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Board of Education Meeting; Monday, November 20, 2006
Topic Started: Nov 12 2006, 05:45 PM (3,581 Views)
bee
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First, I believe Livonia/Westland does have one of the worst economies in southeast Michigan. However, the primary reason is because of the LIe. If it wasn't for the LIe there would not be anything substantually different between us and the surrounding communities. Obviously there is a substantial difference. I don't think Freemen or the rest of the puppets will ever admit a problem because they are the problem.

Everytime these LIers say they estimated a 250 student reduction it is a lie. They approved a budget with a ~163 student reduction. Everyone of them approved it. It is in the numbers and numbers don't lie. If they estimated 250, the budget would reflect it. Bottom line the were over 200% off. They still can't admit they were wrong. Even after they had significant input from the community telling them they were leaving. I forgot, they don't listen to the community. Now the community is saying more will leave next year. The only way they will listen to anyone other that the puppetmaster, is when something is done next May.

:D Can't wait!!!
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NFarquharson
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How can the BOE continue to be in denial about the primary reason for the large loss of students? If people cannot afford to move as Freemen claims, then more would stay in LPS. A bad economy should clearly mean less people can afford private school and less can afford to sell their homes at a loss to move and take their kids to other districts. Despite that, people obviously did find ways to leave!

Freeman's absurd talk at the end about people not being able to move because of Proposal A's impact on property taxes ought to be a reason for people to keep their kids in the district. The lack of logic, reason and plain old common sense would be laughable if these people didn't have such an impact on our city and our children! What is wrong with them?
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loyaltolivonia
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I was watching when Mr. Freeman made his comments at the end.

Can someone answer why he kept making little "quote" gestures with his hands when he was talking about the # of students that have left our district? He kept saying 450 but wasn't it in the paper that 520 students left? What the heck was he going on and on about? Doesn't he know the # of students lost? Everyone else seems to know how many! I think he really needs to know his facts before he starts spouting numbers and gesturing wildly!
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2tots
Principal
Fran
Nov 20 2006, 08:19 PM
I don't understand the need for some of tonights speakers to mislead the board and public as to their original feelings about the LI.

One of the two women who spoke tonight saying they were on the fence prior to the start of the school year, has been very opposed to this from the beginning. To my knowledge, she hasn't previously spoken in front of the board or publicly made those views known in writing. However she displayed Recall signs from the day they were printed until the election and has spoken "around the schoolyard' about how she disliked this plan and distrusted the board.

Why not just say, I was skeptical, but reserved judgment. Better yet, be up front, as Steve Futrell was, and illustrated points that he believes supports his opinion, at least you can respect his opinion. Why lie?

She did not say she was on the fence prior to the start of the school year. What she did say is that when the plan was first introduced a year ago, her initial response was supportive. After doing her own research and analyzing the plan on her own she realized it was no good. If only the BOE had done the same.
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Aunt Bea
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Grant1
Nov 19 2006, 01:11 PM
B. Approval of Cooperative Agreement with Plymouth-Canton Community Schools
Cooperative Agreement with Plymouth-Canton Action
Cooperative Agreement with Plymouth-Canton Attach


I would like to know why we are so obliging to Jay Youngs home town as to provide them the ability to utilize the LPS Career Tech Center?

If this is one of such items that makes this district a "magnet" then why are we excluding LPS kids from using this wonderful assett, and then providing it to the friends of Jay Young?

Friends and family always seem to come first over the community...such a shame.

Grant 1- Because you carry so much influence on this blog, I figured you would want to clear up this mistatement you made. Surely you are clear that no LPS students are being excluded from the Career Tech programs to give access to students from surrounding districts. (I'm not sure why you think prefernce would be given to a community where an LPS staff lives. What evidence is there that Jay Young has any friends using the program?) There are some some strong spokespeople among you, but when I read stuff like this, and hear one adult after the other on this site calling other adults names, your credibility takes a big nose dive.

There was so much chatter here months ago about creative ways to bring in revenue to the district, I figured you would applaud efforts such as this for the district to maximize it's resources to bring in more revenue.
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cmic
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They need to reverse the initiative and at the same time continue to bring in money in this kind of a way.
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Anna Krome
Principal
Hi Aunt Bea,

While I cannot speak for Grant1, and I certainly hear what you are saying--which is very prescient in regard to this site's credibility--

A public person's background comes into play--almost every time--when public decisons are made. It's part of the human condition to be conflicted by "background" or "alliances."

Judges recuse themselve, whenever any conflict of interest is involved--it is standard and mandatory.

By extension, Mr. Young's background can, indeed, be questioned as related to public decisions, if he is involved in the decision making.

And, considering the lack of intellectual honesty the BOE puts forth, questioning their decision making seems a natural.

No disrepect intended.

AK
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my_kids_mom
Principal
livoniamom
Nov 20 2006, 11:35 AM
I think Scheel, Freeman, Whitehead, King and Markarian owe it to everyone to voice their thoughts on the 520 student loss.  I still can't believe they did not address this during the last board meeting.

Is it just me or all the thank you's getting out of control?  They present awards and thank the person.  They go off the air to thank them more.  Then at the end of the meeting the repeat all the thank you's during the board members time to talk.

That's because they have nothing 'intelligent' to say. Obviously, they can't say the Legacy Initiative is a huge success. Or, then again, they are all dumb as sticks, so they may try that one. They have nothing to say so they just reiterate what when on at the meeting. Board of ED: PLEASE SAY SOMETHING INTELLIGENT....PLEASE...PRETTY PLEASE....PRETTY, PRETTY, PLEASE WITH SUGAR ON IT!
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Iliveon-Levandownbytheriver
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cmic
Nov 21 2006, 04:55 PM
They need to reverse the initiative and at the same time continue to bring in money in this kind of a way.

I agee with you CMIC. They need to reverse the decision and work hard to bring new families back and into the district. I would love the district to focus more on the elementary level here.
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livoniafootballmom
Principal
Iliveon-Levandownbytheriver
Nov 21 2006, 08:11 PM
cmic
Nov 21 2006, 04:55 PM
They need to reverse the initiative and at the same time continue to bring in money in this kind of a way.

I agee with you CMIC. They need to reverse the decision and work hard to bring new families back and into the district. I would love the district to focus more on the elementary level here.

Focus on just the elementaries? For how long? Until your kids hit middle school? We have new state mandated graduation requirements that require an overhaul to the overall curriculum and it needs to be done now since it takes effect for this years current 8th graders. That should be the current priority.
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fyi
Principal
No....I think the 'current priority' should be making sure another 600 students do not leave the district next year....but that's just my humble opinion.
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ktmom
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livoniafootballmom
Nov 21 2006, 08:17 PM
Iliveon-Levandownbytheriver
Nov 21 2006, 08:11 PM
cmic
Nov 21 2006, 04:55 PM
They need to reverse the initiative and at the same time continue to bring in money in this kind of a way.

I agee with you CMIC. They need to reverse the decision and work hard to bring new families back and into the district. I would love the district to focus more on the elementary level here.

Focus on just the elementaries? For how long? Until your kids hit middle school? We have new state mandated graduation requirements that require an overhaul to the overall curriculum and it needs to be done now since it takes effect for this years current 8th graders. That should be the current priority.

I agree that the high school requirement changes are important BUT so are the concerns of all the parents witnessing first hand the mess we call the Legacy Initative. Sure ignore those of us with elementary aged children. You won't have to worry about the high school requirements for them because they won't be here!
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Iliveon-Levandownbytheriver
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livoniafootballmom
Nov 21 2006, 08:17 PM
Iliveon-Levandownbytheriver
Nov 21 2006, 08:11 PM
cmic
Nov 21 2006, 04:55 PM
They need to reverse the initiative and at the same time continue to bring in money in this kind of a way.

I agee with you CMIC. They need to reverse the decision and work hard to bring new families back and into the district. I would love the district to focus more on the elementary level here.

Focus on just the elementaries? For how long? Until your kids hit middle school? We have new state mandated graduation requirements that require an overhaul to the overall curriculum and it needs to be done now since it takes effect for this years current 8th graders. That should be the current priority.

NO....I said just focus MORE on the elementaries. I didnt say ignore everyone else. The high schools here are great! They have great programs. Why not offer great programs at the elementary level to attract younger clients here? That is all
I was saying.

And by the way....I do not have a child enrolled here in elementary anymore. I am thinking of the future of LPS. Not just me. It was just a suggestion.
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mikefromholland
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livoniafootballmom
Nov 21 2006, 08:17 PM
Iliveon-Levandownbytheriver
Nov 21 2006, 08:11 PM
cmic
Nov 21 2006, 04:55 PM
They need to reverse the initiative and at the same time continue to bring in money in this kind of a way.

I agee with you CMIC. They need to reverse the decision and work hard to bring new families back and into the district. I would love the district to focus more on the elementary level here.

Focus on just the elementaries? For how long? Until your kids hit middle school? We have new state mandated graduation requirements that require an overhaul to the overall curriculum and it needs to be done now since it takes effect for this years current 8th graders. That should be the current priority.

Putting aside what grades any particular family's kids are in, obviously a district needs to provide sufficient focus on all of its schools.

But there is a major incentive -- due to the Proposal A funding mechanism -- for districts to put a special focus on their elementary schools. Basically, a family attracted to a district for its elementary schools represents 13 years of potential foundation grant revenue. The same family coming to the district at the high school or middle school level represents a lower potential revenue stream.

Also, with regard to educational standards, sad to say by the time a kid gets to 8th grade it's probably too late. Many of the kids who are failing to meet standards in high school are the same ones who weren't doing it in 8th grade ... or 4th grade. Putting the major focus on high school is not necessarily the answer to meeting graduation standards.

This raises the question of whether these new standards are worthwhile or damaging ... whether like Proposal A ... or No Child Left Behind ... they sound sensible in theory but in practice are riddled with negative consequences and side effects. I guess that remains to be seen.
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cmic
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iliveon...
you were great at the meeting last night. I was hoping that they would listen and change their stance, but I can wish in one hand and **** in the otherhand and the only thing I have for sure is...
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