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FREEPRESS - NOV. 10TH; LIVONIA LOSES STUDENTS AFTER REMAP
Topic Started: Nov 10 2006, 12:18 PM (326 Views)
c3hull
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Principal

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article.../611100356/1004

BY ZLATI MEYER

FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

Livonia Public Schools has lost double the number of students it expected to -- along with $2 million in funding -- according to the district, which puts some of the blame on the decision to close and reconfigure schools.

From last school year to this one, the district lost 497 students -- 2.8% of the student body -- Superintendent Randy Liepa said Thursday. Administrators had expected a loss of 251 students, a 1.4% drop.

The lower count leaves the district with an overall loss of $4.2 million in state aid based on enrollment. However, about half of that amount had been planned for in the current budget.

Liepa said the district would dip into its fund equity to make up the difference. The district's current general budget is approximately $161 million.

He attributed the enrollment decline to more students graduating than entering kindergarten, the tough economy and parents upset over district changes.

"The Michigan economy is a piece of it and this has been evident in regards to hearing from other districts" experiencing similar drops, Liepa said. "We do know we lost some people because of the closing of schools."

Last December, the Livonia school board approved the Legacy Initiative, which closed a net total of seven elementary schools and put grades 5-6 in their own buildings.

The plan upset some parents, who threatened to move and sought an injunction (which was unsuccessful) to block the district from making the changes.

Brad Wolkan, a member of Citizens for Livonia's Future, the group that organized the opposition, questioned what happened to the savings the Legacy Initiative was expected to yield.

"Nobody wants to say, 'I told you so,' because it doesn't help anything," said the father of two Livonia students. "They will take the shortfall from the fund equity account, which is basically drawing from your savings account, which further depletes the funds available to the district."

Contact ZLATI MEYER at 248-351-3291 or meyer@freepress.com.
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c3hull
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"The Michigan economy is a piece of it and this has been evident in regards to hearing from other districts" experiencing similar drops, Liepa said.

Sorry LIEpa, every single school district surrounding LPS borders all had an INCREASE in enrollment this year. LPS was the only district for miles to see a drop in enrollment. :ph43r:
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chengste
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c3hull
Nov 10 2006, 12:21 PM
"The Michigan economy is a piece of it and this has been evident in regards to hearing from other districts" experiencing similar drops, Liepa said.

Sorry LIEpa, every single school district surrounding LPS borders all had an INCREASE in enrollment this year. LPS was the only district for miles to see a drop in enrollment. :ph43r:

I just sent that very same note to Ms Meyer
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momoffour
Principal
Liepa just does not get it.
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fyi
Principal
momoffour
Nov 10 2006, 12:31 PM
Liepa just does not get it.

He "gets it".....he's just hoping everyone doesn't..... :angry:
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f11
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LPS, transportation for all
Can someone please explain the "its the economy" argument to me.
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kristin
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f11
Nov 10 2006, 12:38 PM
Can someone please explain the "its the economy" argument to me.

I dont get it either.If they economy is bad then wouldnt the count go up because parents couldnt afford private school.

No matter what the economy is our kids still have to attend School.
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fyi
Principal
You know "It's the economy" when people pull their kids out of LPS because they can't afford it and then enroll them @ private schools because it's cheaper.

You know "It's the economy" when people sell their homes in Livonia under market value and then go buy a house in Plymouth/Northville where property values are higher.
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ILIkeLI
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c3hull
Nov 10 2006, 12:21 PM
"The Michigan economy is a piece of it and this has been evident in regards to hearing from other districts" experiencing similar drops, Liepa said.

Sorry LIEpa, every single school district surrounding LPS borders all had an INCREASE in enrollment this year. LPS was the only district for miles to see a drop in enrollment.  :ph43r:

The loss at LPS feeds other districts gains, it just makes sense. Particulary PCS and Northville. A friend in my neighborhood moved and(there home is STILL for sale) contributed 4 kids to Northville's numbers.
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ILIkeLI
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f11
Nov 10 2006, 12:38 PM
Can someone please explain the "its the economy" argument to me.

Liepa better be praying the the "poor economy" doesn't turn around anytime soon. I know several that would have enrolled in private school if they had the finances. If things turn around they're gonna bail.
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livoniamom
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fyi
Nov 10 2006, 12:48 PM
You know "It's the economy" when people pull their kids out of LPS because they can't afford it and then enroll them @ private schools because it's cheaper.

You know "It's the economy" when people sell their homes in Livonia under market value and then go buy a house in Plymouth/Northville where property values are higher.

I didn't get it either when he keeps blaming the economy. Is the whopping 12 students who moved out of state he is referring to? What about the rest? What is he talking about?? Kids still go to school even when the economy is bad.

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Grant1
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We have just begun to fight!
livoniamom
Nov 10 2006, 02:19 PM
fyi
Nov 10 2006, 12:48 PM
You know "It's the economy"  when people pull their kids out of LPS because they can't afford it and then enroll them @ private schools because it's cheaper.

You know "It's the economy" when people sell their homes in Livonia under market value and then go buy a house in Plymouth/Northville where property values are higher.

I didn't get it either when he keeps blaming the economy. Is the whopping 12 students who moved out of state he is referring to? What about the rest? What is he talking about?? Kids still go to school even when the economy is bad.

Kids go to public schools when the economy is bad...plain logic, and an economical fact
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Anna Krome
Principal
Finally, someone explained the numbers clearly.

Please send Zlati a note, thanking her for not suffering from innumeracy--like our BOE does!

It's not the economy, Mr. Liepa, it YOUR policy!

More intellectual dishonesty. When will this guy stop?

AK
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Anna Krome
Principal
Here's my letter to Zlati:


Dear Zlati,

Thank you for your article today about LPS. Finally, someone wrote concisely about the numbers involved, and what they imply. You are a cut above.

It is odd, though, that the Superintendent blamed the "Michigan economy" for the student loss. I didn't know that kids stopped going to school when the economy is bad. And, if the economy is poor, the hundreds who opted for expensive private school...well, it just does not jive in my mind. But, then again, not too much about LI has.

Thank you,

Anna Krome
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