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Livonia Observer; January 5, 2005
Topic Started: Jan 5 2006, 02:04 PM (2,693 Views)
fyi
Principal
Group threatens to sue over Legacy Plan
BY STEPHANIE ANGELYN CASOLA
STAFF WRITER


Livonia Public Schools has two weeks to decide whether it will halt plans for next year's Legacy Initiative, or face a possible lawsuit.

Citizens for Livonia's Future, a grassroots community group opposed to the Legacy plan, has retained Southfield Attorney Mayer Morganroth.

Last week, Morganroth sent a certified letter to district administrators stating the group's concerns about the school initiative, which aims to close schools, reconfigure grade levels in buildings and redraw boundaries to save money.

The letter states that the board acted "arbitrarily and capriciously" in making their decision on Dec. 5, despite the vocal opposition. The group also questions whether the demographics committee violated the Open Meetings Act during its first meeting. They question if four board members were present, which would have required the meeting be open to the public. Jay Young, director of communications, has stated that there were never four members present during those committee meetings.

"If in two weeks the board of education does not respond, a lawsuit will be filed," said Steve Futrell, a Livonia father of four.

The citizen's group aims to stop the Legacy Initiative in its tracks. In addition, Futrell said they hope to reinstate the current grade configuration and keep all schools open next year. The committee also wants to hire an independent consultant to look for better ways to close schools and conduct a city-wide impact study. Futrell proposed they would create a new demographics committee and ultimately come up with a better option for saving money in the district.

He said the group has confidence in Morganroth. "The reason we retained him was to win," Futrell said. "Mayer Morganroth does not lose and he tells us the odds of winning are very, very good."

IMPACT QUESTIONED
The group questioned the impact the Legacy plan would have on everything from traffic volumes to property values in Livonia.

An estimated 300 people packed the community room at St. Mary Church on Merriman Road for the meeting Wednesday evening. Penny Weber was one of them.

"I feel very positive about this," she said. "This is good."

Weber said her frustration boils down to the fact that "the board didn't listen." She said she was concerned about the decision to pass the Legacy plan, and concerned about "how they did it and why they did it." For her, it all happened too fast.

"They just presented it (and said) 'This is what we're doing,'" said Weber.

Former Livonia Mayor Bob Bennett also attended the meeting and voiced support for the group.

"My wife and I fought the closing of the fourth high school, Bentley," he said. "I have had some experience with what you are all trying to do. It's tenuous ground, difficult ground."

Bennett said he agreed that something "has been done to us. It's not a good plan."

To make an impact, Futrell said, the group needs volunteers, donations and support.

RECALL WORDING
In addition to the potential lawsuit, the citizen's group is refining language to submit to Wayne County for a possible recall of five board trustees: Dan Lessard, Lynda Scheel, Rob Freeman, Kevin Whitehead and Cynthia Markarian.

Joanne Morgan's seat is up for re-election this May, so she is not named as part of the recall. The group has begun efforts to mobilize anyone interested in running for the position. "If we never took a school board election seriously before, we need to now," said Patrice Mang, a committee member who also teaches in a nearby district.

Jodi Hamilton, a Washington parent, said should the county approve the recall petition language, the group would be charged with obtaining 10,000 to 13,000 signatures supporting a recall for each of the five trustees -- all within 90 days.

"Each board member would have to have a separate petition," said Hamilton.

In coordinating the recall effort, organizers plan to assign one volunteer liaison per elementary building to oversee a team of volunteers and decide how best to obtain the signatures in that area. Hamilton said she expects to have petitions onhand by February.

The group is also asking for monetary donations. Those interested in supporting Citizens for Livonia's Future may send a check addressed to the organization and mail it to P.O. Box 530892, Livonia, MI 48153-0892, or deposit money into an account at LaSalle Bank.

For more information, visit CitizensforLivoniasfuture.com or lpsproposalsrbad@sbcglobal.net.

scasola@hometownlife.com | (734) 953-2054

Originally published January 15, 2006.


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fyi
Principal
It appears than they re-ran the letters printed in Thursday's edition. No new ones for Sunday---all pro-LI.
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Livonia Voter
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Principal

Can anyone post the email address for the Observers editorial page?

Looks like they need some new "opinions".


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Grant1
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We have just begun to fight!
Livonia Voter
Jan 15 2006, 09:46 PM
Can anyone post the email address for the Observers editorial page?

Looks like they need some new "opinions".

dvarga@oe.homecomm.net
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