NFarquharson

Mar 9 2006, 01:21 PM

It appears that the District Transition Team is being credited for work it has not done!

From today's Livonia Observer:

"Donna McDowell, coordinator of community and business partnerships for the district, said the District Transition Team aimed to maintain similar start and end times as they have this year. The biggest change involves staggered start times between the upper and lower elementary schools, which remain within 15 minutes of the current schedule....

...McDowell said the transition team took into consideration parents' requests to be able to drive their children to both upper and lower buildings, should they choose."

A member of the District Transition Team just told me that this is a complete misrepresentation of the truth. She contacted me after reading the Livonia Observer article and seeing Ms. McDowell's quote that makes it appear as though it was the District Transition Team that set start times for next year. According to my source, Ms. McDowell came to the meeting with the start times already in hand. The District Transition Team served as proof-readers rather than decision makers with regards to the start times. They only had input into the method of communication...start times had been decided on already. As an example, they took the word "tier" out of the communication about start times, since they felt this might cause upset.

This District Transition Team member asked to remain anonymous, so that she can continue to work with the rest of the group without further problems. If there are any members of this team who read this, I would love to hear more.

taylormom

Mar 9 2006, 03:48 PM

Is Donna McDowell an LPS employee or a parent? I think the demographics committee should definately call them on this. They should demand that a correction is printed in Sunday's edition of the Observer. Why should they be blamed for this decision?

Michelebel

Mar 9 2006, 04:21 PM

Ok, maybe this is going to sound stupid, but what are we going to call them out on??  I know that the Observer said the District Team made the decision, but isn't it just semantics at this point.  The job of the District Team is to (pasted from their website)...............

Our Charge

Focus our mutual efforts on the support of a successful district transition for all stakeholders.

Our Responsibilities

Communicating information to school communities

Disseminate information to school communities about implementation plans and transition activities, including recommending topics for the District Transition Newsletter.
Communicating progress from school communities

Support and report on school transition activities, and coordinate district activities with building transition team.
Give ongoing feedback about the transition process in the district to the administration.
Facilitating district transition activities

Explore transition needs for parents and staff, and make recommendations for transition activities.
Plan and help implement district transition activities, including focus groups or information meetings

Aren't they just the messenger at this point.  Does it really matter who created the "tentative" start/end times, since the LEA is apparently the real group that is going to make the final decision.

Sorry, it just feels like we're looking for things to get upset about.  We were upset about the times when they announced them, now we are upset at who created them or who lied about creating them.....................

Rose

Mar 9 2006, 04:27 PM

Michelebel

Mar 9 2006, 04:21 PM

Ok, maybe this is going to sound stupid, but what are we going to call them out on??  I know that the Observer said the District Team made the decision, but isn't it just semantics at this point.  The job of the District Team is to (pasted from their website)...............

Our Charge

Focus our mutual efforts on the support of a successful district transition for all stakeholders.

Our Responsibilities

Communicating information to school communities

Disseminate information to school communities about implementation plans and transition activities, including recommending topics for the District Transition Newsletter.
Communicating progress from school communities

Support and report on school transition activities, and coordinate district activities with building transition team.
Give ongoing feedback about the transition process in the district to the administration.
Facilitating district transition activities

Explore transition needs for parents and staff, and make recommendations for transition activities.
Plan and help implement district transition activities, including focus groups or information meetings

Aren't they just the messenger at this point.  Does it really matter who created the "tentative" start/end times, since the LEA is apparently the real group that is going to make the final decision.

Sorry, it just feels like we're looking for things to get upset about.  We were upset about the times when they announced them, now we are upset at who created them or who lied about creating them.....................

The Transition Teams are the messengers, but it does matter who created the start and end times because many people are upset about them. They are trying to place blame on the transition people for these times. Yes, I am upset. My child may get home by 4:30 at the earliest next year.....and that is on a good day. So tell me why I don't have a right to get upset? And I am saying 4:30 if they are all on the bus in ten minutes and it takes only 20 minutes to get home. Times could be a lot later too.

NFarquharson

Mar 9 2006, 04:58 PM

Rose

Mar 9 2006, 04:27 PM

Michelebel

Mar 9 2006, 04:21 PM

Ok, maybe this is going to sound stupid, but what are we going to call them out on??  I know that the Observer said the District Team made the decision, but isn't it just semantics at this point.  The job of the District Team is to (pasted from their website)...............

Our Charge

Focus our mutual efforts on the support of a successful district transition for all stakeholders.

Our Responsibilities

Communicating information to school communities

Disseminate information to school communities about implementation plans and transition activities, including recommending topics for the District Transition Newsletter.
Communicating progress from school communities

Support and report on school transition activities, and coordinate district activities with building transition team.
Give ongoing feedback about the transition process in the district to the administration.
Facilitating district transition activities

Explore transition needs for parents and staff, and make recommendations for transition activities.
Plan and help implement district transition activities, including focus groups or information meetings

Aren't they just the messenger at this point.  Does it really matter who created the "tentative" start/end times, since the LEA is apparently the real group that is going to make the final decision.

Sorry, it just feels like we're looking for things to get upset about.  We were upset about the times when they announced them, now we are upset at who created them or who lied about creating them.....................

The Transition Teams are the messengers, but it does matter who created the start and end times because many people are upset about them. They are trying to place blame on the transition people for these times. Yes, I am upset. My child may get home by 4:30 at the earliest next year.....and that is on a good day. So tell me why I don't have a right to get upset? And I am saying 4:30 if they are all on the bus in ten minutes and it takes only 20 minutes to get home. Times could be a lot later too.

The point is not the start times. The issue is that the administration is making is seem as though it was a decision that was made with input from people at each school, when in fact that is not the case. It's about telling the truth!

NFarquharson

Mar 9 2006, 01:21 PM

It appears that the District Transition Team is being credited for work it has not done!

From today's Livonia Observer:

"Donna McDowell, coordinator of community and business partnerships for the district, said the District Transition Team aimed to maintain similar start and end times as they have this year. The biggest change involves staggered start times between the upper and lower elementary schools, which remain within 15 minutes of the current schedule....

...McDowell said the transition team took into consideration parents' requests to be able to drive their children to both upper and lower buildings, should they choose."

A member of the District Transition Team just told me that this is a complete misrepresentation of the truth. She contacted me after reading the Livonia Observer article and seeing Ms. McDowell's quote that makes it appear as though it was the District Transition Team that set start times for next year. According to my source, Ms. McDowell came to the meeting with the start times already in hand. The District Transition Team served as proof-readers rather than decision makers with regards to the start times. They only had input into the method of communication...start times had been decided on already. As an example, they took the word "tier" out of the communication about start times, since they felt this might cause upset.

This District Transition Team member asked to remain anonymous, so that she can continue to work with the rest of the group without further problems. If there are any members of this team who read this, I would love to hear more.

Roosevelt Dad

Mar 9 2006, 11:16 PM

NFarquharson

Mar 9 2006, 01:21 PM

It appears that the District Transition Team is being credited for work it has not done!

From today's Livonia Observer:

"Donna McDowell, coordinator of community and business partnerships for the district, said the District Transition Team aimed to maintain similar start and end times as they have this year. The biggest change involves staggered start times between the upper and lower elementary schools, which remain within 15 minutes of the current schedule....

...McDowell said the transition team took into consideration parents' requests to be able to drive their children to both upper and lower buildings, should they choose."

A member of the District Transition Team just told me that this is a complete misrepresentation of the truth.  She contacted me after reading the Livonia Observer article and seeing Ms. McDowell's quote that makes it appear as though it was the District Transition Team that set start times for next year.  According to my source, Ms. McDowell came to the meeting with the start times already in hand.  The District Transition Team served as proof-readers rather than decision makers with regards to the start times.  They only had input into the method of communication...start times had been decided on already.  As an example, they took the word "tier" out of the communication about start times, since they felt this might cause upset.

This District Transition Team member asked to remain anonymous, so that she can continue to work with the rest of the group without further problems.  If there are any members of this team who read this, I would love to hear more.

I watched the Monday board meeting that Mrs. McDowells comments were taken from. It was my impression that she was making attempts to build the Transition Team up to be more than the messengers it has been formed to be. Input from parents and staff is given from school communities to administration. I feel that some of our concerns regarding how to drive kids to and from the differant schools, was not of great concern by the administration, until they saw the flood of feedback forms provided them. The approximate times were determined by our school administrators. Times were presented to the traniston team in a rough draft of the District Transition Updates. These updates then are posted on the District Transition team web site. Wording of the update was discussed, but the times were not up for debate.

taylormom

Mar 9 2006, 05:12 PM

NFarquharson

Mar 9 2006, 04:58 PM

Rose

Mar 9 2006, 04:27 PM

Michelebel

Mar 9 2006, 04:21 PM

Ok, maybe this is going to sound stupid, but what are we going to call them out on??  I know that the Observer said the District Team made the decision, but isn't it just semantics at this point.  The job of the District Team is to (pasted from their website)...............

Our Charge

Focus our mutual efforts on the support of a successful district transition for all stakeholders.

Our Responsibilities

Communicating information to school communities

Disseminate information to school communities about implementation plans and transition activities, including recommending topics for the District Transition Newsletter.
Communicating progress from school communities

Support and report on school transition activities, and coordinate district activities with building transition team.
Give ongoing feedback about the transition process in the district to the administration.
Facilitating district transition activities

Explore transition needs for parents and staff, and make recommendations for transition activities.
Plan and help implement district transition activities, including focus groups or information meetings

Aren't they just the messenger at this point.  Does it really matter who created the "tentative" start/end times, since the LEA is apparently the real group that is going to make the final decision.

Sorry, it just feels like we're looking for things to get upset about.  We were upset about the times when they announced them, now we are upset at who created them or who lied about creating them.....................

The Transition Teams are the messengers, but it does matter who created the start and end times because many people are upset about them. They are trying to place blame on the transition people for these times. Yes, I am upset. My child may get home by 4:30 at the earliest next year.....and that is on a good day. So tell me why I don't have a right to get upset? And I am saying 4:30 if they are all on the bus in ten minutes and it takes only 20 minutes to get home. Times could be a lot later too.

The point is not the start times. The issue is that the administration is making is seem as though it was a decision that was made with input from people at each school, when in fact that is not the case. It's about telling the truth!

Exactly!

NFarquharson

Mar 10 2006, 06:12 AM

Roosevelt Dad

Mar 9 2006, 11:16 PM

NFarquharson

Mar 9 2006, 01:21 PM

It appears that the District Transition Team is being credited for work it has not done!

From today's Livonia Observer:

"Donna McDowell, coordinator of community and business partnerships for the district, said the District Transition Team aimed to maintain similar start and end times as they have this year. The biggest change involves staggered start times between the upper and lower elementary schools, which remain within 15 minutes of the current schedule....

...McDowell said the transition team took into consideration parents' requests to be able to drive their children to both upper and lower buildings, should they choose."

A member of the District Transition Team just told me that this is a complete misrepresentation of the truth.  She contacted me after reading the Livonia Observer article and seeing Ms. McDowell's quote that makes it appear as though it was the District Transition Team that set start times for next year.  According to my source, Ms. McDowell came to the meeting with the start times already in hand.  The District Transition Team served as proof-readers rather than decision makers with regards to the start times.  They only had input into the method of communication...start times had been decided on already.  As an example, they took the word "tier" out of the communication about start times, since they felt this might cause upset.

This District Transition Team member asked to remain anonymous, so that she can continue to work with the rest of the group without further problems.  If there are any members of this team who read this, I would love to hear more.

I watched the Monday board meeting that Mrs. McDowells comments were taken from. It was my impression that she was making attempts to build the Transition Team up to be more than the messengers it has been formed to be. Input from parents and staff is given from school communities to administration. I feel that some of our concerns regarding how to drive kids to and from the differant schools, was not of great concern by the administration, until they saw the flood of feedback forms provided them. The approximate times were determined by our school administrators. Times were presented to the traniston team in a rough draft of the District Transition Updates. These updates then are posted on the District Transition team web site. Wording of the update was discussed, but the times were not up for debate.

Are you a member of the District Transition Team?