Questions School 'Savings'

The Oct. 15 letter from William P. Stewart, public information officer of the Ann Arbor Schools, which purports to clarify questions raised in the earlier letter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Sedley, is typical of the tortured efforts made by the new school administration to justify their actions. The Sedleys wonder how it is possible for the men from Philadelphia to achieve their promised %Mljtito savings in administrative expenses when so few administrators have left the system's payroll while so many have been added. According to Mr. Stewart, administrative reductions now total over $120,000. , This is remarkable, particularly since the savings allegedly include allowances for the salary of Dr. John Hubley, former public relations officer, "as he seeks other employment" and both he and Mr. Stewart are paid for this role. Perhaps as further clarification, Mr. Stewart will see that a complete breakdown of this $120,000 in savings is made available for publication by The News. Although an explanation appeared in print earlier, when $100,000 in reductions was claimed, the itemization included the elimination of library clerks, counselors, and social workers, all members of the A. A. E. A. bargaining unit, and therefore not ordinarily considered administrators. Furthermore, although a saving of $15,600 was claimed for the elimination of each social work position, one of the social workers who left the system and was not replaced actually earned less than $9,000. Along with the Sedleys, I would appreciate from Mr. Stewart a full public disclosure of administrative costs, including the identity and salary of all new personnel from Pennsylvania. The school board should be the public's guardian in such matters, but they seem transfixed by their prayers.