endowment Fund Frequently Asked Questions

Why do these excellent science and Environmental Ed field trip programs need support?
Don’t our school taxes pay for them?

The AAPS has supported these programs for more than 40 years, and will continue to support staff and transportation to the extent they can. However, costs for the field trips will increase, while money budgeted for field trips will decrease. Proposal A limits the amount of operating money the schools receive from the state. State funding depends on the state economy and legislative priorities. Schools cannot issue bonds or millages for operating money, although they can still bond for repairing buildings or building new ones. So all of the AAPS programs now compete within the school budget for shrinking state dollars. In light of these budget realities, school foundations are being started in communities all over the state as a new way to fund programs that are highly valued by their communities.

What is the first goal of this fund?

To replace the science department’s contribution to the field trip bus costs for Environmental Ed and the Planetarium. This year the bus cost will total approximately $52,000; (the science department has paid $13,000, the individual schools contributed a quarter of the total and central administration will cover the remaining half.)

Will this endowment fund be independent of the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation?
How will the fund work? Who will oversee the fund?

Our fund is a designated fund WITHIN the AAACF. The fund is invested with all of the other AAACF funds. Investment decisions are made by the AAACF. After 4 calendar quarters, our fund will receive 5% of the original donation minus an administration fee from AAACF. Each year we can reinvest these earnings, or choose to take a payout.

Who will decide where the money goes?

A seven member advisory committee directs how the yearly payout will be spent, based on our original agreement documents. There will be 1 AAPS central administrator, the AAPS Science coordinator, the AAPS Environmental Ed. consultant, the AAPS Planetarium director, 1 member of the local environmental community and 2 members of the local community. The committee can decide on length of terms.

Will it pay for upkeep and repairs (such as planetarium equipment, etc.)?

This fund is purely supplemental. The school district can use its ability to bond in order to fund physical repairs and equipment. When the fund has sufficient money and if the AAPS doesn’t, the advisory committee can decide to pay for materials, equipment, docent stipends, professional development or staff to benefit the Science and Environmental Education program.