The Sierra Club’s Huron Valley Group endorses a YES vote for the Ann Arbor Public Schools’ bond issue, which will be on the ballot on Nov. 5.  This bond would lead to extensive renovation of the district’s 32 schools, five of which (Angell, Ann Arbor Open at Mack, Bach, Community High, and STEAM) were constructed almost 100 years ago and only two of which were built in this century.

We believe the extensive renovation of AAPS schools envisioned in this bond, including solar, insulation, window/door improvements and LED lighting for all buildings, will lay the foundation for the schools to become sustainable institutions and help lead the community into a net-zero carbon future, as well as improve the learning environment for all students. 

We applaud the AAPS Board of Education Policy 8000, which includes: “ maintaining and operating district buildings and grounds that reduce the environmental impact of human activities, promote the restoration of the environment, and adapt to climate change”.  We hope to see the policy fleshed out in the coming months, with specific policies and goals, and we hope to participate in that process.

We also applaud the district’s recent rededication of Freeman school as the Freeman Environmental Education Center, as well as the recent increase in staffing of the district’s environmental education program.

We believe the proposed bond helps set the stage for decarbonization and environmental leadership on the part of the AAPS.  HVG stands ready to help with educating stakeholders, as well as assisting with planning and implementation of needed measures in the years to come. Note that the Ecology Center is also endorsing a YES vote.

Dan Ezekiel
Chair, Executive Committee
Sierra Club Huron Valley Group