Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Add Reply
Observer; 11/23/06
Topic Started: Nov 23 2006, 08:26 AM (226 Views)
NFarquharson
Member Avatar
Principal
http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...432/1027/NEWS10

Parents: LPS changes not working
BY REBECCA JONES
STAFF WRITER

Parents upset about Livonia Public Schools' loss of 500 students told school board members Monday that the Legacy Initiative is not working.

Teresa Thompson sent her fifth-grade son to Johnson Upper Elementary this year.

"Now it feels like he's at junior high," she said. Unlike last year, parents weren't invited to the class Halloween party. "There's been little to no communication between the teachers and the parents," she said.

Karen Wynns has a third-grader and fourth-grader at Grant Elementary. She said there's no longer a community feeling there.

Wynns will face a decision next year. "Do I send my daughter to the mega 5-6 school or do I send her to a private school?" she said.

Wynns suggested trying a districtwide K-8 school.

Alicia Wenzinger, who moved into the district a year ago, still has a child in high school and middle school in LPS, but enrolled her second-grader in parochial school.

"I wish I could afford all three, but I cannot," she said. "There has to be a better way because I don't believe the Legacy Initiative is it."

Seven schools were closed and elementary schools were reorganized under the Legacy Initiative this year, in a cost-saving effort. However, the district lost more students than it had anticipated, and some parents blame the plan. "I will guarantee you, you are seeing now and you will continue to see the fallout of the Legacy Initiative," said Steve Futrell, a father of four. "We're finding that we're really not going to save that kind of money."

Parent Laurie Brenton said she initially supported the Legacy Plan but now feels misled, and she's concerned the district will continue to lose students.

Trustee Robert Freeman said only a small portion of the losses were a result of parents pulling children out of LPS.

"One of them was my own. My daughter graduated, and my wife and I didn't have a 5-year-old to replace her," he said. "Some of the claims that are being made are being made falsely."

Trustee Cynthia Markarian said she's heard from parents who are feeling out of place in their schools.

"We need to work through that," she said, and encouraged people to stay involved.

When it comes to questions like whether the district should have a K-8 school, Markarian said, "We as a board have to decide how we're going to handle those things going forward."
_____________________________________________________

http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...440/1027/NEWS10

MDEQ provides more money for Cooper cleanup
BY DARRELL CLEM
STAFF WRITER


A $1 million state grant, authorized Monday to clean up the contaminated Cooper School property in Westland, could be the final piece of a 15-year puzzle for redeveloping the site, officials said.

The grant will bring to nearly $3.4 million the amount allocated for the project by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.

The total includes nearly $2.4 million in grants for the Livonia school district, which shuttered the school in 1991, and a $1 million revolving loan for the city of Westland.

Officials called the latest grant critical for cleaning up the former landfill and making it feasible for developers to build medical office buildings and a senior citizen independent living facility.

"Without this we would not have been able to go ahead with the project," said Jack Kirksey, former Livonia mayor and project consultant for the Livonia district.

Westland Mayor Sandra Cicirelli announced the latest grant on Monday, saying it will boost remediation efforts on the site on Ann Arbor Trail east of Middlebelt.

"This additional funding is the direct result of a lot of hard work on the part of the city, the Livonia Public Schools and the developers of the site over the last couple of years," Cicirelli said.

Officials had met regularly to push for more state funding after the MDEQ ruled that contaminated soil will have to be hauled away -- rather than isolated in one area and capped.

"We have been meeting on a regular basis in order to bring this project to completion, and there was a last-minute need for additional funding that could not be provided by the city, the schools or the developer," Cicirelli said.

"I am extremely happy that the MDEQ stepped in to ensure that all our hard work will not go for naught."

Departing state Sen. Laura Toy, R-Livonia, and her successor, state Rep. Glenn Anderson, D-Westland, also announced the latest grant.

The redevelopment project fell behind an earlier, tentative schedule as officials awaited word on additional funding.

On Tuesday, Kirksey said remediation efforts could begin as early as next year, when students are on summer break at the newer, nearby Cooper Upper Elementary School.

Construction of the first of potentially four medical office buildings could begin by the end of 2007, he said.

Developers plan to build a multi-story senior housing facility as market conditions, currently sluggish, improve.

Officials are more optimistic than ever that the Cooper School site will finally be redeveloped and generate new tax revenues.

The school was demolished two years ago.

dclem@hometownlife.com | (734) 953-2110
__________________________________________

http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...437/1027/NEWS10

Hayes secretary wins Golden Apple honor

Livonia Public Schools named Beth Buffington as the latest recipient of the district's Golden Apple Award.

The award is meant to recognize an outstanding contribution of time, talent and effort which supports the district. Buffington, a secretary at Hayes Elementary in Westland, was nominated by four co-workers. They noted her problem-solving skills, the pretzel sticks she shares and positive attitude she exudes at work.

"With all the changes that have occurred at Hayes ... Beth has remained the constant that the staff, children and families have always been able to count on," said first-grade teacher Kerry Budai.

Buffington supplied 34 cases of bottled water so children would be well hydrated while taking the Michigan Educational Assessment Program. She also sings her own Hayes Happy Birthday song.

Two of the principals she worked with chimed in with support as well.

Buffington, an employee for 10 years, is the first person to learn the names of every student in the building, said former Hayes Principal Linda Minsterman.

"The kids always come first. She knows which students are in a hockey tournament, a dance recital, a skating competition or any other activity."

Minsterman called "Buffington the glue that holds Hayes together" and compared her smile to sunshine.

"If she is out for a day, the building seems a little gray," Minsterman said.

Buffington was recognized at the Nov. 20 school board meeting, where she said she has the best job.

"Where else can you go and be greeted by happy toothless smiles, enjoy birthday treats on a regular basis and watch those children grow up before your very eyes?" she said. "No matter what the day will bring, the children always come first."

By Rebecca Jones
_______________________________________________

http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...444/1027/NEWS10

Student arrested for bringing gun to middle school
BY SUE MASON
STAFF WRITER

Wayne-Westland school officials are urging parents to talk to their children about school safety in the wake of the arrest of a 13-year-old Marshall Middle School student who brought an unloaded .25-caliber semi-automatic handgun to school Monday.

"Students need to act responsibly and so do parents," Supt. Greg Baracy said. "This very likely prevented a more serious situation. Whenever you put a gun in the hands of a young person, loaded or not, there's the potential for a tragic result. It's always a grave concern for all of us."

The incident happened around 12:30 p.m., after the teen showed another student the gun he had in his pants pocket, according to Westland Police Lt. James Ridener.

"It happened between classes. He stopped another student in the hallway and pulled the gun out enough for the student to see," Ridener said. "He didn't point the gun at him."

The student reported the incident to a teacher and, according to a letter sent home to parents, school administrators and the school safety officer isolated the teen and removed the weapon from his pocket.

"I give that student a lot of credit for acting responsibly and in an adult manner," Baracy said. "The student did the right thing by immediately sharing the information with an adult."

According to Ridener, the teen told other people that he had "bought the handgun on the street for $75."

"We don't tend to believe him, but as far as we know, it didn't come from the family home," he said. "Whether it's accurate or true, that's open to debate."

The teen was removed from the school by Westland Police, processed and sent on to the county youth home. Because of his age, the matter will be handled through Wayne County Juvenile Court.

The district has a number of security measures in place and, according to Baracy, they worked well in this instance.

"And that's what we hope for," he said.

Bringing a gun to school is in violation of the district's weapons-free school zone and the teen will face "appropriate due process," Baracy said.

"It appears from what we know at this time there will likely be a mandatory expulsion," he added.

In the letter sent home to parents, Marshall Principal Robert Van Vulkenberg also asked parents to discuss the danger of handling weapons with children and pointed out that weapons should be "kept under lock in a secure location."

"Parents, number one, need to talk to their children about safety, violence, weapons and what to do if they come in contact with one," Baracy added. "This student acted very responsibly and did the right thing."

smason@hometownlife.com | (734) 953-2112
______________________________________________________

http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...451/1199/NEWS10

Board fails by not sharing retreat info

There are minimum requirements and there are expectations.

Last week, the Livonia Public Schools Board of Education met the minimum requirement in announcing a school board retreat meeting. What they didn't do, however, is meet the community's expectations.

This community expects, and has every right to demand, that the school board do a better job in communicating with it. The irony here is that the subject of this board retreat was working with and communicating with the community.

The fact that the board canceled its committee of the whole meeting, that had been scheduled for Nov. 13, and replaced it with a retreat isn't a big deal. The fact that officials posted that notice on the board office doors, as required by the Michigan Open Meetings Act, met the law. Posting the cancellation of the committee meeting on the district's Web site certainly made sense. But why then, didn't the Web site include anything about the retreat being scheduled?

It has been well-documented that the community's reaction to the Legacy Initiative and the subsequent recall effort had a lot to do with the feeling by many that the board and school administrators was an exclusive club, that the general community wasn't really invited to participate. School officials surely know that, just because nobody may have visited board retreats in the past, things are different now. Members of the Citizens for Livonia's Future and others in the community have said quite specifically that they will be attentive, ask questions and attend these meetings, and they have certainly kept that pledge.

This community expects its board members and school administrators to do their part to go beyond the legal minimum requirements by, in this case, at least using their Web site to share information about its meeting plans
____________________________________________________

http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...452/1199/NEWS10

LETTERS

This board doesn't get it
After reading the story about the LPS retreat I continue to be astounded at the brazen attitude of this school board.

At a time when parents are making tremendous sacrifices to accommodate the changes that were imposed on them and the school board feels they deserve to take a retreat? You're kidding right? If anybody deserves a retreat it is the parents. I have two problems with this:

1. If they didn't discuss any school board business then I certainly hope none of the precious dollars from the budget were spent on this retreat. The very least the school board can do is use extreme care in how every dollar is spent because every single dollar that is part of the budget savings is at the expense of many Livonia parents who's lives have been turned upside down by these changes.

2. If school board business was discussed then for the very reasons causing previous "communication" problems that have transpired -- they should be EXTRA sensitive to not allow any impropriety to appear in how they meet.

This school board just doesn't get it and I am afraid they never will.

Valerie Earle

Livonia

Volcanic anger shared
Once again you erupted a volcano within me, after reading "Losing 500 students under the Legacy Initiative."

They should be held accountable for the year of 2005-2006! The Legacy should be remembered with the lies, cover ups and bad reporting to make this backfire on them. The exits and closing of our Livonia community schools sadden me to write another letter to release my views.

A. Dudek

Livonia

Originally published November 23, 2006
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Mrs.M
Member Avatar
Principal
http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/.../611230434/1027

Teen killed as SUV rolls in parking lot
Man charged with drunken driving, manslaughter
BY DAN WEST
STAFF WRITER


A 19-year-old Detroit man faces drunken driving and manslaughter charges in connection with a rollover crash at a Livonia shopping center that killed a Redford teenager.

James Hojnik, a 16-year-old junior at Clarenceville High School, died early Sunday when he was thrown from the Ford Explorer that rolled early Sunday morning in the Millennium Park parking lot, near Middlebelt and Schoolcraft. The driver and two teenage girls inside the vehicle each suffered minor injuries.


Jonathan Hannah, whom police said drove the Explorer, was arraigned in Livonia's 16th District Court on Monday. He was charged with operating while intoxicated causing death and manslaughter with a motor vehicle. Each charge is a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Hannah was also charged with a misdemeanor count of marijuana possession.

He was released Monday after posting 10 percent of a $10,000 bond. His preliminary examination is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5.

Hannah was arrested earlier in the weekend when he was spotted hanging around Clarenceville High School during classes Friday morning. Lt. Greg Winn said police arrested Hannah, charged him with loitering and marijuana possession and impounded his vehicle -- the same one involved in Sunday's crash. Winn said Hannah was released on bond Friday afternoon.

Investigators of the fatal crash said it appears all four teenagers inside the vehicle had consumed alcohol Saturday night. Livonia police are awaiting test results on blood taken from Hannah to determine his blood-alcohol level.

The foursome were riding in the Explorer that drove from Schoolcraft into the Millennium Park property shortly after 2 a.m. Sunday. Sgt. Dave Studt said the Explorer traveled at a high rate of speed toward the Meijer store before the driver lost control. The vehicle skidded on some gravel patches, veered into a grassy knoll, rolled over, took out a small tree and came to rest upright near a stop sign.

"It looks like it rolled over at least twice," Studt said. "There was a bottle of champagne that was also thrown from the vehicle."

Hojnik, who police said was the only passenger not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from a back seat, through a door and onto the pavement. Police said he was rushed to St. Mary Mercy Hospital then airlifted to the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor where he was pronounced dead from blunt force trauma to the head.

A 15-year-old Redford girl was taken to Botsford Hospital in Farmington Hills where she was treated and released. A 14-year-old Farmington Hills girl and Hannah did not receive hospital treatment. Both girls are students at Clarenceville High School.

Supt. Cheryl Leach said the school district is soliciting donations to help the Hojnik family with funeral expenses. A counselor and social worker were available for students who needed them Monday during school, Leach said.

dwest@hometownlife.com | (734) 953-2109


Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
NFarquharson
Member Avatar
Principal
From today's Westland Observer:

http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...651/1213/NEWS24

LETTERS

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 be for 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

Return 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 with the district'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 ($1,484,000 legacy minimal savings/$8,537, the 200 6/2007 student expenditure) have left this district, the 1 percent Legacy savings 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 be available 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

Originally published November 23, 2006
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
« Previous Topic · Livonia Neighbors Archive · Next Topic »
Add Reply