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Where are the Supporters?; The Silence is Deafening...
Topic Started: Sep 27 2006, 05:31 PM (10,502 Views)
ILIkeLI
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Principal
Supporters care to comment or maybe re-interpret Liepa's comments on the count day deadline? The student loss that has yet to be accurately revealed? The district's new found wealth? The willingness to dip into the fund equity NOW? The BOE's comments that the LI wasn't about the money? The realization that the district COULD have easily and comfortably waited a year to study options to the LI and finally....the sad realization that the district will most certainly be in worse financial shape post-LI than they were pre-LI?
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fyi
Principal
I think the district knew all along they had a little cushion to cover any enrollment losses this year......although the extra cash should have been used to wait a year and involve the community.....

As a taxpayer, one has to wonder if this is a wise use of government funds.....especially when we are led to believe that the schools are unfunded.

So....we're covered this year....what about the years to follow? :huh: Is the district hoping that things will turn around? What if it gets worse? :( Will they dwindle the fund equity down to zero? :unsure: Will there be a high school? :o

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Livonia Voter
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c3hull
Oct 31 2006, 02:41 AM
According to Randy LIEpa, the LIE was all about the district saving $. The LIe caused many parents to put their kids elsewhere. The huge loss of students equates to a LOSS, NO SAVINGS. Therefore, the LIE is a huge failure.

It was never about the kids, the parents, property values, community acceptance, etc. "FOR KIDS SAKE"...you've got to be off your rocker to believe that one! :ph43r:


In the meeting on Monday (10/30/06), Schell stated she thought Legacy was an improvement in education, and that she supported it for that reason, not the budget savings.

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49chevy
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Livonia Voter
Nov 3 2006, 01:12 PM
In the meeting on Monday (10/30/06), Schell stated she thought Legacy was an improvement in education, and that she supported it for that reason, not the budget savings.

I'd like her to explain how it's an improvement.....
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mikefromholland
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Livonia Voter
Nov 3 2006, 01:12 PM
c3hull
Oct 31 2006, 02:41 AM
According to Randy LIEpa, the LIE was all about the district saving $. The LIe caused many parents to put their kids elsewhere. The huge loss of students equates to a LOSS, NO SAVINGS. Therefore, the LIE is a huge failure.

It was never about the kids, the parents, property values, community acceptance, etc. "FOR KIDS SAKE"...you've got to be off your rocker to believe that one!  :ph43r:


In the meeting on Monday (10/30/06), Schell stated she thought Legacy was an improvement in education, and that she supported it for that reason, not the budget savings.

Another interesting parallel to Holland 2 or 3 years ago... when the allegations by people like me began to stick -- that the focus schools were costing the district money rather than saving it -- then the board and administrators starting pushing the same argument. They said things like, oh, we didn't really implement focus schools for the cost savings, we really did it to improve student achievement.

My opinion, of course, is that the focus schools did not improve achievement and probably decreased the potential achievement gains that the district could have made, certainly during the first 2 years of their implementation.
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fyi
Principal
I'm thankful that the district has a larger than expected fund equity that can be used to make up for the losses this year. What would have happened if they didn't have a fund they could turn to? Losing over $3 million in one year......imagine how "student achievement" would have been affected if the district had to deal with such a large financial loss.....I think we would be in worse shape than we were before the LI was implemented. I'm just hoping that the fund equity will cover the losses for next year and any losses in the years to follow. I'm concerned that if the enrollment losses continue, and LPS runs out of money, student achievement will be negatively impacted. We have to be realistic here. How will LPS add to the fund equity? Will it just continue to dwindle year after year? Will they have to close more elementary schools? Will class sizes go up?

Board members should be concerned about the financial impact of the LI. If they supported the Intiative because it they thought it would improve student achievement, they must take into consideration how the loss in enrollment/$$$$ will affect current students and programs.
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cat
Principal
It is ashame that the "cushion money" will be used to bail out LPS. That I believe was not the intentional use. And should not be used for that.. I can just bet more will be leaving for sure. Maybe not as many but they will...They really blew it, and are making a mockery out of the school district...Just by even talking out of both sides of their mouths...
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CKlockner
Principal
What are the chances that the ones who left will come back?
Everyone I know that have moved their kids out of LPS are very happy with their decision.
Those who have kids in the k-4 schools are hearing about the problems with the 5/6 schools
I know plenty of nervous parents in the lower el schools. If things are not changed at the 5/6 schools this year, I believe more people will be looking at other options next year as well.
So where does that leave LPS?
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Administrator
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cat
Nov 4 2006, 12:40 PM
It is ashame that the "cushion money" will be used to bail out LPS. That I believe was not the intentional use. And should not be used for that.. I can just bet more will be leaving for sure. Maybe not as many but they will...They really blew it, and are making a mockery out of the school district...Just by even talking out of both sides of their mouths...

Actually the chances are pretty good that next years losses will be more than this years.
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Grant1
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We have just begun to fight!
I think mikefromholland has already given us a pretty clear outlook on what to expect next year if there are no changes made beforehand.

His observations of the parallelisms between HPS and LPS and his documentation of the results of the changes in Holland have been a true predictor of what to expect here also.

Mike may want to give a refresher update here on this thread on what did happen in the following years after the first year losses, as well as the numbers of those who did/did not return to the HPS system until???

It is probably pretty safe to say that next years losses may add up to more than this years losses, causing further declines in funding.

Will Dr. Liepa decide that it is OK to dip into the Fund Equity again year after year to make up for the funding losses from the loss of students? ( remember this was the argument that was made for the need to implement the LI - the extremely low balance in the Fund Equity and the need to do something before "we go into receivership" as one 'former' board member was quoted as saying )

- At what point will it be before they have to decide on cuts in employees?
- Increase the student counts in the classroom? ( remember that the teachers do not like this, although they do get a premium for each child over a certain amount dependant upon the grade level, thus costing the district even more to implement )
- Realize that non-classroom services are considered a burden on the budget?
- Deplete the Fund Equity to a point that it is below the recommended balance for safety and security of the financial stability of the school district?
- Actually decide to do something to make the district a draw for families and students?
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Zeke
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Principal
This could be the start of the downword spiral we all feared from the beginning (think back to the Churchill meeting).

Up until this school year it seemed like a remote possibility. This year it seems like a definate possibility. Next year it will be a probability.

If we continue to parallel what happened in Holland, and I don't see why we wouldn't, next year we should have even bigger loses. Maybe 600 to 700. Add that up with this years and then you are talking around 8 or 9 million out of the budget. This will use up all of the budget cushion in one year. Then programs get cut making LPS an even less desirable school district to move into. This is a slow motion train wreck we are watching.

Unfortunately we are on the train!
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Zeke
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Also I would like to once again thank mikefromholland for his input on these forums. Mike your information has been invaluable to us. With it maybe we can slow this train down a bit.

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Administrator
Administrator
The parallels between Holland and what has happened in Livonia to date are uncanny. Anyone who chooses to turn a blind eye to it needs to check their ego at the door. This is about our kids, not about trying to prove yourself correct.
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ILIkeLI
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Devastating student loss numbers announced last night. Supporters care to weigh in on them? their impact on the future of the district? the security of the new "programs?" future school closings?
Anything?.....
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CKlockner
Principal
Jimid
Nov 5 2006, 09:40 AM
The parallels between Holland and what has happened in Livonia to date are uncanny. Anyone who chooses to turn a blind eye to it needs to check their ego at the door. This is about our kids, not about trying to prove yourself correct.

I agree Jimid. Its like watching a movie when you already have read the book.
Its to bad LPS administration hasnt read the book.
What are they going to do to save our schools? I am truly worried for our kids.

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