| Canton Observer; moving forward | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jan 13 2006, 11:37 PM (180 Views) | |
| grantmom | Jan 13 2006, 11:37 PM Post #1 |
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Principal
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FYI all......Mr. Leipa just keeps on moving forward. Miller students might be bused to Livonia school next year BY TONY BRUSCATO STAFF WRITER Students at Plymouth-Canton's Miller Elementary could be bused to a Livonia school next year as a year-long, $4.5 million renovation project beginning in June will force the Canton Township school to be closed for an entire school year. Plymouth-Canton administrators are talking to Livonia Public Schools officials about the availability of Washington Elementary on Ann Arbor Road at Hix, which is scheduled to be closed as part of Livonia's Legacy Initiative to restructure grades because of falling enrollment. Last year, Superintendent Jim Ryan originally announced a preliminary plan that would house Miller's 660 students at the new Workman Elementary in Canton's Cherry Hill Village for one year, alongside students assigned to Workman. The new building is expected to open in August, just before the 2006-07 school year begins. However, when Livonia announced it was closing seven schools, Plymouth-Canton administrators envisioned another possibility. "It appears this school could help us enormously with where to put 500 students," said Barbara Church Rodenberg, assistant superintendent of instruction, who noted 139 students currently bused to Miller from Central Park Estates will be in the Workman attendance area next year. "We've had some discussions with the Livonia business department." Church said Washington Elementary wouldn't be large enough to house all 500 general education and Talented and Gifted program students. "Our proposal is to put the TAG classrooms at Workman Elementary for one year, and move the remaining Miller students to Washington," she said. "If we can work out a lease, this is the very best solution. "Then, we can create the attendance boundaries for Workman Elementary to take effect this fall, and have students who live within sight of Workman attend it, instead of having them bused past the school." Superintendent Jim Ryan met with several dozen Miller parents Monday night to explain the possible change from original plans. "It's something that can work for the Miller community," said Leslie Raiford, Miller PTO president. "Going to Washington doesn't present any larger problems than moving to Workman." Raiford, who has a first and third grader attending Miller, said the move can be a positive one for students, if plans are made well in advance. "A lot of people are working hard to make this move as easy on the kids as possible," said Raiford. "We're doing everything to make it go smoothly." Miller principal Lynn Haire said it will be tough to say good-bye to students and teachers who don't make the move, but leasing Washington is the best move. "I think all things considered, it's a no brainer," said Haire. "It's such a golden opportunity for the district to solve an overcrowding problem." The distance from Miller to each of the two alternatives is approximately 4.5 miles. Ryan said he hopes to have information on a lease for Washington in early February. He's estimating the cost of leasing and providing student transportation to Washington Elementary, as well as the cost of transporting TAG students to Workman Elementary, to equal the cost of operating Miller for one year, which he said is approximately $225,000. Workman Elementary Principal Jim Burt said the availability of Washington will make it easier on all concerned. "I think it's the best decision for the most kids in the school district," said Burt. "If we can get kids who live in the Workman attendance area to go to that school, it will solve a lot of problems for a lot of people." The Plymouth-Canton housing committee will discuss the Washington Elementary alternative next Tuesday. If Plymouth-Canton were to lease Washington Elementary, it would be the second time in recent memory the district has rented from Livonia Schools. Before Discovery Middle School was opened in August 2000, students attended Lowell Middle School, located on Hix Road south of Ann Arbor Road, in Westland from 1992-2000. tbruscato@hometownlife.com | (734) 459-2700 Originally published January 12, 2006 |
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| fyi | Jan 14 2006, 09:41 AM Post #2 |
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Principal
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So it appears that the leasing of a building covers the operating expenses for the building. LPS will just be hanging on to the schools--in case--enrollment changes. They won't make anything, but it won't cost them anything. However, if they are not successful at leasing the closed buildings/mothballed buildings (love that term), it will cost them $$$ in operating costs. So....under that scenario, if they are unsuccessful at leasing their buildings, there goes their proposed savings. Add in students leaving the district---180 or so---and we are seriously in the hole. Also, how does everyone feel about spending money---which should go towards the current students---on closed buildings? What does that do for students currently in LPS? Answer: NOTHING!! I personally do not want my children to be a part of their experiment. I also believe that they are sacrificing the needs of the current students for their "rainy day fund." The per pupil fund they get from the State is supposed to be used to educate my children and children currently enrolled in LPS. I don't think the State intended it for future use---especially to maintain closed buildings. To quote John Stossel: GIMME A BREAK!!! |
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