| LETTERS IN RESPONSE TO EDITORIAL; DETROIT NEWS, 3/07/06 | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Mar 7 2006, 09:30 PM (1,489 Views) | |
| c3hull | Mar 7 2006, 09:30 PM Post #1 |
Principal
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This is Anna Krome's letter. Beautiful! Dear Editor, Your recent editorial, regarding the "right" of the citizens to legally question the capricious behavior of the Livonia BOE is off the mark. When an elected body ignores their own codes of ethics, potential open meetings violations, blatant disregard for the constituency's wishes, provides no traffic or impact studies--potentially putting our children at risk--and cannot state concrete evidence or a study to prove that this silly plan will "save" a dime--then, a higher authority must and should be consulted. As for student population, it is on the rise. For the last 10 years, Livonia has gained approximately 1,800 students. Comparing attendance numbers from over 30 years ago is ridiculous. An entire population has aged over the decades, and schools have been closed over the years to accomodate this reality. Closing 33% of Livonia schools to save less than 1% of the operating budget is quite frankly ridiculous and short-sighted. Livonia neighborhoods are built around 10 - 15 acre school parks. Closing a third of those properties will destroy Livonia's charm and purpose of putting "families first." Sincerely, Anna Krome |
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| c3hull | Mar 7 2006, 09:31 PM Post #2 |
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Principal
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Here is Jody Hamilton's letter. Very well stated! I am writing today in response to the Detroit News' Editorial Board's piece on the Livonia School Lawsuit. This is a perfect example of irresponsible journalism by your editors! The authors clearly do not know the facts in this case and did not bother to gather the pertinent information. Perhaps to you, aggregoius acts of Open Meetings Violations by our Livonia School Board are inconsequential, but to the residents of this community, they are serious offenses. Our Board has been found guilty of this violation before, and we believe our Board of Education has recently committed these violations on two more occasions. In addition, they did not listen to their constituency before passing this ridiculously unsubstantiated plan, and therefore have acted in manner which, under the law, was arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable. Your editorial suggested that the school reform passed by the Livonia School Board was justified given "all the attention board members and the public gave the matter before the vote." Nothing could be further from the truth. This plan, known as the Legacy Initiative, was irresponsibly passed by our board without clear and compelling data to support it. Further, the Board and Administration still have not told the community how much this plan will cost to implement despite repeated requests for this information. In addition, this plan will bus an additional 3,700 children all around the city, and our youngest children will not arrive home from school until nearly 5pm. All this for a mere savings equal to less that 1% of the school budget (virtually the same savings would be recognized using a K-6 or K-5 model). We have, as a community, tried repeatedly to communicate our concerns to this Board of Education and the Livonia Public Schools Administration. These concerns have fell on deaf ears. The school officials did NOT do 'exactly what they are elected to do'. They are elected to represent their constiuency, not the Administration or some other unknown agenda. Finally, it would not benefit the Livonia Community and it's children to take this issue up at the next election, because the damage would already have been done, and a new incoming Board would be fiscially irresponsible in reversing such a large scale plan. Get your facts straight before you print such one-sided commentary. Sincerely, Jody Hamilton |
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| NFarquharson | Mar 7 2006, 10:01 PM Post #3 |
Principal
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You too can send a letter to the editor to: letters@detroitnews.com letters@freepress.com dvarga@hometownlife.com |
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| Derek | Mar 7 2006, 10:27 PM Post #4 |
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Principal
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Great letters and super idea, NF.... 
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| ktmom | Mar 7 2006, 10:44 PM Post #5 |
Principal
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I think I am going to cancel my daily delivery. They obviously did no research before writing that editorial. |
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| Derek | Mar 7 2006, 10:55 PM Post #6 |
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Principal
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I haven't bought the Detroit News since the Newspaper strike in 1998?... Back then one of the issues was the freedom of the writers to Editorialize and really report the news. It was said to me by numerous writers that they management wanted to control the message being reported and frame it to their liking. Can you say merit pay? That is the tool they wanted to use to get their message reported... You were only eligible for a raise if they deemed your work ethic worthy according to their personal opinion... maybe it works in some fields but how can you expect fair and unbiased reporting in such an enviornment. -Derek |
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| anothermom | Mar 7 2006, 11:38 PM Post #7 |
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Principal
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Somebody writes one editorial that you don't like and you will cut yourself off from reading that paper? You can't be so intollerant at one minute and want others to believe you are so enlightened the next. There have been some pleas here today for something close to peace and understanding. Where is the "give" from the opposers? Instead it just comes across as a an attitude of entitlement. |
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| NFarquharson | Mar 7 2006, 11:51 PM Post #8 |
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Principal
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Help me understand what cancelling a newpaper subscription has to do with an attitude of entitlement? |
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| c3hull | Mar 8 2006, 12:03 AM Post #9 |
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Principal
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anothermom, What upsets me the most is this editor went way beyond just having a totally biased opinion. There were not just opinions stated, there was several INCORRECT statements, appearing to be facts. This is NOT acceptable journalism in my book! Information is supposed to be verified to be true and accurate when it is not just an opinion. Nolan Finely is the main editor for this section. He has to approve everything before it goes to print. Shame on him for publishing such rubbish! |
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| ktmom | Mar 8 2006, 06:37 AM Post #10 |
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Principal
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My point is that the article is not factual. They did not do there homework. So anothermom, were is your"give" as a supporter in trying to understand someone's frustration. I am really tired of reading your rude responses to everyone who posts on this site. Please do not respond with your attitude to of your better than all of me with your posts to mine anymore. Your rude posts to everyone on this site has made me decide I am done posting here. Opps. I bet you will critize me for that too. |
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| gr1 | Mar 8 2006, 07:19 AM Post #11 |
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Principal
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I don't get it. On Channel four yesterday morning and I've been told on channel 2 as well, there were very one sided stories. The story I saw on channel 4 was a phone interview with Steve Futrell. There were clips that the cameraman took at the meeting. The narrative that went along with the clips of the meeting were that only parents opposed to the LI were there. The truly funny part was while they were saying that everyone who spoke before the board was upset about the changes, the camera focuses in on Mr. Kmeiciak with his "support" sign. There was no mention that not all of the community is opposed nor that some spoke in favor of this plan. With the channel 4 'editorial' disguised as news, you are not upset. With an EDITORIAL, on the editorial page you question the papers right to print it. |
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| Grant1 | Mar 8 2006, 08:45 AM Post #12 |
We have just begun to fight!
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guess I will have to see those stories and judge for myself |
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| for our kids | Mar 8 2006, 09:02 AM Post #13 |
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Principal
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Can someone help me out? Were Anna Krome's, and Jody's letter published in today's paper?
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| cmic | Mar 8 2006, 09:07 AM Post #14 |
Principal
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I really want to see that! Did you tape it? |
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| Grant1 | Mar 8 2006, 09:57 AM Post #15 |
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We have just begun to fight!
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Detroit News Forum Responses to Lawsuit Editorial ( Names omitted to protect the innocent -  )Subject: LPS Conflict of Interest Comments: LPS Board of Education had no business being part of the Demographics Committee. Meeting behind closed doors, developing a plan of action for our entire school district without the input of all stakeholders of our community. Four out of seven BOE members served on the Demographics Committee (Dan Lessard, Tom Bailey, Robert Freeman and Joanne Morgan), they developed the Legacy Initiative and voted on it. Our Superintendent, Dr. Randy Liepa also served on this Demographics Committee but did not have a vote. Are we to assume that our BOE did not violate the Open Meetings Act? They have been found guilty of this violation twice. The survey the Demographics Committee conducted indicated that 65% of the people polled did not want a grade configuration change. The entire Legacy Initiatve is based on the change in grade configuration, large schools and multiple transitions for our children. Closing 23% of our schools, bussing our ten and eleven year olds more than 5 miles away from thier homes for a mere 1% ($1.5 million) savings. Has the BOE provided our community with the dollar amount they will spend in order to gain the 1% savings? And how many years will it take to recoop the initial one time costs? And why is it that Plymouth Canton School district has more students than LPS, yet LPS has 600 more employees? Why can't we get direct answers to our questions? Subject: Livonia Public Schools Lawsuit Comments: TO: Shannon Colby: Your posting was well put and described precisely what's to be considered on this issue "BUT", there is just one sentence I disagree with in your response. You said; "Livonia has put the almighty dollar before it's youngest citizens". Sorry, Shannon, but "I am Livonia and you are Livonia and every citizen from almost 100,000 residents is Livonia". Even our mayor has spoken openly about this proposal and is against it. Livonia is a town, city or municipility in north-western Wayne County with parents that care about the children much more than the teachers, school board or superintendent Liepa. You should direct your comments of the childrens destruction to Randy Liepa, the moron that represents the teachers union and mastermined this shcool plan. Then you can criticize the greedy teachers that would loose their jobs if this reorganization does not become a reality. AND lastly, help recall the doofuses that are lowering themselves to the wishes of Liepa and the teachers Union, for it's intent is not in the best interests of the parents or the children, NOR the taxpayers, nor the City. The entire City of Livonia will suffer from a financial standpoint in property values and houseing desireability if this stupid plan becomes reality. Where I live and in a three block area, there are "5" homes put up for sale since this idiotic plan has surfaced. And all these homes have children attending schools in Livonia. Go figure. Subject: THrow Livonia School lawsuit out Comments: Yesterday's editorial about throwing out the Citizen for Livonias Future lawsuit was factual incorrect. The articles premise that the dispute is political is should be settled at the ballot box is true but only half the story. The demographic committee was formed by the school administrators to come up with a plan to restructure the schools, with the idea of changing school boundaries and closing down some schools. However, the public was never informed of its intent when it was being organized. 29 out of 40 people in the demographic committee were former or present administrators of the Livonia school district, with five of the present school board members on it. The public was given a survey with multi-choice answers asking what our priorities were, we all assumed the demographics committee was reforming the school boundaries. The next year in October a bomb was dropped on Livonia by the school board that they were voting not just a school boundaries change but a closing of seven schools , reconfiguration of the elementary schools from K-6 to K-4 and a massive bussing of 3700 additional students. And that the school would be changed within a 10 -month period. The public was given two forums within a month period to comment on the proposal. Barely enough time to digest the proposal information and to research the proposal. After a web-site was formed and information was quickly diseminated by its participants showing transitions were bad for students in the learning environment and large schools were academically worse performing than smaller schools, most of Livonia parents came out against this. By a 6-1 vote the school board passed the Legacy Initiative . Now we are in the process of recalling the school board members because we were never given input on the transition plan and none of our thousands of comments at the public forum were adopted by the school board in the plan. The recall drive is simply to have anti-Legacy candidates and present pro-Legacy candidates represented on the ballot in August. So yes the process should and will be a political one once we get enough signatures on the ballot to recall the school board members ( over 8,200)but the lawsuit is necessary because the public input was never accepted into the plan. Subject: Livonia Public Schools Lawsuit Comments: What a sad commentary your paper published. Until you have lived through this, and have kids and property values affected by this, you don't know what we're going through. Our tax $$$ went towards a $30,000 survey that told the board of education that 67% of the community was against grade configuration changes and they prompted ignored it. This plan has been a long-term goal of our superintendent for years, it's not about our kids...it's about seeing his vision realized and money. Livonia has put the almighty dollar before it's youngest citizens. Do you think adding an additional 3700 kids to busses is a sound plan? Do you think that having kids have their day extended by an hour or more because they are now being bussed is a sound plan? Some of our smallest kids won't get home from school until 4:45...It gets dark at 5 p.m. in the winter...does this make sense? You owe it to the citizens of Livonia to write a better editorial than that one-side editorial you printed. Subject: School Lawsuit Comments: The editorial regarding the lawsuit contesting the Livonia Legacy Initiative is very biased and does not inform the public of the facts surrounding this issue. Also, the inclosed chart shows an actual increase in enrollment since 1989. Yes, schools may have to close, Livonia has been slowly closing schools since the peak enrollment years of 70/71, but the need to close 7 schools at one time, redistrict the entire city, and increase administrative expenditures to accomplish this task does not correlate to an unsubstatiated 1% savings. The savings have also not been validated or supported by the school financial auditing firm. It is obvious that the Board of Education and the LPS Administration find it much easier to disrupt the entire fabric of a community rather than making the hard choices to trim fat, reduce overhead, bargain with the unions, and keep the community stable. |
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