Ann Arbor City and Public Schools Officials Convene to Align 2026 Priorities

Leaders from all City of Ann Arbor departments met Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, with leaders from Ann Arbor Public Schools to strengthen ongoing collaboration and align planning efforts for the year ahead.

The meeting provided dedicated time for city staff to share major projects and initiatives anticipated in 2026 that may impact the school district, while also offering an opportunity for Ann Arbor Public Schools leaders to communicate district priorities and areas of strategic focus.

Topics discussed included:

• Road and sidewalk construction affecting schools and bus routes
• Urgent communications related to snow emergencies and water main breaks
• Renewable energy projects and how they could be used to teach students about sustainability
• Public safety initiatives intersecting with school safety and emergency preparedness
• Scheduled elections that may affect district operations or facilities

“This type of proactive coordination helps ensure that both the city and the school district are planning with shared awareness and purpose,” said City Administrator Milton Dohoney Jr. “By strengthening our ties between city and school district leaders, we can better support students, families and the broader community.”

“This meeting was a valuable opportunity to bring our AAPS team together with city staff to discuss plans for the upcoming year,” said Ann Arbor Public Schools Superintendent Jazz Parks. “While our teams collaborate closely on a regular basis, this meeting allowed us to connect at the leadership level and gain insights into our shared areas of focus. These kinds of conversations strengthen our partnership and ultimately benefit the students, staff and families we serve, as well as the greater Ann Arbor community.”

City and Ann Arbor Public Schools leaders expressed a shared commitment to collaboration in service of Ann Arbor residents and committed to remaining in regular communication as projects move forward throughout the year. 

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Media Contact: 

Joanna Satterlee, City Communications Manager, jesatterlee@a2gov.org; Andrew Cluley, Ann Arbor Public Schools Director of Communications, cluleya@a2schools.org