Lax accounting, overspending, enrollment losses, sound familiar?
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CUTS, CLOSINGS AHEAD IN FLINT
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FLINT, Mich. - Lax accounting, enrollment losses and overspending all contributed to the $10 million budget deficit now facing the Flint School District, The Flint Journal reported.With no fund equity, the district likely will lay off employees and shut schools in order to close the gap, The Journal said in reporting on a presentation by chief financial officer Andrea Derricks. Enrollment has dropped by 25 percent in recent years,leading to a reduction in state aid, Derricks said, but she also pointed to consistent overspending in some departments and too little control over expenditures.
Michele Stinson, president of the United Teachers of Flint, told The Journal that she hopes the school board will look at cutting more than just teachers and support staff. Derricks said she has put in place controls that limit how much money is spent and who can spend it, The Journal reported, as well as a freeze on purchasing supplies.
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SOURCE:The Flint Journal, "Steep cuts, school closings looming in cash-strapped Flint School District,"
http://www.mlive.com/flintjournal/index.ssf/2008/11/steep_cuts_school_closings_loo.html
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Leadership
Those of you that watch the Livonia school board meetings, or read the Observer “letters to the editor” will recognize Maggie Feher. Maggie is my neighbor, and as you may have guessed by the tone of her letter, she has not supported me since I won a seat on the school board.
I have tried in the past to reach out to her and explain my positions that differ from my colleagues, but her personal disdain for me has prevented her from hearing me. Because of her feelings toward me, I try not to engage when she attacks me. This time however, she has leveled some charges that I need to address. Here is the letter she wrote on 10/23/08:
Click below to see the entire letter.
First, Yes Maggie I vote NO on principle and my strong conviction of putting kids first, not out of (as you say) cowardice. I will not simply go along to get along, and vote “yes”. I sought a seat at the board table, not to make friends, but to make a difference in the way we conduct our business of delivering a quality education. I am a politician of mission, not ambition. When I vote no it means I believe what has been brought before me is wrong. Also, I have always offered a viable alternative to what I am voting against, not just a “no” vote.
I promised the people of the Livonia School District that I would put the “public” back in public education and vote for what’s in their best interest, not what is politically expedient. I would rather lose an election doing what’s right, than win if I have to turn my back on the people who elected me.
Second, The smear letters that have been sent out concerning my personal life (which you seem to be such an expert on) have no place in this campaign and are simply untrue. I will not publicly discuss the details of my personal relationships, but I will say this unequivocally. I have never owed a penny in spousal support. I love my kids, and have always provided support for them, including FOC payments. I have never missed a court date that I was notified of, and have never been arrested or handcuffed!
No one tried to arrest me when I filed to run for office or any time since. I am in the public eye as both a performer and a trustee. Do you really think if someone wanted to arrest me that they would have a difficult time finding me?
Maggie, I have always taken responsibility for my actions. I don’t take the easy way; I take the way I feel is right, even if no one else agrees. That means some people will really not like me. I understand, but it will not change the way I work as a public servant. You may not recognize it, but it’s called leadership.
I have tried in the past to reach out to her and explain my positions that differ from my colleagues, but her personal disdain for me has prevented her from hearing me. Because of her feelings toward me, I try not to engage when she attacks me. This time however, she has leveled some charges that I need to address. Here is the letter she wrote on 10/23/08:
Click below to see the entire letter.
First, Yes Maggie I vote NO on principle and my strong conviction of putting kids first, not out of (as you say) cowardice. I will not simply go along to get along, and vote “yes”. I sought a seat at the board table, not to make friends, but to make a difference in the way we conduct our business of delivering a quality education. I am a politician of mission, not ambition. When I vote no it means I believe what has been brought before me is wrong. Also, I have always offered a viable alternative to what I am voting against, not just a “no” vote.
I promised the people of the Livonia School District that I would put the “public” back in public education and vote for what’s in their best interest, not what is politically expedient. I would rather lose an election doing what’s right, than win if I have to turn my back on the people who elected me.
Second, The smear letters that have been sent out concerning my personal life (which you seem to be such an expert on) have no place in this campaign and are simply untrue. I will not publicly discuss the details of my personal relationships, but I will say this unequivocally. I have never owed a penny in spousal support. I love my kids, and have always provided support for them, including FOC payments. I have never missed a court date that I was notified of, and have never been arrested or handcuffed!
No one tried to arrest me when I filed to run for office or any time since. I am in the public eye as both a performer and a trustee. Do you really think if someone wanted to arrest me that they would have a difficult time finding me?
Maggie, I have always taken responsibility for my actions. I don’t take the easy way; I take the way I feel is right, even if no one else agrees. That means some people will really not like me. I understand, but it will not change the way I work as a public servant. You may not recognize it, but it’s called leadership.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
My response to the Walsh campaign
Below is a letter I sent to the Observer in response to the personal attacks from John Walsh and his supporters.
Steve King
Steve King
Rock the Vote!
I want to offer anyone who has questions to join me at Burton Manor for the Rock the Vote concert. I offer leadership that listens. Come talk to me, and let me show you why I should be your choice for State Representative.
Steve King
Steve King
Monday, September 22, 2008
A parent on Transportation
This is one of the emails I have received about the transportation department. Customer service doesn't seem to be a priority.
Subject: Bus Stop Safety Concern
To whom it may concern,
I am the mother of two children enrolled full time in the Livonia Public School district. On September 5, 2008, I emailed the Transportation District about an unsafe bus stop that was assigned to my son, a 7th grader at Holmes Middle School. The discounting response that I received from them via voice message and then over the phone when I finally got someone on to pick up, has appalled me. For reference, I have enclosed my original email to the Department of Transportation.
The response I received from the Transportation Department was that due to cost cuts, bus stops had to be consolidated. I was also told that event though the children have to wait for their bus in the street, based on the existing policy middle school and high school students are intelligent enough to stay out of traffic. I was also told that the bus stop is in a Livonia subdivision and that means that it is not dangerous because there is not a lot of traffic.
I completely disagree. The fact that the bus stop at Broadmoor & Alexanderis in a Livonia subdivision does not make it safer at 7:25 a.m. when most of the residents in that subdivision, including myself, leave for work. The street is not a safe place to wait for the bus for anybody regardless of age, intelligence or maturity. This set-up is a disaster waiting to happen especially with the winter months approaching. The three students that are picked up at the Broadmoor & Alexander live in closer proximity to the Alexander & Sunnydale intersection. This will be a safer and more logical choice for these students. This intersection is well lit, has sidewalks and it is on the existing bus route.
I am aware of the limited budget that the district is working with, but at the same time I do not believe that assigning bus stops without considering the safety of our children is what Dr. Liepa the superintendent of Livonia Public School had in mind when he stated that "We're looking at being as efficient as we can..." I am also appalled about the level of unprofessionalism displayed by the woman who answered when I called the Department of Transportation. Unfortunately, I do not have her name because she hung up on me before I could get it, but not before she told me that she did not even have to answer the phone.
Finally, I may be just one parent of two children enrolled in the Livonia Public School District, but this district is funded by taxes from people like me and from funds (even if limited) received from the State of Michigan on behalf of my children attending the Livonia Public School District. I believe that this entitles me to a reasonable (not condescending) response to my request. I can promise the Livonia Public School District that if anything happens to my child while waiting for the bus I will personally hold the district responsible.
Subject: Bus Stop Safety Concern
To whom it may concern,
I am the mother of two children enrolled full time in the Livonia Public School district. On September 5, 2008, I emailed the Transportation District about an unsafe bus stop that was assigned to my son, a 7th grader at Holmes Middle School. The discounting response that I received from them via voice message and then over the phone when I finally got someone on to pick up, has appalled me. For reference, I have enclosed my original email to the Department of Transportation.
The response I received from the Transportation Department was that due to cost cuts, bus stops had to be consolidated. I was also told that event though the children have to wait for their bus in the street, based on the existing policy middle school and high school students are intelligent enough to stay out of traffic. I was also told that the bus stop is in a Livonia subdivision and that means that it is not dangerous because there is not a lot of traffic.
I completely disagree. The fact that the bus stop at Broadmoor & Alexanderis in a Livonia subdivision does not make it safer at 7:25 a.m. when most of the residents in that subdivision, including myself, leave for work. The street is not a safe place to wait for the bus for anybody regardless of age, intelligence or maturity. This set-up is a disaster waiting to happen especially with the winter months approaching. The three students that are picked up at the Broadmoor & Alexander live in closer proximity to the Alexander & Sunnydale intersection. This will be a safer and more logical choice for these students. This intersection is well lit, has sidewalks and it is on the existing bus route.
I am aware of the limited budget that the district is working with, but at the same time I do not believe that assigning bus stops without considering the safety of our children is what Dr. Liepa the superintendent of Livonia Public School had in mind when he stated that "We're looking at being as efficient as we can..." I am also appalled about the level of unprofessionalism displayed by the woman who answered when I called the Department of Transportation. Unfortunately, I do not have her name because she hung up on me before I could get it, but not before she told me that she did not even have to answer the phone.
Finally, I may be just one parent of two children enrolled in the Livonia Public School District, but this district is funded by taxes from people like me and from funds (even if limited) received from the State of Michigan on behalf of my children attending the Livonia Public School District. I believe that this entitles me to a reasonable (not condescending) response to my request. I can promise the Livonia Public School District that if anything happens to my child while waiting for the bus I will personally hold the district responsible.
Accountability at transportation
Here is a the transcript of Mr. Brad Wolkan's audience communication at our 9/15/08 board meeting. He asks some good questions.
The Citizens for Livonia's Future has received communications from several parents regarding issues with transportation. These are very similar issues to those that have been occurring over the last few years. Bus stops in unlit locations, or where there are no sidewalks, children getting home at 5pm, or having to cross a busy street, or in one case, a bus stop located in close proximity to the home of a registered sex offender.
The largest issue appears to be the lack of communication, or the type of response to calls placed by parents from the persons responsible for the transportation department communication. This reflects very poorly upon LPS and directly affects relations with your customers.
The recent posting for the job of assistant transportation supervisor clearly shows that instead of fixing systemic problems in transportation, LPS has again chosen to throw bodies on the fire and incur more long term expenditures, this is being done at the expense of our classroom dollars. When will this mentality stop?
Huron valley public schools was wrestling with these same issues at the beginning of year start - up issues, but they cured the problem by the following year by obtaining assistance from a transportation management company. I know much has been said about contracting services, but in some cases this may be necessary, especially when it becomes very apparent that the district is unable to manage these services themselves.
This solution is also a one time cost and will not have theSame impact upon the classroom dollars as the expense of a long-term employee at a supervisory level. When will we stop working harder and begin to work smarter? Working harder only incurs more cost; working smarter can achieve the goal of saving money.
This brings us to the question of why the district is creating new administrative positions as well as reassigning supervisory & administrative roles. These changes appear to be in direct conflict with financial checks & balances for our very limited classroom dollars. You have a new administrator of operations reporting to the director of secondary education. You have hired a finance supervisor to oversee the bid process, yet the warehouse supervisor has been conducting most of the bid process. You willNow have a vacancy in the warehouse supervisor position - who will be doing the bids and purchasing duties? Will this now create another promotion to fill that position?
You have created vacancies within the transportation, warehouse, & custodial departments by promoting from within, yet you have proposed to lay off custodians and forgo the daily cleaning of school classrooms & lavatories. All of these promotions are continuing to cost the district in long term expenditures at a time when you continue to deplete the dangerously low cash reserves. Where are all of these funds coming from? The positions that have been vacated due to attrition should be the additional funds returned to the classrooms so that we may maintain our educational offerings for our students, not for the long-term expense of creating more upper management.
Wasn't one of the goals of the reconfiguration of the district to reduce administrative levels? Why is the district going backwards and why is LPS creating and filling more & new administrative positions?
I would direct your attention to board policy CGB - administrative personnel positions -, which states:
"All administrative positions in the school system shall be established initially by the board of education.
It is the intent of the board to activate sufficient number of such positions to promote the attainment of the school system goals."
I must ask the board this question: have all of these current and proposed administrative positions been established by the board, and is the board aware of what area of responsibility each of the administrative positions have? Do you know how many employees report to these administrators and what their job responsibilities are?
The LPS administration appears to be very convoluted and have no real organizational structure, there does not appear to be direct levels of reporting, or defined areas of responsibility.
You, as board members, have a direct responsibility to answer to thousands of students, parents, and citizens of this district, yet there is only one person who is responsible for answering to you. Don't you think it may be time to begin to hold that person responsible for providing answers to the board, so that you, our board of education, will be able to responsibly answer your constituents?
The Citizens for Livonia's Future has received communications from several parents regarding issues with transportation. These are very similar issues to those that have been occurring over the last few years. Bus stops in unlit locations, or where there are no sidewalks, children getting home at 5pm, or having to cross a busy street, or in one case, a bus stop located in close proximity to the home of a registered sex offender.
The largest issue appears to be the lack of communication, or the type of response to calls placed by parents from the persons responsible for the transportation department communication. This reflects very poorly upon LPS and directly affects relations with your customers.
The recent posting for the job of assistant transportation supervisor clearly shows that instead of fixing systemic problems in transportation, LPS has again chosen to throw bodies on the fire and incur more long term expenditures, this is being done at the expense of our classroom dollars. When will this mentality stop?
Huron valley public schools was wrestling with these same issues at the beginning of year start - up issues, but they cured the problem by the following year by obtaining assistance from a transportation management company. I know much has been said about contracting services, but in some cases this may be necessary, especially when it becomes very apparent that the district is unable to manage these services themselves.
This solution is also a one time cost and will not have theSame impact upon the classroom dollars as the expense of a long-term employee at a supervisory level. When will we stop working harder and begin to work smarter? Working harder only incurs more cost; working smarter can achieve the goal of saving money.
This brings us to the question of why the district is creating new administrative positions as well as reassigning supervisory & administrative roles. These changes appear to be in direct conflict with financial checks & balances for our very limited classroom dollars. You have a new administrator of operations reporting to the director of secondary education. You have hired a finance supervisor to oversee the bid process, yet the warehouse supervisor has been conducting most of the bid process. You willNow have a vacancy in the warehouse supervisor position - who will be doing the bids and purchasing duties? Will this now create another promotion to fill that position?
You have created vacancies within the transportation, warehouse, & custodial departments by promoting from within, yet you have proposed to lay off custodians and forgo the daily cleaning of school classrooms & lavatories. All of these promotions are continuing to cost the district in long term expenditures at a time when you continue to deplete the dangerously low cash reserves. Where are all of these funds coming from? The positions that have been vacated due to attrition should be the additional funds returned to the classrooms so that we may maintain our educational offerings for our students, not for the long-term expense of creating more upper management.
Wasn't one of the goals of the reconfiguration of the district to reduce administrative levels? Why is the district going backwards and why is LPS creating and filling more & new administrative positions?
I would direct your attention to board policy CGB - administrative personnel positions -, which states:
"All administrative positions in the school system shall be established initially by the board of education.
It is the intent of the board to activate sufficient number of such positions to promote the attainment of the school system goals."
I must ask the board this question: have all of these current and proposed administrative positions been established by the board, and is the board aware of what area of responsibility each of the administrative positions have? Do you know how many employees report to these administrators and what their job responsibilities are?
The LPS administration appears to be very convoluted and have no real organizational structure, there does not appear to be direct levels of reporting, or defined areas of responsibility.
You, as board members, have a direct responsibility to answer to thousands of students, parents, and citizens of this district, yet there is only one person who is responsible for answering to you. Don't you think it may be time to begin to hold that person responsible for providing answers to the board, so that you, our board of education, will be able to responsibly answer your constituents?
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Thoughts on the cost of Lisa's 7,000,000 loan
Here is an email I and the other board members received.
Subject: Issue with Short Term Anticipation Note authorization for this evening
As a LPS taxpayer, I have some concerns concerning the upcoming discussion /approval for issuing short term anticipation notes for the district:
- I feel the recent Observer article indicating that some of all of the borrowing costs will be recovered through investment income. It should be assumed that only a portion of the $7 million borrowed will be available for investment purposes during the borrowing period (if that is not true,there would be no need to borrow in the first place). The Board should ask fora fair estimate of the net borrowing costs before approving this transaction.
- A fair estimate can be prepared by analyzing current borrowing and investment costs utilizing the weekly and monthly cash flow estimates the district is required to submit no later than Friday of this week(according to the MMBA website). However, this document is missing from the agenda packet distributed for this item. Given the critical nature of the decision and the short notice of getting the needed approval, I would like the Board to ask why that document is not included, at least in its preliminary form.
- I would have prepared an estimate to include with this communication, but I received no response from the Finance Director to my request for an explanation of the statement attributed to her in the Observer.
- If we can assume net borrowing costs will be 2% ($140,000), I would ask that the Board insist on making other cuts to absorb this amount. The last Budget estimate I could find on the LPS website estimates that other cost increases for 2008-2009 will be $960,000. That estimate does not appear to include the costs of this borrowing.
Thank You,
-- John C. Whaley, CFA, AIF
Actium LLC
Subject: Issue with Short Term Anticipation Note authorization for this evening
As a LPS taxpayer, I have some concerns concerning the upcoming discussion /approval for issuing short term anticipation notes for the district:
- I feel the recent Observer article indicating that some of all of the borrowing costs will be recovered through investment income. It should be assumed that only a portion of the $7 million borrowed will be available for investment purposes during the borrowing period (if that is not true,there would be no need to borrow in the first place). The Board should ask fora fair estimate of the net borrowing costs before approving this transaction.
- A fair estimate can be prepared by analyzing current borrowing and investment costs utilizing the weekly and monthly cash flow estimates the district is required to submit no later than Friday of this week(according to the MMBA website). However, this document is missing from the agenda packet distributed for this item. Given the critical nature of the decision and the short notice of getting the needed approval, I would like the Board to ask why that document is not included, at least in its preliminary form.
- I would have prepared an estimate to include with this communication, but I received no response from the Finance Director to my request for an explanation of the statement attributed to her in the Observer.
- If we can assume net borrowing costs will be 2% ($140,000), I would ask that the Board insist on making other cuts to absorb this amount. The last Budget estimate I could find on the LPS website estimates that other cost increases for 2008-2009 will be $960,000. That estimate does not appear to include the costs of this borrowing.
Thank You,
-- John C. Whaley, CFA, AIF
Actium LLC
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Letters on Layoffs
Please click on the pages below to see a larger version. Please click on "comments" to leave a comment.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Staight talk from a Livonia parent.
Steve,
As a concerned parent of two boys ages 2 and 4, I have recently been watching the School Board meetings to familiarize myself with the financial situations of the school district. As any parent of a 4-year old I am pleased to be living in Livonia believing that my son will be attending an excellent school in 1-more year.
As with any business there are tough financial issues to work through in this economy. You seem to be one of the few on the school board who actually is looking at the big picture. I do see many excellent concerns raised by you in the meetings. I think the rest of the school board should take a step back and listen to some of your ideas.
I do not understand how Livonia can sign a 2-year contract with the SEALS,while teachers are cut. Shouldn't the students education be the 1st priority? Couldn't all janitorial and maintenance positions be outsourced. This could also eliminate some support administrative positions. As a parent I do want the classrooms cleaned, but I am more concerned that my son will be in a class of more than 30 students. It doesn't matter to me who cleans the room, a LPS employee or an outsourced employee.
I will be basing my children's enrollment in public vs. private schools on how the budget cuts are handled. There are many other parents that support my beliefs.
Keep raising the good ideas. Glad to see you question the "Consultant Fees".
____________
Please click on "comments" to leave a comment.
As a concerned parent of two boys ages 2 and 4, I have recently been watching the School Board meetings to familiarize myself with the financial situations of the school district. As any parent of a 4-year old I am pleased to be living in Livonia believing that my son will be attending an excellent school in 1-more year.
As with any business there are tough financial issues to work through in this economy. You seem to be one of the few on the school board who actually is looking at the big picture. I do see many excellent concerns raised by you in the meetings. I think the rest of the school board should take a step back and listen to some of your ideas.
I do not understand how Livonia can sign a 2-year contract with the SEALS,while teachers are cut. Shouldn't the students education be the 1st priority? Couldn't all janitorial and maintenance positions be outsourced. This could also eliminate some support administrative positions. As a parent I do want the classrooms cleaned, but I am more concerned that my son will be in a class of more than 30 students. It doesn't matter to me who cleans the room, a LPS employee or an outsourced employee.
I will be basing my children's enrollment in public vs. private schools on how the budget cuts are handled. There are many other parents that support my beliefs.
Keep raising the good ideas. Glad to see you question the "Consultant Fees".
____________
Please click on "comments" to leave a comment.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Additional Everyday Math Comments
Mr. King:
We greatly appreciate your comments regarding the Everyday Math curriculum for 5th and 6th graders. As parents of a 4th grader, we have endured a very frustrating school year as our son has tried to learn this new program, along with his teachers, who have done a fabulous job. We were looking forward to next year and a return of "normal" math. Of course, we realize that we are among many who do not like change but my husband and I are both college grads (he, in elem. ed.) and have felt very inadequate as we have helped our son with homework on a nightly basis. We are very discouraged to think that we will have some of the same struggles again next year. What we really liked about what you had to say is that it may have been better to introduce the program to the younger grades first and then add a grade each year. In all fairness, we do think that Everyday Math is a good program and we have both a Kindergartner and 2nd grader (who piloted it his first grade year) that have excelled with this material. We do see the wisdom of exposing our kids to algebra, geometry, etc.. at a young age and our younger kids have caught on quickly. Our regret is that our 4th grader had all of this thrown at him after already "mastering" many of these lessons in a different way. We are worried that a big chunk of his lessons have not been completed since he was switched abruptly to a new program. Our fear is that next year our son will once again be instructed by teachers who are inexperienced at instructing in this way. We just wanted you to know that we support your comments and wish the outcome would have been different. Thanks for your time and continue the good work of providing for our district!
We greatly appreciate your comments regarding the Everyday Math curriculum for 5th and 6th graders. As parents of a 4th grader, we have endured a very frustrating school year as our son has tried to learn this new program, along with his teachers, who have done a fabulous job. We were looking forward to next year and a return of "normal" math. Of course, we realize that we are among many who do not like change but my husband and I are both college grads (he, in elem. ed.) and have felt very inadequate as we have helped our son with homework on a nightly basis. We are very discouraged to think that we will have some of the same struggles again next year. What we really liked about what you had to say is that it may have been better to introduce the program to the younger grades first and then add a grade each year. In all fairness, we do think that Everyday Math is a good program and we have both a Kindergartner and 2nd grader (who piloted it his first grade year) that have excelled with this material. We do see the wisdom of exposing our kids to algebra, geometry, etc.. at a young age and our younger kids have caught on quickly. Our regret is that our 4th grader had all of this thrown at him after already "mastering" many of these lessons in a different way. We are worried that a big chunk of his lessons have not been completed since he was switched abruptly to a new program. Our fear is that next year our son will once again be instructed by teachers who are inexperienced at instructing in this way. We just wanted you to know that we support your comments and wish the outcome would have been different. Thanks for your time and continue the good work of providing for our district!
Monday, May 26, 2008
Another response on Every Day Math
Dear Steve,I would like to voice some concerns that we have about Everyday Math.Please share these with the rest of the school board.
1. TOO MUCH, TOO FAST. There are some good concepts in Everyday Math, but they are presented in a *chaotic way. And that is part of the underlying philosophy, so it isn't going away. The philosophy is to throw a lot of concepts at the children and then try to tie them all together in the end.I disagree with the philosophy. In fact we have been told "don't worry if your children are getting confused along the way and if it seems they are not mastering the concepts. It will all come together in the end". That remains to be seen. Many of us are sending our children to places like Kumon where one concept is mastered before moving to the next. We can see that working.
2. TOO SCRIPTED, TOO AUTHORITARIAN. Everyday Math is a cookbook approach.Every teacher has the same cookbook, every teacher must follow the same recipes. Or else! Teachers are afraid that if they deviate from the "Book"they could get into trouble with the School Board. I have heard teachers express this fear. Even if their Principal tells them they have some leeway and to do what is right in their own class for their own students, they are afraid of going against the Board. This is not a recipe for good education.
3. TWO PLUS TWO. Everyday Math prohibits memorizing the math facts in class. In fact, at the meeting we had at Hoover Elementary in September to quell parents' concerns over Everyday Math, a representative from the School Board answered the question "Will individual teachers be allowed to cover memorization of math facts in class?", by saying "No. But parents are welcome to do that at home." Children need to be taught the math facts at school AND at home. And teachers should be allowed the freedom to teach them in class without fear of retribution from the School Board. This makes a great case for home schooling.
Here is a suggestion from a parent: There is some good and some bad in Everyday Math. Now that we know what it is about, let's stop paying for it,use the good, throw out the bad, and allow teachers some leeway in determining how best to teach their children. Now there is a plan we could all live with!
* In FIRST GRADE the children have covered money, temperature, grids,number lines, graphs, word problems (that the children can't read),fractions, addition, and subtraction. They solve the addition and subtraction problems by using a chart since they don't know the addition and subtraction facts.
1. TOO MUCH, TOO FAST. There are some good concepts in Everyday Math, but they are presented in a *chaotic way. And that is part of the underlying philosophy, so it isn't going away. The philosophy is to throw a lot of concepts at the children and then try to tie them all together in the end.I disagree with the philosophy. In fact we have been told "don't worry if your children are getting confused along the way and if it seems they are not mastering the concepts. It will all come together in the end". That remains to be seen. Many of us are sending our children to places like Kumon where one concept is mastered before moving to the next. We can see that working.
2. TOO SCRIPTED, TOO AUTHORITARIAN. Everyday Math is a cookbook approach.Every teacher has the same cookbook, every teacher must follow the same recipes. Or else! Teachers are afraid that if they deviate from the "Book"they could get into trouble with the School Board. I have heard teachers express this fear. Even if their Principal tells them they have some leeway and to do what is right in their own class for their own students, they are afraid of going against the Board. This is not a recipe for good education.
3. TWO PLUS TWO. Everyday Math prohibits memorizing the math facts in class. In fact, at the meeting we had at Hoover Elementary in September to quell parents' concerns over Everyday Math, a representative from the School Board answered the question "Will individual teachers be allowed to cover memorization of math facts in class?", by saying "No. But parents are welcome to do that at home." Children need to be taught the math facts at school AND at home. And teachers should be allowed the freedom to teach them in class without fear of retribution from the School Board. This makes a great case for home schooling.
Here is a suggestion from a parent: There is some good and some bad in Everyday Math. Now that we know what it is about, let's stop paying for it,use the good, throw out the bad, and allow teachers some leeway in determining how best to teach their children. Now there is a plan we could all live with!
* In FIRST GRADE the children have covered money, temperature, grids,number lines, graphs, word problems (that the children can't read),fractions, addition, and subtraction. They solve the addition and subtraction problems by using a chart since they don't know the addition and subtraction facts.
More feedback on Everyday Math and so much more.
To: Livonia Public Schools Board Members;
Please our opinion on this matter of adopting the Everyday Math for the 5th Grade students in the Fall of 2008. For our 4th grader this "new"and supposedly the "best" math program out there, this program has been a Nightmare! My husband is an engineer and a most excellent one at that. He loves math and was shocked at what this new math was requiring of the students. There is NO foundation on which the students are having their math based on. My son went from learning multiplication and getting firm in that in 3rd grade to algebra, fractions and a ton of other unthinkable things. The problem is that again, without the basic foundation building precept upon precept what is one left with? A mess.
We will spend the summer helping him to strengthen all that he has lost. He lost much in the English area as well. There was such a focus on this "new" math that out went the learning of spelling words and other critical skills that he will need as he grows in school.
I would STRONGLY, STRONGLY, recommend that the board NOT approve the adopting of this horrific math program. There has got to be a better program out there.
And by the way, I think that it is noteworthy to say that the community feel that we used to experience when our local school was open (Hull) in my opinion is gone. While the faculty at Kennedy was very good it just was not the same hopping in the car every morning to take my son to school and then waiting at the bus stop to pick him up. Those of you who made the decision to close so many schools without coming before the citizens of Livonia have a heavy load of responsibility to bear due to so many students leaving the schools. What money was saved? Why was more time not taken? Gas alone could just crush this district. What was the purpose?
And while I'm still writing I would like to know who is responsible for the eyesore that Hull has become. There are still many fine residents who use the playgrounds and yet the playgrounds are really in very, very BAD shape. Who on the board cares? I wonder.
Lastly, I am grateful to have voiced my opinion. I did not mention that we are pulling our son from the Livonia Public Schools. Why would I want to send him 20 minutes away to Johnson without having a choice in the matter from the beginning? No way! His sister is now school age.The same thing applies. Our family has decided to move on to a very fine Private School. We do feel very sad that such drastic changes had to occur but we go on and keep doing our best.
I sincerely hope that this board will take the time to LISTEN to all of the citizens of Livonia before making their decision on this math program.
Sincerely, Mrs. Carolina Reed
Please our opinion on this matter of adopting the Everyday Math for the 5th Grade students in the Fall of 2008. For our 4th grader this "new"and supposedly the "best" math program out there, this program has been a Nightmare! My husband is an engineer and a most excellent one at that. He loves math and was shocked at what this new math was requiring of the students. There is NO foundation on which the students are having their math based on. My son went from learning multiplication and getting firm in that in 3rd grade to algebra, fractions and a ton of other unthinkable things. The problem is that again, without the basic foundation building precept upon precept what is one left with? A mess.
We will spend the summer helping him to strengthen all that he has lost. He lost much in the English area as well. There was such a focus on this "new" math that out went the learning of spelling words and other critical skills that he will need as he grows in school.
I would STRONGLY, STRONGLY, recommend that the board NOT approve the adopting of this horrific math program. There has got to be a better program out there.
And by the way, I think that it is noteworthy to say that the community feel that we used to experience when our local school was open (Hull) in my opinion is gone. While the faculty at Kennedy was very good it just was not the same hopping in the car every morning to take my son to school and then waiting at the bus stop to pick him up. Those of you who made the decision to close so many schools without coming before the citizens of Livonia have a heavy load of responsibility to bear due to so many students leaving the schools. What money was saved? Why was more time not taken? Gas alone could just crush this district. What was the purpose?
And while I'm still writing I would like to know who is responsible for the eyesore that Hull has become. There are still many fine residents who use the playgrounds and yet the playgrounds are really in very, very BAD shape. Who on the board cares? I wonder.
Lastly, I am grateful to have voiced my opinion. I did not mention that we are pulling our son from the Livonia Public Schools. Why would I want to send him 20 minutes away to Johnson without having a choice in the matter from the beginning? No way! His sister is now school age.The same thing applies. Our family has decided to move on to a very fine Private School. We do feel very sad that such drastic changes had to occur but we go on and keep doing our best.
I sincerely hope that this board will take the time to LISTEN to all of the citizens of Livonia before making their decision on this math program.
Sincerely, Mrs. Carolina Reed
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Everyday Math Feedback
Dear Mr. King,
I spoke about Everyday Math (EM) at yesterday's board meeting. Due to time constraints, I did not get to finish my thoughts on the subject. Please do not expand this program to our upper elementary students. As a mother of 3 kids enrolled in this district, I urge you to consider what is in the best interest of the children. You do not have enough data to show that this program is working in our district. Waiting for the results of next year's standardized test scores would be the right thing to do.
There is much controversy surrounding this program and the tide seems Tobe turning in math education toward a more balanced approach. Districts around the country are headed in a different direction. Over 220 Professors of Mathematics and Science including department heads from Caltech, Stanford, Harvard, and Yale, 7 Nobel Laureates and winners of the Fields Medal, the highest honor bestowed in mathematics, all endorsed an open letter to the US Secretary of Education publicly denouncing Everyday Math and other similar programs in a full page ad in the Washington Post. Are they all wrong?
The School Board should reconsider the decision to approve the use of Everyday Math for our K-4 students and should not be expanding it to our upper elementary students. It's my understanding that the district is concerned about losing $47,000 in grant funds and wants to rush to expand this program before those funds expire. If six students are pulled from LPS because of this program, the district will lose more than $47,000. Please do not rush to make this decision because grant funds may or may not be lost. Our children deserve the best math education.
Please review the recommendations made by the National Math Panel convened by President Bush here:
_http://www.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/mathpanel/index.html_ (http://www.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/mathpanel/index.html) Everyday Math will seriously limit the academic and economic future of our students.
Please implement a more balanced approach and reverse the damage inflicted by this grossly inadequate math curriculum.
I spoke about Everyday Math (EM) at yesterday's board meeting. Due to time constraints, I did not get to finish my thoughts on the subject. Please do not expand this program to our upper elementary students. As a mother of 3 kids enrolled in this district, I urge you to consider what is in the best interest of the children. You do not have enough data to show that this program is working in our district. Waiting for the results of next year's standardized test scores would be the right thing to do.
There is much controversy surrounding this program and the tide seems Tobe turning in math education toward a more balanced approach. Districts around the country are headed in a different direction. Over 220 Professors of Mathematics and Science including department heads from Caltech, Stanford, Harvard, and Yale, 7 Nobel Laureates and winners of the Fields Medal, the highest honor bestowed in mathematics, all endorsed an open letter to the US Secretary of Education publicly denouncing Everyday Math and other similar programs in a full page ad in the Washington Post. Are they all wrong?
The School Board should reconsider the decision to approve the use of Everyday Math for our K-4 students and should not be expanding it to our upper elementary students. It's my understanding that the district is concerned about losing $47,000 in grant funds and wants to rush to expand this program before those funds expire. If six students are pulled from LPS because of this program, the district will lose more than $47,000. Please do not rush to make this decision because grant funds may or may not be lost. Our children deserve the best math education.
Please review the recommendations made by the National Math Panel convened by President Bush here:
_http://www.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/mathpanel/index.html_ (http://www.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/mathpanel/index.html) Everyday Math will seriously limit the academic and economic future of our students.
Please implement a more balanced approach and reverse the damage inflicted by this grossly inadequate math curriculum.
Budget Feedback
Dear Livonia School Board Members,
I'm sorry I am not able to attend the meeting tonight. However, I have suggestion to help with the ongoing budget crisis and loss of students to private schools. My recommendation calls for cutting over 20 bus runs a day, eliminating several administrative, custodial and secretarial positions, and mothballing at least 2 buildings. I would like to recommend that the district reconfigure the buildings to K-5, 6-8 and 9-12. This could be done by simply keeping new fifth graders in the elementary buildings and moving out new sixth graders with the new seventh graders to the middle school buildings. Also, the elementary schools could then start at 8:25, rather than 8:50 AM, which would allow all the children to be home before 4:00PM. Parents would be less stressed with fewer buildings to be running between, have fewer PTAs to join, and have less fundraisers to support. The biggest gain would be children would have more time to be kids!
Now, if overcrowding at the middle school is a problem, one of the 5/6buildings could be converted back to a middle school. However, with the district's planners stating that the enrollment will continue to drop for many years, that may not be necessary. Besides, a clean, air conditioned portable classroom would be my preference for my child over an occasionally cleaned, hot room with few windows.
My other suggestion to save teaching positions, would be to charge a nominal fee for family's to be covered under health benefits. Most businesses charge the employee for at least a portion of the family's medical coverage. Our family pays over $40 twice a month for coverage. Here's an example of savings, if the district charged just $50 a month for family coverage and 10 employees per current school building participated,that would be a savings of $11000 per month or $132000 a year. Now, that could really add up if it was taken to all district employees!! Wouldn't that be better for educating our future than increasing class sizes??
I'm sorry I am not able to attend the meeting tonight. However, I have suggestion to help with the ongoing budget crisis and loss of students to private schools. My recommendation calls for cutting over 20 bus runs a day, eliminating several administrative, custodial and secretarial positions, and mothballing at least 2 buildings. I would like to recommend that the district reconfigure the buildings to K-5, 6-8 and 9-12. This could be done by simply keeping new fifth graders in the elementary buildings and moving out new sixth graders with the new seventh graders to the middle school buildings. Also, the elementary schools could then start at 8:25, rather than 8:50 AM, which would allow all the children to be home before 4:00PM. Parents would be less stressed with fewer buildings to be running between, have fewer PTAs to join, and have less fundraisers to support. The biggest gain would be children would have more time to be kids!
Now, if overcrowding at the middle school is a problem, one of the 5/6buildings could be converted back to a middle school. However, with the district's planners stating that the enrollment will continue to drop for many years, that may not be necessary. Besides, a clean, air conditioned portable classroom would be my preference for my child over an occasionally cleaned, hot room with few windows.
My other suggestion to save teaching positions, would be to charge a nominal fee for family's to be covered under health benefits. Most businesses charge the employee for at least a portion of the family's medical coverage. Our family pays over $40 twice a month for coverage. Here's an example of savings, if the district charged just $50 a month for family coverage and 10 employees per current school building participated,that would be a savings of $11000 per month or $132000 a year. Now, that could really add up if it was taken to all district employees!! Wouldn't that be better for educating our future than increasing class sizes??
Sunday, May 18, 2008
T-shirt Memos
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Saturday, May 17, 2008
New restrictions on board member oversight
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Friday, May 16, 2008
Letter to the editor
A letter from a concerned parent about Everyday Math.
I am writing this letter as a concerned parent of a 4th grade student in LPS. I am very concerned because there has been discussion of adopting Everyday Math for the LPS 5th graders this fall.
I just don't understand why you would want to bring an inferior math program to our upper grades. Aren't we all trying to give our kids the best education possible? Research of EM has proven over and over that reform math programs are not good for our children. Too much spiraling and not enough mastery.
Please talk to Board of Education member Mr. Greg Oke. He stated at one of the candidate forums "Most of the criticisms with the Everyday Math program actually come from the 5th and 6th grade levels. I actually know this because my district has EM. We utilize it up through 6th grade and all the problems we've had with it actually come from the 5th and 6th grade level." Do we really want to do his to our kids when research AND experience prove it is not a good program?
Mr. Bailey stated that he 'saw no problems with EM' when he visited one of the k-4 classrooms. Did you have to sit down with your child and try to explain some of cumbersome methods they use? I did do that with my child many, many nights this past school year and we were both incredibly frustrated.
And I applaud all of the teachers out there that have to teach this program. They are doing the best with what they have been given. My son's teacher has been out of class for 10 full days because of 'math meetings'.
I hardly think this is fair to her or her students. Not to mention, if she needs that many classes to teach a math program she piloted, doesn't that say something, too?
I am asking you...No, I'm begging you, to please wait on this 'adoption'.Read the research. Do what is best for our children. Don't make another hasty decision without all the facts. Please listen to the parents, the kids and the teachers this time.
I am writing this letter as a concerned parent of a 4th grade student in LPS. I am very concerned because there has been discussion of adopting Everyday Math for the LPS 5th graders this fall.
I just don't understand why you would want to bring an inferior math program to our upper grades. Aren't we all trying to give our kids the best education possible? Research of EM has proven over and over that reform math programs are not good for our children. Too much spiraling and not enough mastery.
Please talk to Board of Education member Mr. Greg Oke. He stated at one of the candidate forums "Most of the criticisms with the Everyday Math program actually come from the 5th and 6th grade levels. I actually know this because my district has EM. We utilize it up through 6th grade and all the problems we've had with it actually come from the 5th and 6th grade level." Do we really want to do his to our kids when research AND experience prove it is not a good program?
Mr. Bailey stated that he 'saw no problems with EM' when he visited one of the k-4 classrooms. Did you have to sit down with your child and try to explain some of cumbersome methods they use? I did do that with my child many, many nights this past school year and we were both incredibly frustrated.
And I applaud all of the teachers out there that have to teach this program. They are doing the best with what they have been given. My son's teacher has been out of class for 10 full days because of 'math meetings'.
I hardly think this is fair to her or her students. Not to mention, if she needs that many classes to teach a math program she piloted, doesn't that say something, too?
I am asking you...No, I'm begging you, to please wait on this 'adoption'.Read the research. Do what is best for our children. Don't make another hasty decision without all the facts. Please listen to the parents, the kids and the teachers this time.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Condition of closed schools
This is a response from Jack Kirksey to questions from residents about what the city can and can not do about the closed schools.
"Public Schools and/or K-12 schools are regulated by the State of Michigan. The construction, alteration or maintenance, or lack thereof, of schools has State laws stating who may inspect, who may not inspect and what procedures are to be followed.
After consultation with our Chief Assistant City Attorney, Cathryn White,and the Chief of the Building Division, Bureau of Construction Codes, State of Michigan, Larry Lehman, I have determined that we do not have the authority or mandate to enforce any building codes or maintenance issues on a public school building.
The State laws that govern this activity are Public Act 306 of 1937, as modified by Public Act 230 of 1972 and subsequently modified by Public Act628 of 2002.
The first action on a complaint should be directed to the Local Board of Education Office. In Livonia their address and telephone number is: 15125Farmington Road, Livonia MI, 48154; 734-744-2500.
If there is no response to that complaint a written complaint may be filed with the State of Michigan and they will do an investigation and follow-up. The written complaint should contain all of the pertinent details including the complaint address along with the name of the school and should be addressed to: State of Michigan, Bureau of Construction Codes, PO Box30254, Lansing, MI, 48909. A general telephone number (Not for complaints,as they must be in writing) is: 517-241-9302.
Regards,
Mayor Jack E. Kirksey
City of Livonia
"Public Schools and/or K-12 schools are regulated by the State of Michigan. The construction, alteration or maintenance, or lack thereof, of schools has State laws stating who may inspect, who may not inspect and what procedures are to be followed.
After consultation with our Chief Assistant City Attorney, Cathryn White,and the Chief of the Building Division, Bureau of Construction Codes, State of Michigan, Larry Lehman, I have determined that we do not have the authority or mandate to enforce any building codes or maintenance issues on a public school building.
The State laws that govern this activity are Public Act 306 of 1937, as modified by Public Act 230 of 1972 and subsequently modified by Public Act628 of 2002.
The first action on a complaint should be directed to the Local Board of Education Office. In Livonia their address and telephone number is: 15125Farmington Road, Livonia MI, 48154; 734-744-2500.
If there is no response to that complaint a written complaint may be filed with the State of Michigan and they will do an investigation and follow-up. The written complaint should contain all of the pertinent details including the complaint address along with the name of the school and should be addressed to: State of Michigan, Bureau of Construction Codes, PO Box30254, Lansing, MI, 48909. A general telephone number (Not for complaints,as they must be in writing) is: 517-241-9302.
Regards,
Mayor Jack E. Kirksey
City of Livonia
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Reponse to Legal Issues in Purchasing
Hi Steve:
I was involved in Royal Oak School Board politics for about 10 years. After that amount of time with little results, I moved to Troy, where the taxes are high, but people were happy with the schools. At one point I was so desperate to get others interested, that I hooked up with a group of older men in Livona (Tony Brehler) called "The Grumpies." I recall (in the mid 90's) visiting one of them in the hospital and seeing your signs around that you were running for the school board. I asked is that was Steve King of the Dittilies ( I was a great fan from the lamplighter and Back Seat in Royal Oak) and I found out it was you.
I hope you had better luck than we did in Royal Oak - all my friends who got on the board actually got sued for firing the superintendent, but of course it didn't stick, was just one of their tactics. Royal Oak has the ROEA, a very active chapter of the MEA. My conclusion is that (1) none of it had much to do with kids, it was about the adults,(2)the teachers there were more like teamsters, and used all the districts funds to elect their select candidates, (we never won another election after getting a 4 person majority on the board the first year.)
So now I live on a lake that was beautiful for the first 4 years in Emerald Lakes, and has gone to crap over the last 5, and now I fight with the Sub Board (my girlfriend across the lake and I just took over the Lakes Chair Position to fix our lake, one of six lakes) and the next fight will be with the Oakland County Drain Commissioner. So I moved here to get out of politics and am right back in it. It seems that it never ends.
Good luck, the apathy regarding the schools is amazing. In fact, apathy is why our lake went to crap. Will look for the Dittilies again in the Rochester-Troy area, you guys are great, and it brings back memories.
I was involved in Royal Oak School Board politics for about 10 years. After that amount of time with little results, I moved to Troy, where the taxes are high, but people were happy with the schools. At one point I was so desperate to get others interested, that I hooked up with a group of older men in Livona (Tony Brehler) called "The Grumpies." I recall (in the mid 90's) visiting one of them in the hospital and seeing your signs around that you were running for the school board. I asked is that was Steve King of the Dittilies ( I was a great fan from the lamplighter and Back Seat in Royal Oak) and I found out it was you.
I hope you had better luck than we did in Royal Oak - all my friends who got on the board actually got sued for firing the superintendent, but of course it didn't stick, was just one of their tactics. Royal Oak has the ROEA, a very active chapter of the MEA. My conclusion is that (1) none of it had much to do with kids, it was about the adults,(2)the teachers there were more like teamsters, and used all the districts funds to elect their select candidates, (we never won another election after getting a 4 person majority on the board the first year.)
So now I live on a lake that was beautiful for the first 4 years in Emerald Lakes, and has gone to crap over the last 5, and now I fight with the Sub Board (my girlfriend across the lake and I just took over the Lakes Chair Position to fix our lake, one of six lakes) and the next fight will be with the Oakland County Drain Commissioner. So I moved here to get out of politics and am right back in it. It seems that it never ends.
Good luck, the apathy regarding the schools is amazing. In fact, apathy is why our lake went to crap. Will look for the Dittilies again in the Rochester-Troy area, you guys are great, and it brings back memories.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Channel 15
Have you ever watched our public school local access channel 15? If you have never viewed this channel it is mostly slides, set to music, of old information and photos of a few things that have happened in some of the schools. Talk about an underutilized marketing tool. When I have inquired as to why this channel does not have up to date student centered content the response is who will do it. How about our AV guy that creates the presentations for the administrators to present at board meetings. Or perhaps the new communications specialist the superintendent hired at a tune of 24 thousand dollars a year as a part time employee. This channel could be used to feature what the students are doing in this district. I suggest with the help of tech savvy students, parents and the PTA that every school create video vignettes of events that take place throughout the district. Nothing fancy just a video recording of a concert or science fair or a myriad of things that happen in our schools daily. Kids get a kick out of seeing themselves on the tube and I think it would help build school spirit. Why not block time on channel 15 devoted to high school students creating original programing? I have seen videos of the Stevenson football team at board meetings, lets feature our outstanding artists throughout the district as well with performances on channel 15. I have asked if I could read a children's book once a month. This could be expanded to include guest readers from the community at large. I am sure there are capable high school students that as aspiring journalist would love to follow our students to science competitions and other school sponsored events and produce programing for broadcast. What about the career technical center? This is just the sort of project they would excel at. The ideas are endless as to what could fill a 24 hour channel. Instead of investing time and energy in gimmicks like the competitive edge to market this district lets showcase our greatest assets , our students.
Competitive Edge
Reading the summary of the first candidate forum I was curious about Tom Baileys comment concerning the districts latest deception, the competitive edge. He described the program as a partially funded college scholarship. This program is being hyped in all of the districts mailings and talked up at PTA meetings as well. In some of these publications it has been mentioned in the same paragraph as the Kalamazoo Promise which would understandably give the reader the impression that the two programs have something in common. For the uninitiated the Kalamazoo Promise pays for the Michigan college education of students that attend and graduate from a public school in Kalamazoo. It is underwritten by anonymous donors to the tune of 250 million dollars and provides full tuition for 4 years. The Competitive Edge contributes 100 dollars to your aspiring college student if you attend LPS form first to twelfth grade. This will not buy a single text book. To give the impression that this program is funding a college education is very misleading and shows the desperation in trying to bring back the over 1,200 students that we have lost since the Legacy debacle..
Monday, March 31, 2008
Channel 15
Have you ever watched our public access channel? Talk about an underused, valuable marketing tool. I have asked the administration why we are not putting real student centered content on this channel and the response is who will do it.How about our AV guy or the newly hired communications specialist. Instead of wasting resources pushing the competitive edge scam lets focus on making this channel truly special. Lets designate air time for each high school to create broadcast ready content every week. In fact every school in the district with the help of tech savvy students and parents could produce video vignettes of whats happening in their schools. Kids love to see themselves on the tube and I think it would build school pride.Throughout the district we have talented students that could showcase their abilities on air. Could CAPA create a production team of aspiring broadcast journalist to follow our students when they compete in things like the robotics challenge and then create programing to share with the entire community. I have asked if I could read a children's story once a month. This could be expanded to include guest readers from citizens to community leaders. Tonight I attended the Cyber Safety presentation at Churchill this should have been recorded and broadcast. The production of Oklahoma performed at Franklin could have been as simple as a one camera shoot and could be shown to a much wider audience on our cable channel. The point is lets start using the tools we already have to showcase the our best ambassadors our students.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
A letter from Apple
Dear Dr. King:
Thank you for the opportunity to clarify Apple's response to the District's RFP for Instructional Computers. Apple's initial bid response included a carefully-detailed description of Apple's product proposal, but we fear that the district's evaluation committee did not take into account all of the factors that would be relevant to its determination. As we review the Bid Analysis, it seems apparent that the evaluation committee did not fully consider our primary product offering, the 17" iMac. We attach configuration information and the cost structure for our 17" iMac solution which establish that the cost delta between Apple and the winning bid is nominal.
Apple has broad and deep experience deploying educational technology and proven capacity to deliver a comprehensive solution designed to meet the needs of the District's students. Our computer specifications derive from what students can do in the classroom and result in configurations that enable them to accomplish those things. The operating system and creative applications are integrated, making extremely efficient use of the hardware resources of the system. Apple's ability to craft a solution that incorporates operating system, hardware, and applications makes for unparalleled ease of use and long-term support benefits.
The teachers in Livonia are comfortable and familiar with the applications and support that Apple provides. As external mandates and pressures increasingly burden our teachers, the district now has an opportunity to besensitive to the additional time and effort that would be required for its teachers to make this change. If learning in the classroom is the mostimportant outcome for the use of educational technology, then providingcontinuity for the district's teaching professionals should be a critical factor in the deployment analysis.We welcome the opportunity to explain, demonstrate and share why we knowthat our solution fits the needs of the students and teachers of Livonia Public Schools. An RFP response cannot show you how Apple truly differentiates itself from other vendors.Please let myself or Eileen Crowley know if you have any additionalquestions.
Regards,
Lori J. Dallava
************************************************
Lori Dallava
Sr. Project ManagerBids Management TeamApple Inc.
Thank you for the opportunity to clarify Apple's response to the District's RFP for Instructional Computers. Apple's initial bid response included a carefully-detailed description of Apple's product proposal, but we fear that the district's evaluation committee did not take into account all of the factors that would be relevant to its determination. As we review the Bid Analysis, it seems apparent that the evaluation committee did not fully consider our primary product offering, the 17" iMac. We attach configuration information and the cost structure for our 17" iMac solution which establish that the cost delta between Apple and the winning bid is nominal.
Apple has broad and deep experience deploying educational technology and proven capacity to deliver a comprehensive solution designed to meet the needs of the District's students. Our computer specifications derive from what students can do in the classroom and result in configurations that enable them to accomplish those things. The operating system and creative applications are integrated, making extremely efficient use of the hardware resources of the system. Apple's ability to craft a solution that incorporates operating system, hardware, and applications makes for unparalleled ease of use and long-term support benefits.
The teachers in Livonia are comfortable and familiar with the applications and support that Apple provides. As external mandates and pressures increasingly burden our teachers, the district now has an opportunity to besensitive to the additional time and effort that would be required for its teachers to make this change. If learning in the classroom is the mostimportant outcome for the use of educational technology, then providingcontinuity for the district's teaching professionals should be a critical factor in the deployment analysis.We welcome the opportunity to explain, demonstrate and share why we knowthat our solution fits the needs of the students and teachers of Livonia Public Schools. An RFP response cannot show you how Apple truly differentiates itself from other vendors.Please let myself or Eileen Crowley know if you have any additionalquestions.
Regards,
Lori J. Dallava
************************************************
Lori Dallava
Sr. Project ManagerBids Management TeamApple Inc.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Letter from a concerned teacher.
Whether you prefer MAC or PC, you can't help coming to the conclusion that someone did not do their homework before making this decision.
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The IT Dept Memo on the Computer bids
More information on the computer purchase decision before the board.
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The LPS Bid Summary
No sign ofthe actual bids yet, but here is what we have. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.
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Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Note I received on Dell quality (or lack thereof)
Subject: new computers for students
Hello,
I have heard that the Board is looking into getting new computers for student use, and that you are looking at the Dell computers. I have a Dell Dimension 2350 that is a few years old. Just after the one year warranty expired the computer started freezing up on me. I called Dell for help, and paid $99.00 to be told by the service rep that every six to twelve months the computer needs to be reformatted and have everything reloaded (programs, service packs, updates, files from back up - EVERYTHING). Unfortunately, he was correct. Given my experience with this Dell computer when I replace it I most likely will not be purchasing another Dell computer.
Hello,
I have heard that the Board is looking into getting new computers for student use, and that you are looking at the Dell computers. I have a Dell Dimension 2350 that is a few years old. Just after the one year warranty expired the computer started freezing up on me. I called Dell for help, and paid $99.00 to be told by the service rep that every six to twelve months the computer needs to be reformatted and have everything reloaded (programs, service packs, updates, files from back up - EVERYTHING). Unfortunately, he was correct. Given my experience with this Dell computer when I replace it I most likely will not be purchasing another Dell computer.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Technology Upgrade
With so many old computers on their last leg the purchase of new computers in the district will move forward. I have heard from employees that were concerned that the 4-3 vote at the last board meeting was going to prevent this from happening. By spreading rumors like this, the administration is attempting to fear monger to drum up support for their proposal. There was good discussion at the board table regarding moving to one computer platform throughout the district. What was missing from the discussion was the reason we have fallen behind on our tech update that was scheduled to take place more than a year ago. Was there something that happened in the district that prevented the IT staff from staying on schedule with implementation of new computers? Oh yeah,that darn legacy thing and the unintended consequences of poor planning. Unfortunately this has become a debate about Apple vs Dell and while Apple is clearly on the rise with new innovative products and inventions, and Dell is falling, coming off its worst year in recent history it will not deter the faithful. I can hear the wagons circling as our illustrious IT staff prepares to exult the PC and bash the Mac. Although it has not been spoken yet, the usual M. O. will be to have the B.O.E conduct a board meeting in one of our middle schools trotting out all of the PC fans in the district with computer geek speak and students involved in the dog and pony show. What will be absent however is all of those on the IT staff and throughout the district that support using something other than what this proposal offers. I do not believe in one size fits all education and I will certainly not support a proposal that moves the district in that direction. One of the arguments I hear over and over again is in the real world outside of school everyone uses a windows based PC. What world would that be? Certainly not the creative world that I travel in as a professional musician. Or that of my brother in California who is a filmmaker. Or the web developer, publisher,illustrator I know. Or the law firm of another friend. Or thousands of other business owners I know in every conceivable line of work. The point is it is not a single platform world and the computer you use often depends on what you are trying to accomplish. This proposal needs to be examined closely, especially the true cost of everything associated with the purchase. As we move forward I will be listening to all the stakeholders recognizing that the IT staff is there to make the teachers job easier not the other way around.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Comments
I love all of the comments I receive on this blog,very informed.I hope everyone that reads my blog takes the time to read the comments as well. So much is happening in the district I have to do better at getting the word out.It's not easy breaking through the PR culture that dominates this district. Livonia neighbors web site does a great job providing so much information about whats really going on.As a regular viewer I learn a great deal from the different posts and opinions.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Contract Extension
I was corralled by a teacher at the PTSA Foundation event inquiring why I voted no on the contract extension. The story in the Observer did not elaborate on my position or cover the meeting when the vote was taken. This meeting was not televised either and there was good discussion about many things witnessed by no one. I am more than willing to explain my votes to any one who cares to ask. As far as the no vote on the one year contract extension. This vote was tie barred to another ERI (early retirement incentive) so if you voted yes on the extension you were voting yes for the ERI which I do not support. The contract also contains language that does not allow Athletic Directors to hire who they want to coach teams in their school. It is written in a way that if a teacher wants a coaching job they get it because it is contractual.If Tiger Woods wanted to coach the golf team the AD would have to tell him sorry the social studies teacher wants that job. I believe the coach of any student endeavor should be the most qualified person for the job whether they are a teacher in the building or the district or not. I am not saying teachers should not coach, I just think they should compete on a level playing field for coaching positions. There are many other things in the contract that I feel need to be discussed. Why are teachers burdened with bus duty, lunch and playground duty and a myriad of other chores that certainly could be done by others? Teachers need to focus on planning and teaching, the job they were trained to do. This current contract is a compilation of so many things piled up over so much time that I am not sure how many teachers are aware of all it contains. Labor negotiators tell me after so many years you need to start fresh and bargain for what really matters. Most of the teachers I talk to want a good benefits package, particularly health insurance, and a fair wage as well as support from their building administrator. Nothing more , nothing less.
Vision Community Meeting
I attended the vision meeting at Franklin tonight and was disappointed. The districts latest PR piece was shown featuring Randy and other administrators talking about the process that led to our shared vision from several years ago. Why was John Hiltz on the video?This meeting was heavily orchestrated and controlled by the moderator Donna McDowell. The attendees were asked to fill out a bubble sheet survey that asked things they would not have knowledge of. If you want to know what the stakeholders are interested in you have to stop talking and listen. This meeting was proof positive that Vision means nothing without action.
Webster Fire
I posted the pictures of fire damage at Webster because from the front it does not look that bad. Note the smoke damage and water in the hallway that was in the entire building. This fire was devastating. I certainly hope someone will come forward with anything they have observed or heard about who may have done this. Although we are insured I am certain when the final bill comes due this will cost the district plenty. My concern is if the person or persons are not caught they will become emboldened to strike again.
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