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INJUNCTION - POSSIBLE; Thoughts
Topic Started: Jan 3 2006, 04:04 PM (4,493 Views)
fyi
Principal
Maybe Mister Lessard has it backwards. It could be unlawful not to answer the public when they ask a legitimate question. Or maybe it's illegal to say that it's illegal.
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ForMySons
Principal
Our friend who is an assistant superintendant of another district said that it is not illegal to answer questions presented during a public hearing. He also said that while it is not illegal to answer the questions, it must be done carefully so the meeting does not become a free-for-all. I had no problems with the board just listening to the concerns presented during the public hearing, but I did expect the board or demographics committee to answer the questions before voting. Our friend suspects that the BOE thought the public meeting would be a vehicle for the community to vent and then go back to business as usual. Unfortunately (for the BOE), this meeting actually had a negative effect. It actually gave the oppostion more momentum. While I had some concerns about the LI, I was on the fence until I heard the questions/concerns presented during this meeting.
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c3hull
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CKlockner
Jan 4 2006, 09:21 AM
Everyone please continue to go to the board meetings and SPEAK OUT!
Lets keep this on the front page of the Observer.
Headlines, Parents Refuse To Give Up
Recall Board Of Education, Legacy Initiative Stopped.
Hold on to this vision. We CAN do this. We WILL do this.

You are right! We still need to attend the BOE meetings. We also need to start emailing City Council, they are elected officials too. It would be nice to know where each of them stands on this issue. If they want our votes in the future, they sure have an excellent opportunity to step up to the plate and help us!
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livoniarecall
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Principal
I'm wondering what the Council would be able to do to help?
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Grant1
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We have just begun to fight!
livoniarecall
Jan 4 2006, 10:47 PM
I'm wondering what the Council would be able to do to help?

Don't expect much - take a look at this:

Economic Development, Community Outreach and School Liaison Committee

Frank Kokenakes Chairman

Terry Godfroid-Marecki

Don Knapp

Sounds like it's loaded with prior BOE personnel. But I am not going to let that deter me, I will be asking them thier positions at the City Council meetings.
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Anna Krome
Principal
This is disappointing. Just more of the same: "Do what we say, and we'll pretend we're listening."

Out of 100,000 citizens, you'd think there might be just a few others with valid input? Here's an idea: Reread those minutes from the public hearing when about 500 people waited 6 hours to speak out about LI. Learn a little something? Do some homework?

Why is the power always hoarded by so few? Why not invite some of the incredibly informed and intelligent community members who've publicly spoken? Toss us a bone? Give a little credence to the admin's mantra that they want us "involved"?

How about the Wayne County Assessor? He's a Livonia resident. Think he might know a thing or two about how our property values are being detrimentally affected by LI? He spoke at the public hearing on that very topic.

How about Ann Rae--a professional educator? Her brilliant speech before the vote, shaming the BOE for breaking their own codes of propriety, sent tingles up the spine.

What about Ignacio Salazar? A prominent Livonia businessman who takes meetings w/President Bush's administration. He might be able to help our wayward admin w/their arcane financial handlings.

The following politically motivated individuals do not make LI any easier to "transition" into.

--Ms. Marecki was on BOE, is the City Council liason to BOE, and supports LI. She resigned from Demo Committee in August/05--coincidentally before it hit the public w/a bang.

--Mr. Kokenakes was on BOE, just lost his City Council bid, and has ridden the fence publicly about LI--although has offered "off-the-record" advice to citizens fighting LI.

--Mr. Knapp is a long-time City Council member who supports LI.

Anna Krome

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fyi
Principal
I not sure about this, but I thought the school system was separate from the city.
It would be nice to publicly have the support of Council members, but what good would it do? The Mayor voiced concerns that fell on deaf ears.

And, even if they pledged their support against the LI, they are politicians. Do they really mean what they say, or are they just trying to get your vote next time around?

Knapp probably supported the Smart withdrawal because he was trying to make way for all those new LPS buses next year.
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grantmom
Principal
fyi
Jan 5 2006, 08:51 AM
Knapp probably supported the Smart withdrawal because he was trying to make way for all those new LPS buses next year.

....and has no children who will be affected by the LI
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Anna Krome
Principal
BOE and City Council are separate entities. They do not officially "mix."

But, our own Mayor has written of his "concern" over LI--his letter was posted on this forum, where he expressed his feelings to a citizen.

The Mayor is also working behind the scenes, regarding LI. Many Livonia business people are VERY concerned about LI and have tried to reach the Good Doctor, who seems to be ensconced. Others have spoken out to the Mayor, as have many other citizens.

I do not feel that LI will ultimately fly. Just too many powerful people do not like LI.

Word on the street.

Anna Krome

PS: I have wondered about making room on the roads for those 40-50??--how many new buses?

Oh, right, they have not told us how many they need. It must not be our business.
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Tyler_Parent
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Principal
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article...EWS02/601050487

Parents in Livonia hire lawyer to fight schools
BY ZLATI MEYER
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

January 5, 2006

Livonia Public Schools parents have hired an attorney to help them undo the district's recently approved plan to close schools and reconfigure grades.

Southfield lawyer Mayer Morganroth said Wednesday that he was going to contact the district by the end of the week to explain the position of his client, Citizens for Livonia's Future. If the district will not change its decision, he said, he plans to file suit against the district in Wayne County Circuit Court within 30 days.

"When a board or agency acts arbitrarily and capriciously, it can be overturned by the court," Morganroth said. "In my opinion, they acted arbitrarily and capriciously."

Morganroth has represented Jack Kevorkian and was recently named to attorney Geoffrey Fieger's legal defense team as Fieger fends off a state investigation into possible improper campaign spending.

Morganroth cited numerous issues with the district's decisions, including a claim that the decision wasn't about saving money because the district has a surplus, and that plan the board adopted is more costly.

On Dec. 5, the Livonia Public Schools board approved a plan to reorganize grades into K-4, 5-6, 7-8 and 9-12 groupings, and to close seven elementary schools. Citizens for Livonia's Future wants to keep the current K-6 grade setup.

Citing decreasing enrollment and financial issues, district officials said the changes will save as much as $2 million during the first year alone.

Contact ZLATI MEYER at 248-351-3291 or meyer@freepress.com
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Tyler_Parent
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Principal
I now see that others read the paper earlier than I. This is already posted elsewhere. Also, there is an article in the Det News.
http://s14.invisionfree.com/Hull_Neighbors...p?showtopic=571
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Administrator
Administrator
Even though the sun hasn't been out in about a month, it is certainly getting warm around here!
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Iliveon-Levandownbytheriver
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grantmom
Jan 4 2006, 04:32 PM
loyaltolivonia
Jan 4 2006, 03:57 PM

I don't think they'll ever address our concerns in public, either. I just remember Lessard saying they were not "allowed" to answer us. I wonder at the choice of words he used. Were they really not allowed to or did they not WANT to...........scratch that, I think I already know the answer :P

I believe someone posted on one of the topics, a letter from a BOE member from a different city in Michigan (maybe Rochester?) and from what I recall that BOE member couldn't believe that Mr. Lessard said that it was illegal to respond to the public. Does anyone remember this post?

I think this is what you are refering to: B)


I am a resident of Rochester Hills, but had read the few recent articles on the reorganization plan for Livonia.

The articles had made it sound like your board was going to close a few elementary schools. I was quite surprised when I read the article covering the approval, and learned that the plan also included a structural reorganization into grade-level schools. I was quite dismayed when I reviewed your website and read about the process.

I am on the school board in Rochester. Sadly, the process sounded all too familiar.

* You have a committee with 4 parents; I'd bet that most (and maybe all) are people that are regularly involved in the district and generally support any district initiative. Administrators outnumbered parents!

* The district counted staff members as parents. That is so wrong. Yes, staff are parents too, but they are very unlikely to disagree with senior administrators.

* They work on something for months, quietly, and then whisk it out at the last minute and approve it.

* They conduct a survey, and then ignore the results.

I read a few of the articles from the O&E. I thought the comments of your Board President were ridiculous, "Board President Dan Lessard told the crowd the board is not permitted to give answers directly during audience comments. "It is against the law," he said. "We cannot do it. Period.""

He is so wrong. Period.

The grade-level school concept is worth considering. However, it's only worth considering if it has community support. Ramming it through hardly demonstrates a desire to put kids first.

Good luck with your struggle. If there is something you think I could do to help, please don't hesitate to ask.

Mike Reno
www.rcs-reno.com
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grantmom
Principal
yep that's it. Thanks
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c3hull
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Principal
Mike Reno seems to be very leveled headed and well informed. Maybe we should email him and ask if he knows anyone in Livonia running for our BOE.
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