| Observer; 11/9/06 | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Nov 9 2006, 07:10 AM (1,312 Views) | |
| NFarquharson | Nov 9 2006, 07:10 AM Post #1 |
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Principal
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http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/.../611090534/1027 LPS loses 500 students, $2 million in revenue BY REBECCA JONES STAFF WRITER Livonia Public Schools lost twice as many students as it expected this year, leaving a $2 million budget shortfall. Enrollment was down 2.8 percent -- 497 students -- from last year. That leaves LPS with 17,717 pupils and leaves some parents wondering how the district will cope in coming years if officials have to keep dipping into the fund equity to balance the budget. "How many times is LPS and this administration going to go to the well, i.e. fund equity, before the well goes dry?" Livonia resident Roger Spence asked. Supt. Randy Liepa reported the enrollment figures numbers at the Nov. 6 school board meeting. "We know that we have lost some students to surrounding schools or surrounding school districts," he said. "Some families have left us because of the school closings and the grade reconfigurations." About a dozen more families than in the prior year left the district to move out of state, he reported, and 100 students left the district for private schools. "That's about double what we would see in prior years," he said. Liepa also attributed the loss to the economy and community demographics. For example, 370 more students graduated last year than entered kindergarten this year. The district planned on a loss of 251 students or 1.4 percent this fall, and budgeted for a loss of about 160 students under the blended count (75 percent of fall enrollment and 25 percent from last February's count). LPS uses an enrollment model developed by a former school district employee to determine enrollment projections. Liepa said last spring's enrollment projections did not take into account the Legacy Initiative, a controversial plan which closed seven schools to save money. The plan led to a failed recall effort. Livonia resident Anita Sabatini said she pulled her two sons out of the district and wonders how many others have withdrawn based on the "poor decision" the board made. She was also peeved that the audit report showed that the district had a surplus. "Does this mean we could have waited another year to implement this plan?" she said, also questioning whether the loss would have been as significant if the district had listened to its constituents better. Sabatini suggested that the district set up a new demographics committee to better plan for next year. Administrators still have to determine what impact the student count will have on its budget. Budgeting and state aid is based on the blended count. Liepa estimated that $2 million in adjustments would be necessary. He will recommend taking money from the district's $10.9 million fund equity to balance the budget. The school board will make that determination later this month. Budget adjustments are always necessary after the start of the school year when the district determines actual enrollment figures, personnel costs and the state's per-pupil allocation, Liepa said. Typically the district does not try to cut the budget mid-year. "Our goal has always been to maintain our programs as we go throughout he year," he said. "It's one of the reasons you have fund equity." Resident Kim Naccashian questioned that move. "How was it in June our district was broke and now we have so much money in our fund equity that we can borrow millions to balance the budget?" she asked. Auditors recommend having 10 to 15 percent of the budget available in fund equity. If the district takes $2 million from its fund equity, the reserve would represent 5.5 percent of the budget. Trustee Tom Bailey said the board will have to take another look at the budget "in the next couple of months as we come to the realization that we are not a rich district. "Unless we start making major budget cuts, we're not going to dig ourselves out of this hole," Bailey said. rrjones@hometownlife.com | (734) 953-2054 Originally published November 9, 2006 _____________________________________________ http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/.../611090538/1027 Educator, coach charged with soliciting minor BY DAN WEST STAFF WRITER A Livonia man who's spent years working with young people has been arrested on allegations he used the Internet to send lewd messages and pictures to an underage boy. Ryan Thomas Fawkes, a 31-year-old teacher and hockey coach, was arraigned Monday in Livonia's 16th District Court with three felony charges: Using a computer to accost and solicit a minor, and two counts of using a computer to disseminate sexually explicit matter to a minor. He was released on bond after paying $5,000 and promising the court he would not use the Internet or have unsupervised contact with minors. A preliminary examination is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 16. Fawkes works as a seventh-grade teacher at Detroit's Columbus Middle School and serves as midget-level head coach of travel team affiliated with the Plymouth-Canton Hockey Association. Fawkes worked as a Livonia Public Schools' teacher at five elementary schools from 1996-2005. District spokesman Jay Young said Fawkes resigned in April 2005. "In his record as a teacher in our district, there were no allegations of behavior that's similar to the charges of which he's accused," Young said. Livonia police did not have any run-ins with Fawkes, said Lt. Greg Winn. Monday's charges were the result of an investigation by Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox. According to an attorney general's office press release, an undercover agent posing as a 13-year-old boy had several on-line communications with Fawkes from Oct. 3-26. In these communications, investigators said Fawkes solicited the undercover agent for on-line sexual activity. He is also accused of sending lewd Webcam video images of himself and other adult pornographic images to the agent. "It is particularly disturbing when those who are placed in positions of trust are accused of committing sex crimes against children," Cox said. He added parents are encouraged to check their children's Internet "buddy lists" for the screen names Fawkes used, including "Nate Thompson" and "John Olsen." If they believe their child had contact with Fawkes, they should call the attorney general's office at (313) 456-0180. Plymouth-Canton Hockey Association officials met with parents and players of the Plymouth Stingrays midget (ages 15-16) travel hockey team Tuesday night in a lockerroom at the Plymouth Cultural Center, explaining why their coach was suspended Monday from all hockey activities. "We had a team meeting with parents and players, and talked about the situation and moving ahead with the remainder of the coaching staff," said Gordon Bowman of Plymouth Township, the PCHA's director of coaches. "We also offered to get a counselor if the parents feel a need to have counsel or talk with the team." Bowman, who is also vice president of coaches for the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association, said the charges against Fawkes --a PCHA coach for several years -- were an "obvious shock." "He was highly regarded as a coach," said Bowman. "He was respected by players and parents. "When you look at coaches, you look at wins and losses, and he was successful," added Bowman. Staff writer Tony Bruscato contributed to this report. Originally published November 9, 2006 _________________________________________________ http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...388/1027/NEWS10 'GO-GIRL' program open to seventh-grade girls Wayne State University's "GO-GIRL" (Gaining Options-Girls Investigate Real Life) program, designed to boost mathematics skills and generate confidence in seventh-grade girls, is accepting applications for the winter semester. The 10-week Saturday program, hosted by Wayne State's College of Education, will launch the winter semester in January 2007. GO-GIRL is free and open to a limited number of seventh-grade female students. Middle school students interested in participating at Wayne State can visit www.gogirls.wayne.edu and download application forms. The application deadline is Thursday, Dec. 15. More information about the GO-GIRL project is available by contacting Professor Sally Roberts, faculty adviser, via e-mail at s.k.roberts@wayne.edu. Since its inception in 2002, GO-GIRL has helped more than 200 middle school girls from public and private schools in the Detroit metropolitan area develop mathematical confidence, skills and conceptual understanding by integrating mathematics and social science research into a single-sex, technology-rich environment supported by university student mentors. Originally published November 9, 2006 _________________________________________________ http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...341/1027/NEWS10 Be a parent, not a friend: All children face risk of drug abuse It is my pleasure to come before you this evening representing the Livonia P.D. in a show of support and concern for Diane and Andy Montes and their efforts to form Save Our Youth Task Force. Unfortunately, many times in our society it takes a tragedy such as Brian's untimely death to shed light on a dark and sinister problem usually hidden and undetected from our normal daily lives. I commend Diane and Andy for having the courage to call us here tonight to discuss our roles in the community and strategize on what can be done to ensure the future safety and well-being of our youth through the proposed formation of this Task Force. This meeting alone is a very positive step. To emphasize this point further an appropriate saying comes to mind, "when the perception of drug use decreases the use of drugs increases." I firmly believe that one of the greatest obstacles facing our society and this community today in the war on drugs can be summed up in one word: denial. Denial is the fear of the truth and open communication. Denial of drug use by the youth of our community is as prevalent and destructive as the drug itself. Denial creates and enables an environment for drug use to flourish. Denial gives tacit approval for its very existence and obscures our perceptions. To compound this situation further, living in Livonia with its excellent city services, schools, neighborhoods and businesses can easily lead one to a false sense of security and indifference. However, by our presence at this initial meeting, called by the Montes family, we have indicated our willingness to face the truth by raising our perceptions of drug use and openly communicating with one another. We are not here to blame or to be self righteous in believing that this tragedy could never happen in our families. After 31 1/2 years on this police department and being married for 28 years with three children and now three grandchildren, there are four ground rules I believe every parent must understand. No. 1, nothing is certain about parenting our children, meaning you can provide the best environment and upbringing but it does not totally inoculate your children from making the right decisions. No. 2, when it comes to drug/alcohol use there are no socioeconomic, religious, ethnic, gender, or age boundaries. No. 3, every child is at risk and susceptible, it does not matter what their grade point is, or programs, sports, or other activities they are involved in. Lastly, users are masters at the art of deception and lying. I think we can all agree raising a child today is a most arduous task and further exasperated by the unique challenges our youth face as they are overly stimulated by the Internet, exposed to super realistic and violent video games, pressured by a self-indulgent and materialistic culture with demands for instant gratification, premature loss of innocence, and the glamorization of drugs and alcohol. As a parent there is no text we can refer to for easy references and directions, but we must rely on our best instincts as we do the best we can under the circumstances. Parents play an instrumental role in keeping children off drugs. Parents must practice communication and education. First, parents must educate themselves about drugs, the signs and symptoms of use, trends, and prevention strategies and techniques for raising drug-free children. There are countless Web sites, publications and other resources available offering a wealth of information on the subject. Secondly, communicate with your children about alcohol and drug abuse at an age-appropriate level. The greater your child's perception of your disapproval of drug abuse the less likely your child will use them. Be a parent not a friend with your child. It is imperative that mothers and fathers speak as one voice in their decisions and in the rules and boundaries set for their children. Parents need to be aware of their children's friends and establish lines of communication between them and the friends' parents. I can't emphasize enough how important it is for parents to wait up for their children when they come home from a night out with their friends. When your child comes home meet them at the door with a hug and a kiss and invite them into your well-lit family room to talk about their evening. Of course, one of your rules when your children go out is that they are not to return home with the smell of mints or gum on their breath and or an overpowering smell of cologne or perfume. Many parents never wait up or if they do they remain seated watching TV while their child says goodnight from across the room. These are missed opportunities for parents to possibly detect any drug/alcohol use by their children. Parents must also evaluate their own use of alcohol and prescription drugs and the messages they are sending. Communicate with your children about any family history of drug/alcohol dependency. Some studies suggest there is a definite genetic predisposition to addictive tendencies. This would be valuable info to share with your child and a great conversation starter. We must all be enraged as Diane and Andy are over the senseless loss of their son. As members of this community their loss is in some ways our loss and we should all resolve to do whatever it takes to prevent this tragedy from happening again. I would like to share a lyric with you from a Simon and Garfunkel tune, the lyric is "Silence like a cancer grows." The cancer of drug abuse grows through the silence of a community. Let our community voices be heard as we all do our part to confront this destructive and deadly force within our community. Editor's note: The following is a portion of a talk by Livonia Police Sgt. Paul Wood to those who attended the first meeting of the Save Our Youth Task Force on Oct. 18. Originally published November 9, 2006 ______________________________________________ http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...340/1199/NEWS10 Return to neighborhood schools As the district has not yet released the official student count, but has stated in the Nov. 2 Observer "the estimate was about 2.5 percent," which equals 425 students, I am deeply concerned withdistrict's financial situation under the Legacy Initiative. If you subtract approximately 160 students, which represents the district's anticipated loss, we are still at an additional loss of 265 students. The original concern over the Legacy Initiative was if 174 students ($1,484,000legacy minimal savings/$8,537, the 200 6/2007 student expenditure) have left this district, the 1 percent Legacysavings is gone. At 265 students lost, we are at a huge deficit of $2.2 million dollars. ($265 x $8,537 = $2,262,305).That is 1.5 times greater than the 1 percent savings. And that figure does not include the numerous additional Legacy costs. (parking lot paving/roads $1 million possible). Do we have a plan "B" in place? What will the district do "if" these students do not return?If a high percentage of those that left the district attend private schools, those homes will not beavailable for new students. Thus, the savings is gone for good. I am not asking this question because I wish the Legacy to fail, I am asking this question as it has been a genuine concern from day one. During the election last May, members of this board were quoted as stating our fund equity was dangerously low and we may be close to receivership. To say now that "finances were not the biggest issue we were facing" is just a shell game. How is it in May and June of this year we were broke, now just a few months later, our district has so much money in our fund equity that we can borrow millions to balance the mid-year budget deficit. I would hope if the Legacy is not the plan it was thought to be, our district would do the right thing and return to the neighborhood school system Livonia has always been proud of. Ed and Kim Naccashian Livonia What about child safety? I would like to ask a question to our board of education concerning our school bus drivers and transportation. It has come to my attention that the district is outsourcing transportation. I have seen Wayne-Westland buses and Redford buses north of Six Mile Road within the Livonia School district. I have also heard the district has contracted with Trinity Transportation from Wyandotte, Michigan to assist with our school bus routes. Although I'm sure the additional transportation helps to alleviate the current busing problems, I would like to know what steps the district has taken to ensure our children's safety? Furthermore, what are the additional costs to taxpayers. In this week's issue of the LPS Dialog it states the district requires a criminal record check for all LPS employees. Does this include the outsourced school bus drivers? I would hope the answer to my question is yes, as no other standard should be acceptable. With the number of school bus accidents more than double recent years and the current 43 percent increase in LPS students bused to school this year, we as parents need the assurance our children are safe on that bus. Holly Burr Livonia Difficult situation for district The Citizens for Livonia's Future Organization is saddened by the reported loss of student population within the district. The numbers go well beyond the original amount budgeted for a loss of approximately 160 students, and are an indication of more difficult times yet to come. These losses, and the subsequent statements by the board of education and the superintendent, that are often conflicting and confusing, only indicate that further monies are going to be depleted from the fund equity as stated by Dr. Liepa. This threatens to plunge the district into further financial stress and is not solid financial planning for the long or short term. This is the same fund equity that was quoted by the administration and the BOE as being so low, and whose financial data was used to justify the passing of the Legacy Initiative, and at the time as quoted by a few of the BOE Trustees, "We may not have a high school in a few years," or "We are 'this close' to receivership," that now has enough in it to supplement what may amount to millions of dollars in losses. The continued deficit budgeting, poor financial decisions and management, and the lack of clear concise data to support these decisions, has made this a very difficult situation for the entire Livonia Public Schools School District community. When many of our surrounding communities report increases in enrollments, or losses that are less than have been budgeted for, the community cannot ignore the true reasons for the losses within our own district. It is our sincere hope that these budget shortfalls, and the further erosion of the fund equity do not lead to any further staff reductions, or deter the efforts of many concerned citizens who are working hand in hand with the district on programs such as the DARE, Anti-Bullying, and Drug Prevention in an effort to protect and enhance the total learning experience for all students. Our goal should befor all citizens, business owners, community leaders, Board of Education, and LPS Administration to work together to determine what is best for the long-term retention of students, as well as providing a high quality school configuration that will draw increased enrollment to a once proud and thriving school district. Brad Wolkan Citizens for Livonia's Future Originally published November 9, 2006 _____________________________________________ http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...337/1199/NEWS10 LPS budget surplus info comes too late We needed this financial information a year ago. With it, the past year might have been different. The decision to close schools, the community divisions, the recall elections all might not have happened. After all, it's hard to believe the Livonia Public Schools school board would have gone ahead with this Legacy Initiative in the face of such a strong opposition and knowing about the soon-to-be improved financial picture. The LPS 2006 audit shows the district's fund balance had $10.9 million on June 30, which is some $3.2 million more than budgeted for that date during the previous year. Yes, the fund balance is still only a somewhat low 7 percent of the district's budget, but that $3.2 million is a big difference in light of what's happened this year. The district could have boosted its fund equity by a lesser amount and planned to spend some of that larger fund equity to make up the $1.8 million that was supposed to be saved this first year under the Legacy Initiative, the controversial plan to close seven schools, reconfigure school grades and improve the system for the long term. The point of this Legacy Initiative was to save money in both the short and long term. Certainly there were some specific educational improvements behind it, but the main issue was money and this recent audit shows that the delay and restudy that was desired by most of the anti-Legacy crowd would have not harmed the district's bottom line. And now that Livonia's student count has finally been released, showing a loss of about 500 students this school year, the predictions of many of those opponents from last year have come true: The loss of students -- most likely due in large part to this plan -- has cost the district much more revenue than it had ever hoped to save in the first year. There has also been money spent on building improvements, buses and a fund balance over $6 million in the district's special education fund. Hindsight can often be 20-20. And this improved fund equity will only be temporary, since the district is going to need to use it to make up for the loss of $8,490 per student based on the decline this year. However, for the longer term, it's important for district leaders to recognize that this fall-off of students may not end this year, as there is still a lot of dissatisfaction out there. This Legacy plan still needs close examination and review as it progresses. And the district needs to find ways to renew the confidence of many of its customers. Originally published November 9, 2006 |
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| NFarquharson | Nov 9 2006, 07:21 AM Post #2 |
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Principal
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Thank you Mr. Varga. |
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| f11 | Nov 9 2006, 07:27 AM Post #3 |
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LPS, transportation for all
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Ok, isn't there one huge problem with this? "LPS loses 500 students, $2 million in revenue" is this connected math? |
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| NFarquharson | Nov 9 2006, 07:42 AM Post #4 |
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Principal
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I think it is over 2 million beyond the budgeted loss. |
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| f11 | Nov 9 2006, 07:44 AM Post #5 |
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LPS, transportation for all
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understood....imho, people are going to read that headline and equate 500 students to $2million in revenue |
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| Momforone | Nov 9 2006, 07:49 AM Post #6 |
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Principal
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Thank you Mr. Varga, maybe NOW our Dr. Liepa and the Trustess will listen to our community! |
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| Grant1 | Nov 9 2006, 07:54 AM Post #7 |
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We have just begun to fight!
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Budgeted loss 162 X 8490 = 1,375,380 Actual Loss 500 X 8490 = 4,245,000 1,375,380 - 4,245,000 = - 2,869,620 ( note; numbers may not be exact since LPS has not given the actual student count numbers yet, and more are leaving as we speak. Enrollment at private/parochial schools is still increasing. Spring student counts will be even lower ) |
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| f11 | Nov 9 2006, 07:56 AM Post #8 |
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LPS, transportation for all
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very bad headline/title of article |
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| fyi | Nov 9 2006, 08:20 AM Post #9 |
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Principal
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No....2 million beyond the "planned" loss. There is a difference. Who cares what they thought they would lose.....obviously they didn't have a clue. They budgeted for 160. 160=1,348,500(budgeted) 251=2,130,990(planned) 500=4,245,000(actual) Difference between the "Planned" loss and "actual" loss= 2,114,010---It's very misleading. Very interesting:
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| loyaltolivonia | Nov 9 2006, 08:28 AM Post #10 |
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Principal
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"Unless we start making major budget cuts, we're not going to dig ourselves out of this hole," Bailey said. WHO dug this hole to begin with? (the BOE and Dr.) WHO will suffer? (The kids....AGAIN!) WHAT will happen now? (Good-bye World Language and Intrumental music) |
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| professionalmom | Nov 9 2006, 08:28 AM Post #11 |
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Principal
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Well, at least Bailey acknowledged that they were in a "hole". To fix a problem, you have to at first identify what the problem is. |
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| CKlockner | Nov 9 2006, 08:41 AM Post #12 |
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Principal
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Dr. Liepa, YOUR FIRED!!! |
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| livoniamom | Nov 9 2006, 08:57 AM Post #13 |
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Principal
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| 49chevy | Nov 9 2006, 08:58 AM Post #14 |
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Answers questioned
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I think the Dr. needs to move along and find a new career path....he's done enough damage here. |
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| fyi | Nov 9 2006, 09:03 AM Post #15 |
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Principal
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500 students x $8490=$4,245,000(actual)---340 students beyond what they budgeted for -Minus 160 students x $8490=$1,358,400(budgeted) $2,886,600 (340 students)---this is approx. what they need from the fund equity. The Observer article is off by $886,600---IMO. Maybe they were rounding the figure?.....if that's the case.....it's closer to $3 million. It seems that the Observer used the "planned" #'s rather than "budgeted" #'s and that would put the estimation closer to $2 million (2,114,010)---It's very misleading. |
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Who cares what they thought they would lose.....obviously they didn't have a clue. They budgeted for 160. 
9:09 AM Jul 11