Schools Seek Federal Funds

Participation in a Fedefally Affectea Areas Program was formally approved by the Ann Arbor Board of Education last night and the Superintendent of Schools was authorized to prepare and submit an application for payments under the program. According to a survey conducted last month, about 450 students were found to be federally-connected. The minimum required number is 435 in order for a compensation claim to be filed with federal government. A sum of $60,000 to $130,000 could be received. Parents of federally-connected children were asked to fill in a survey form and mail it to the Ann Arbor Public Schools. "Federally-connected" children would have parents in the U. S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Coast and Gedodetic Survey or Public Health Service; would have parents employed at a federal property, or would live at a housing facility administered by the Ann Arbor Housing Commission. QtJESTION: The recent ífrticle on the proposed Northwood V, University of Michigan student housing, prompts the f ollowing questions : 1) How many children from tax-exempt student housing are presently enrolled in the Ann Arbor Public Schools? 2) What is the cost to the school district per child, exclusive of state aid, and what is the total cost of the district? 3) Have funds been collected or are funds earmarked for the $252,000 tentatively agreed to as payment in lieu of taxes by the University to the school district? Will this payment be annual and retroactive to May, 1970? 4) When is the opinión of the attorney general on the legality of the proposed payment expected to be rendered and made public? 5) Will Northwood V be tax-exempt also? (Name withheld on request) ANSWER: 1) Presently, there about 330 children from tax-exempt housing enrolled in the Ann Arbor Public Schools. 2) In 1970-71, the cost to local taxpayers of. educating each child is $930, not including state aid. (State aid brings in an additional $211 per child this year). Thus, the total cost to local taxpayers of the tax-exempt children in 1970-71 is $306,900. M_M