As of the 2023-24 school year, Skyline students are no longer allowed to submit announcements for the daily announcements read over the public address system at the start of the second hour. 

“The policy was changed to ensure that all club/activity sponsors are aware of and approving all announcements being requested,” said Interim Principal Casey Elmore. 

The policy change came as Skyline’s administrative team was shuffled following the departure of former Principal Corey McElmeel. “As I took on the role of building principal,” said Elmore, “we are examining all policies and procedures in the building and updating or revising as we see a need.”  

Currently, all announcements must be submitted by a Skyline staff member. This has proved a barrier for some clubs with hands-off advisors. “When we tried to get our advisor to post announcements, it never got through,” said Book Club President Grace Yao (‘24). “Our former advisor wasn’t involved in the inner workings of the club, but she was good when students contacted her.”

Teachers were made aware of the policy during professional development before the school year and it has been reiterated to them in ongoing meetings.  However, only students who have inquired about announcements have been informed. 

“We wanted to announce the first meeting,” said Skyline Republican Club President Emma Zamansky (‘24), “But I wasn’t notified that the announcement submission process changed, so we had to postpone it until our advisor could get an announcement out.”

Skyline’s new policy makes it the second of the big three Ann Arbor High Schools to make this move. Huron has the same policy, allowing only teachers, staff, coaches, and advisors to request announcements. Pioneer, on the other hand, continues to allow students to submit announcements to the Administrative Assistant to the Principal who can approve, deny, or change the announcement before it is read over the public address system.