ANN ARBOR, MI – It’s been over two years since Ann Arbor Public Schools had a chief financial officer, and so far, district officials say they don’t have a concrete timeline to fill the long-open vacancy.
Previously structured as the assistant superintendent for finance and operations, the position was last filled in late 2023 when Jill Minnick left Ann Arbor. Since then, AAPS has supplemented budgeting needs with consultants in its business office in addition to other district staff.
Now, as the district continues to insulate from the $25 million shortfall in 2024, AAPS Superintendent Jazz Parks said it’s still challenging to find applicants properly qualified to handle school finances even after restructuring the job posting last year.
Earlier this month, Ann Arbor School Board President Torchio Feaster wove filling that vacancy — and soon — into his biggest priorities for 2026.
But does the district need a CFO? The short answer is yes. Here’s why.
AAPS looking to keep its fund balance up
Although Ann Arbor school officials have said the district’s finances are no longer in a state of crisis, the district is still recovering from the $25 million shortfall at the end of the 2023-24 school year.
Shortly after laying off staff and making other cuts, the district started 2024-25 with a fund balance, or rough savings, at 2.2% of its spending ― far below the average levels among districts across Michigan.
By the end of 2025, school leaders said the district had been taken off a watchlist with the state’s department of treasury that tracks those grappling with a low balance.
AAPS’ audited balance by the end of 2024-25 was at $21.6 million or just over 7% of school spending. But it is projected to be $15.8 million or over 5%, which is the state minimum, later this year. Feaster said he doesn’t want to end up back on that state list, admitting they’ll be cutting it close.
“I think in order to do that, we need to hire a CFO,” he said in a Jan. 6 interview. “And I think hiring a CFO is a huge priority for this board.
“I’ve expressed that to other trustees and to Superintendent Parks, and I’m looking forward to that happening early in this year. So, I’m hoping that she can get that across hopefully before the end of the school year.”
Few applicants qualified to address AAPS’ ‘unique complexities’
The assistant superintendent job is still blank on the district’s administrative staff page.
Originally posted by early 2024, its listed salary range was $152,250 to $173,250.
Parks said the job was more formally structured as a straightforward CFO in 2025 and posted a couple of times.
The salary range now remains the same, commensurate with experience, according to the district’s job site, with necessary qualifications including a master’s degree in business or school administration or other finance-related graduate program, as well as a background of at least five years as a school business official or financial official in another setting.
AAPS officials hoped relabeling the job as a chief financial officer would help “cast a wider net and get more applicants,” Parks said.
However, the district said each candidate pool is small, she said, with just a handful of applicants.
“We have very few applicants who have a school finance background and who are experienced … (and) have the knowledge base to be able to come in and hit the ground running,” Parks said Wednesday, Jan. 14. “Especially with some of our unique complexities.”
It wasn’t clear how many rounds of interviews the district has gone through since 2023, though AAPS spokesperson Andrew Cluley said he recalled two in 2025 and Parks said they were amid their third cycle currently for this school year.
Each time they get an applicant, Parks said they’re screened for qualifications and brought in for first- and second-round interviews conducted by separate interview teams. If they make it through, there’s a potential third round.
“And unfortunately, just kind of through that process, we haven’t had anyone who’s made it all (the way) through to becoming a recommended candidate,” Parks said.
For now, the position remains open.
“Again, in large part due to just the wide scope of knowledge that’s required for a CFO of a school district. Some folks have bits and pieces, but not the whole comprehensive picture.”
