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What are Kennedy's biggest concerns?; Tell us
Topic Started: Oct 23 2005, 04:12 PM (1,460 Views)
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Do you parents in Kennedy want to go to Johnson??
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I don't mind. It's a long bus ride, and I may elect to work with other parents to car pool, but that's my only concern. Actually, some of our neighbors ride the bus to Churchill and it's only 20 minutes for them, so I think if the bus routes are planned correctly, with lots of students at each stop, the ride length should be shortened. I don't think it will take anywhere near 40 minutes. I look forward to volunteering and meeting parents with other schools. I really thing that it will bring more parents together, and will help for a more tight-knit school, w/ more volunteers in Middle and High School.
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Darn you guest! Thats not what I want to hear!!... Im just kidding. Everyone is welcome here, as long as we keep it clean and constructive as you did. I dont agree with you about Johnson. I do agree with you about bringing more parents together though, and we too are excited to meet new people. Its just that our Hull kids never had to get on a bus until High School. Now,except for 7-8 grade, thats the only way to school.
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Yeah Kennedy Parent! I, too, agree that this is not so bad! Our kids get instrumental music back and foreign language in addition to computer classes. I'm happy that the Demographic's Committee found a way to save the money needed to keep the district afloat and they offered fifth and sixth graders MORE! Kennedy gets to keep its neighborhood school...but we do have to bus our kids in 5/6. We can't always expect "someone else" to pay the price. The plan looks fair to me.

Let's be positive! For our kids sake.
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I am a Kennedy parent and when I first heard of the "proposal" I was very upset, confused and concerned. In the midst of all those emotions all I heard from others was negativity and that just perpetuated my anxiety! I decided to not listen to this negativity anymore and their is so much out there. It really has to stop! I believe that the committee who prepared this plan didn't just put it together overnight. I believe that much thought went into every aspect of the plan. What it comes down to it, people don't want change. Livonia is a great community and I am so happy to be living here. Livonia schools were also once one of the better schools to be in and over the last few years there has been a slow decline. Novi, Birmingham & Grosse Point are 3 of the better districts to be in. Why? Because there is money there. More money=Better schools. Isn't that what we all want for our children...better schools? Change needs to happen, there is no question. The proposal that has been presented to us is based on Novi Public Schools, which is highly acclaimed. Don't get me wrong, I am disappointed, as is my oldest child who could potentially move to Johnson next year. However, our kids will continue to go to school with their friends, which is awesome. Our kids will adjust and they will thrive even more if we as parents remain positive and supportive! In addition, I really wanted to go to the information meeting at Frost coming up, but I changed my mind and am not going because of all the ranting that's been going on. It's not what anyone needs. Sure, there are many questions; I still have questions I would like answered, but we need to find a way to get them answered without pointing fingers and making accusations. If this plan goes into effect, most everyone in Livonia will be affected by it, adjustments will have to be made, but let's come together and make it a positive experience for our kids. Let's make it so great that people outside of Livonia will look at us as a thriving community and school district that they, too, want to be a part of!!!
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I feel exactly the same way! Everyone is acting like there is some criminal intent involved, but the committee had a tough job, and put together a proposal that will meet the needs of the community, with the resources that are available. I am tired of all the people that claim that they knew nothing of the meetings last spring. This was very well publicized! These are the same people that are calling for recall of school board members and probably didn't bother to vote to begin with! No one said that change would be easy. Our board and superintendant have the responsibility of providing our children with the best education possible with the finances available. Raising taxes is only putting another bandaid on the problem. We simply dont NEED all these elementary schools, and it's not only the 6th graders who have unique needs. The fifth graders are at a point where boredom is setting in, and a change of scenery would benefit them. Don't agree? Spend some time volunteering in the classroom, library, lunchroom and observe them in the hallways!

As far as the bussing time goes. Why is it OK that many of our KINDERGARTENERS spend 30-40 minutes on the bus. I don't hear any protesting about that!
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Guests, thanks for your input! Please register so you can post after today. Let me just ask you this. What ,exactly, do you expect to get from the changes?( ie programs etc...) And would you feel the same way if it were kennedy closing? Please be honest.
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Jim-I agree. What if Kennedy was closing. You do get to keep your neighborhood school and we don't. You are right they did and do have a hard job (demo. com.)but this proposal is not the best for everyone. I know that schools do need to be closed but to have our kids bussed way out there (Johnson) is not a good plan. I also, understand that Hull may be closed and I am fine with that as long as my kid doesn't have to be bussed that far. I have no problem coming to Kennedy and going to Frost but Johnson is a problem for me (and many, many more). I would love to hear your response if Kennedy was closing.
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I can say, from the heart, and with all honesty, that I would be disappointed if it were Kennedy closing, but that I would accept it and move on. I applaud all the Hull parents in that regard, and for your positive attitudes, and you will be welcomed at Kennedy with open arms to create our new community.

I "might" also have a student at Johnson and will weigh my options when and if the time comes. My student WILL attend if that is the new structure. I certainly hope my child doesn't have to endure a 40 minute bus ride, but the Kindergarten safety bus was 30 plus minutes for a 1/2 mile ride, so let's put things in perspective. I might have my child ride one way, and car pool the other, or come up with another creative solution. I will certainly consult with neighbors and work together with them.

I did not grow up in Livonia, but I am impressed by the number of people who grew up here and stayed. These changes must be particularly hard for you. I don't know of anyone who doesn't long for things to be the way they used to be. Our streets were safer, we were closer with our neighbors - the world was a different place. We simply had more time. Our priorities were different.

I am proud to be a part of the Livonia Public Schools. In a 5/6 building, I will look for reinstatement of programs, such as PE, foreign language, art, instrumental music, etc. and I hope that funding is found to bring back DARE as well. I think we have the potential to better shape these young people and better transition them into the expectations of middle school, academically and behaviorally.

I am not opposed to a 678 middle school either, but I'm not sure if it is the best move for our district at the current time. Truthfully, Id rather see K-5, 6-7, 8-9 and 10-12.

It's definately transition time in the city of Livonia. Like someone said, we need to voice our opinions, have faith in the Leaders we have elected, exercise our right to vote and band together to make whatever solution work.
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Oct 29 2005, 05:03 PM

   I certainly hope my child doesn't have to endure a 40 minute bus ride, but the Kindergarten safety bus was 30 plus minutes for a 1/2 mile ride, so let's put things in perspective.  I might have my child ride one way, and car pool the other, or come up with another creative solution.  I will certainly consult with neighbors and work together with them.

.

I am proud to be a part of the Livonia Public Schools.  In a 5/6 building, I will look for reinstatement of programs, such as PE, foreign language, art, instrumental music, etc. and I hope that funding is found to bring back DARE as well.  
I am not opposed to a 678 middle school either, but I'm not sure if it is the best move for our district at the current time.  Truthfully, Id rather see K-5, 6-7, 8-9 and 10-12.


Just a couple of points . I can honestly say that if our school was not closing, I would not be so inclined to push the issue(other than the Johnson move, I would be against that no matter what). I would be thinking... "my school was spared,so should I really push it??,maybe they will close mine next time." Does this sound familiar to anyone? As for the bussing, Im sure we can all agree that kindergarteners behavior is FAR different than that of a 10-11 year old, thats why it IS a big deal. As for re-instating programs, the proposal says they MAY include PE, Foreign language......... Expanded Offerings . . . .
• Each 5-6 school will include expanded specials offerings for students as well as current offerings. The expanded offerings may include additional physical education, instrumental music or technology, and foreign language. Students will also receive art and vocal music instruction.
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frkmom
Kindergarten
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Jimid,
I'm sorry that you're feeling so much frustration over the Legacy Initiative plan. I sense you have a lot of passion for your children's education and would love to see you channel all that energy into adopting a positive attitude toward these changes. I agree with the majority of the parents posting that we need to be positive about this for our children's sake, if nothing else.
As an educator and a parent (and a product of LPS), we moved from out of state back to Livonia specifically for the schools. We could have bought in Novi, South Lyon, Milford; you name it. However, we feel Livonia offers the best choice in the program that our son needs.
Sure, the bus ride to Johnson will be long; what a great chance for my daughter to do some reading! As for it being in Westland; to me that's a total non-issue. It sickens me to read and hear people asserting that Westland is in some way less superior to Livonia. That kind of attitude makes for poor neighbors.
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mbossio
Principal
I can't imagine getting much quality reading done on a bouncy 50 minute bus ride with kids all around you unwinding (or winding up, depending on how you look at it) after being in school all day. Having a bus full of motion sick kids sounds like all sorts of fun!

Not to be too sarcastic, I'm just thinking that most of us haven't had the opportunity to experience a 50 minute bus ride any time recently. When my place of employment moved from Troy to Flint 1 1/2 years ago, many of my co-workers thought that since they'd now have at minimum an hour commute, that they would start taking the MTA bus. They thought they'd be able to read and do work on their laptops and get 2 hours back of their day, but found it way too jarring to attempt either.
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nsbank
1st Grade
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Hey, this guy has a right to be upset. I know I would be majorly disppointed if Kennedy were closing. My kids are too old to go to Kennedy next year, but I live behind the school and don't want a vacant building (and all that entails) so close by. So, I admit, I'm OK with the proposal because it is good for me personally. But I am also OK with the proposal for other reasons.

Kennedy is a small elementary school. When my freshman son started attending Riley he was lucky to have 2-3 Kennedy kids in each class. It was a difficult transition because the other feeder schools (to Riley) were so much bigger. Then, since so few Riley kids go to Churchill, he went through the exact same thing in 9th grade.... just one or two Riley kids in each Churchill class. They say highschoolers should be mature enough to handle this, but give me a break!!! Fourteen is such a vulnerable time in a kids life. Without his old Riley buddies to fall back on, we are holding our breath to make sure he falls in with a good set of kids. I much rather have my "learning community" established by 5th grade so I get to know some of the parents and know if my son is making good choices. In my opinion the toughest part of a transition, is when you are folding into schools with other feeder schools. It is not taking an entire 6th grade class and moving it to a new building when the kids hit 7th grade. The bussing situation is not ideal, but I think the benefits far outweigh the negatives.

Lastly, I also have a second son who did not get to take foreign language or instrumental music at Kennedy like his older brother. I see the difference in them. I am all for bringing back these programs to the elementary level -- regardless of how infrequent they are.
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Want2move
Principal
I find it interesting that all these unregistered "Guests", are the ones who are ok with the 5/6 split. ;)
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Administrator
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Oct 26 2005, 10:02 PM
Yeah Kennedy Parent! I, too, agree that this is not so bad! Our kids get instrumental music back and foreign language in addition to computer classes. I'm happy that the Demographic's Committee found a way to save the money needed to keep the district afloat and they offered fifth and sixth graders MORE! Kennedy gets to keep its neighborhood school...but we do have to bus our kids in 5/6. We can't always expect "someone else" to pay the price. The plan looks fair to me.

Let's be positive! For our kids sake.

I just wanted to step back a month. Many people had no idea what they were really getting a month ago. Many just took the first small amount of info and thought "that looks good". Now that we know how bad it is, we need to be sure we get these people back with the real info!
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