Can you TRUST the BOE?

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Can you TRUST the BOE?; Why?, or Why not?
Tweet Topic Started: Mar 16 2006, 08:29 PM (802 Views)
Livonia Voter	Mar 16 2006, 08:29 PM Post #1
Principal Posts: 1,256 Group: Members Member #165 Joined: November 29, 2005	For me, TRUST is a running theme in this whole dispute. If you can't TRUST the board, how can you possibly support them? I'm interested though in why people have chosen to TRUST or not TRUST the board. What makes you believe in them, or if you do not, what was it that changed your minds about them? There are no wrong answers, but if we can all see why we disagree about this, we'll be a whole lot closer to resolving this mess.



insupport	Mar 16 2006, 09:49 PM Post #2
Principal Posts: 296 Group: Members Member #323 Joined: February 28, 2006	I trust the BOE because at my childs elementary school there were notes sent home regarding the formation of the demographics committee and asking for volunteers. At that time it was communicated through notes that the committee would be looking at redistricting, grade configurations, to address the current financial situation. We were also informed ahead of time that members would be gathering input at a PTA meeting. I have also spoken to 3 people that were on the demographics team(1 teacher and 2 parents). I was told by all 3 that the Legacy Initiative evolved from the work of the team. They did explore many options prior to deciding to present the k-4 plan to the board. These people are not close friends of mine but I made a point of asking questions before and after the fact. I specifically know that we were told that grade configurations would be looked at because my fear was that 6th grade would be added to the middle schools. For my own reasons I did not want that. I do not have an issue with the number of board members on the committee because we elected them to do what is best for the district. It made sense to me that they would be and should be involved in the demographics committees work. I do not see it as a conflict of interest because the interest on the committee is the children and that is also the interest of the board. I know people are saying they are somehow going to make money off of this. People don't run for the schoolboard for the money they do it because they care about the district and the children. I don't see why the board would come up with a plan that would be the downfall of the city. Whether you trust them or not this has not been easy on them either. They did what they think is best and they did what they were elected to do. I do not personally know any of the board members in case you were wondering. Respond to this in any way you like but remember I am just answering a question that someone asked on this forum I am being sincere.



ktmom	Mar 16 2006, 09:55 PM Post #3
Principal Posts: 520 Group: Members Member #72 Joined: November 2, 2005	insupport Mar 16 2006, 09:49 PM I trust the BOE because at my childs elementary school there were notes sent home regarding the formation of the demographics committee and asking for volunteers. At that time it was communicated through notes that the committee would be looking at redistricting, grade configurations, to address the current financial situation. We were also informed ahead of time that members would be gathering input at a PTA meeting. I have also spoken to 3 people that were on the demographics team(1 teacher and 2 parents). I was told by all 3 that the Legacy Initiative evolved from the work of the team. They did explore many options prior to deciding to present the k-4 plan to the board. These people are not close friends of mine but I made a point of asking questions before and after the fact. I specifically know that we were told that grade configurations would be looked at because my fear was that 6th grade would be added to the middle schools. For my own reasons I did not want that. I do not have an issue with the number of board members on the committee because we elected them to do what is best for the district. It made sense to me that they would be and should be involved in the demographics committees work. I do not see it as a conflict of interest because the interest on the committee is the children and that is also the interest of the board. I know people are saying they are somehow going to make money off of this. People don't run for the schoolboard for the money they do it because they care about the district and the children. I don't see why the board would come up with a plan that would be the downfall of the city. Whether you trust them or not this has not been easy on them either. They did what they think is best and they did what they were elected to do. I do not personally know any of the board members in case you were wondering. Respond to this in any way you like but remember I am just answering a question that someone asked on this forum I am being sincere. Interesting.. I was told by a BOE member that the Plan came from the administration.



NFarquharson	Mar 16 2006, 09:58 PM Post #4
Principal Posts: 4,311 Group: Members Member #103 Joined: November 9, 2005	insupport Mar 16 2006, 09:49 PM I trust the BOE because at my childs elementary school there were notes sent home regarding the formation of the demographics committee and asking for volunteers. At that time it was communicated through notes that the committee would be looking at redistricting, grade configurations, to address the current financial situation. We were also informed ahead of time that members would be gathering input at a PTA meeting. I have also spoken to 3 people that were on the demographics team(1 teacher and 2 parents). I was told by all 3 that the Legacy Initiative evolved from the work of the team. They did explore many options prior to deciding to present the k-4 plan to the board. These people are not close friends of mine but I made a point of asking questions before and after the fact. I specifically know that we were told that grade configurations would be looked at because my fear was that 6th grade would be added to the middle schools. For my own reasons I did not want that. I do not have an issue with the number of board members on the committee because we elected them to do what is best for the district. It made sense to me that they would be and should be involved in the demographics committees work. I do not see it as a conflict of interest because the interest on the committee is the children and that is also the interest of the board. I know people are saying they are somehow going to make money off of this. People don't run for the schoolboard for the money they do it because they care about the district and the children. I don't see why the board would come up with a plan that would be the downfall of the city. Whether you trust them or not this has not been easy on them either. They did what they think is best and they did what they were elected to do. I do not personally know any of the board members in case you were wondering. Respond to this in any way you like but remember I am just answering a question that someone asked on this forum I am being sincere. I wonder why similar notes were not sent home to all of us? I read EVERYTHING and I know that I did not get anything about this. The first I heard of the demo committee was the April 2005 Dialog article, which was quite vague. I had no idea they were considering grade configuration changes.



insupport	Mar 16 2006, 10:05 PM Post #5
Principal Posts: 296 Group: Members Member #323 Joined: February 28, 2006	I don't know why everyone didn't get the same info. I don't know who decided to send the info at the school my child attends.



insupport	Mar 16 2006, 10:08 PM Post #6
Principal Posts: 296 Group: Members Member #323 Joined: February 28, 2006	Regarding the plan coming from administration I am not sure about that but I believe the committee was given some guidelines and different options to explore so the idea may have come from administration. Not really sure though but I will have to inquire about this.



ktmom	Mar 16 2006, 10:49 PM Post #7
Principal Posts: 520 Group: Members Member #72 Joined: November 2, 2005	insupport Mar 16 2006, 10:08 PM Regarding the plan coming from administration I am not sure about that but I believe the committee was given some guidelines and different options to explore so the idea may have come from administration. Not really sure though but I will have to inquire about this. I would imagine all the plans really came from the administration. They are the supposed experts right? I guess perhaps the K4 model was pushed more than the others. I was told it was the clear favorite.



Momforone	Mar 16 2006, 11:11 PM Post #8
Principal Posts: 127 Group: Members Member #131 Joined: November 16, 2005	Insupport, What school does your child attend? I didn't see notes about volunteering for the demographic committee from our school.



parentsw/power	Mar 17 2006, 07:48 AM Post #9
Principal Posts: 154 Group: Members Member #23 Joined: October 27, 2005	Momofone Mar 16 2006, 11:11 PM Insupport, What school does your child attend? I didn't see notes about volunteering for the demographic committee from our school. At our school, I didn't see any such communication come home with my daughters either.



Elisa	Mar 17 2006, 09:24 AM Post #10
Principal Posts: 607 Group: Members Member #64 Joined: October 31, 2005	I would have to agree that the purpose of the demo. committee was never clearly defined. The dialog described the committee and its mission in awkward and ambiguous terms. The term "grade configuration" to the best of my knowledge and research, was never used. They chose the term "learning configuration" If parents had wanted to find out more for themselves about "learning configurations", they would have been perlexed by what they would have found. A google search of the 2 terms provide very different information. Are we to believe this was an oversight on their part? poor writing skills? or blatant deception?



Want2move	Mar 17 2006, 10:18 AM Post #11
Principal Posts: 189 Group: Members Member #145 Joined: November 20, 2005	We do not recall getting anything on the Demo committee formation either. We heard that redistricting was being looked at due to population changes in neighborhoods. That�s it. I have, however, been receiving all sorts of transition news since the plan was voted in by many of the same people who helped create it. That, to me, sends up a red flag. Was this deception or oversight as Elisa questioned? I don't know, but it sure makes them look pretty inept at communication after the fact. As time goes on, I feel less trust for the BOE due to contradictory things being said by its members, and the general way they present themselves at BOE meetings. It seems to me, that anyone who is as sincerely concerned about the Kids as they state, would have stepped back, listened to all the concerns and comments, placed this on hold, and re-evaluated the next step. Instead, they have dug in their heels, ignored or dismissed many concerns and comments, and went full steam ahead. ...yet the BOE President states we live in a "Representative Democracy"? Come on. Only Mr. Bailey had the guts to look at the monster they created, and suggest they re-evaluate. We all know how that went. "I'd rather close schools, than lose jobs"? Yeah, "It's all about the Kids education" alright. They spent about $1.3 million on ADDITIONAL buses. They are spending $550,000 on cooper upgrades. I heard the parking lot upgrades are around $900,000. That's about $2.75 million alone, and that's just a few of the many start up costs. How many years will it take before this wonderful plan begins to save money? Anyone? That's the Reader Digest version of why I'm not very trusting these days.



homegirl26	Mar 17 2006, 01:03 PM Post #12
Principal Posts: 74 Group: Members Member #182 Joined: December 6, 2005	It was communicated to me from a very reliable source that this plan to close schools and reconfigure grades has been on Randy Liepa's agenda since the first week he was made superintendent and that he inherited the idea from Watson. I think they just needed to form a demographic committee that would "ensure" its passage hence all of the LPS and BOE members being on the committee. If the true intent of what they were delving into was made clear when the demographics committe was formed, many more parents would have questioned this plan from the beginning. I thought it was merely about changing some boundaries to try to alleviate overcrowding at schools.



Livonia Voter	Mar 17 2006, 03:28 PM Post #13
Principal Posts: 1,256 Group: Members Member #165 Joined: November 29, 2005	insupport Mar 16 2006, 10:05 PM I don't know why everyone didn't get the same info. I don't know who decided to send the info at the school my child attends. I don't have a child in LPS, and I got no warning at all. Surely they couldn't think this only effects parents?



CKlockner	Mar 17 2006, 05:24 PM Post #14
Principal Posts: 628 Group: Members Member #44 Joined: October 28, 2005	Being a Taylor parent and having Andrea Oquist on the Demographic Committee, you would think we would have known what was going on. But it was all hush hush at our school too and Im at school at least 3 days a week. I attended PTA meeting and coffee with the principle meetings. Not a peep as to what was to come. No notes came home in regards to it.



rooseveltmom	Mar 17 2006, 08:55 PM Post #15
Principal Posts: 322 Group: Members Member #59 Joined: October 31, 2005	I have one more question. I remember Mr. W asking at the last BOE meeting about the sale of school property. Does anyone know how much was recieved for the site? Has there been any reply in regard to the sale of this property? I have searched all of the minutes on the BOE's website back to 2001 and will again. Just wondering if there was anything new about this. By the way.....Thank you for keeping on top of things. A watchful eye is necessary now, and our presence needs to remain seen.


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