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Livonia Observer; Sunday, February 3, 2008
Topic Started: Feb 3 2008, 10:40 AM (560 Views)
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LPS adds 7th hour so high schoolers can fit more classes
By Rebecca Jones
STAFF WRITER

High school students can stay after school starting next year to tackle one additional required class per semester.

Livonia Public Schools officials are introducing the seventh-hour option as a solution for students seeking to fit electives into their schedules amid a more rigorous set of graduation requirements.

During the first semester, health class will be offered at each of the high schools. In the second semester, it's personal fitness.

These classes will also be offered during the school day. Scheduling is just getting under way.

"It's a good option for a lot of kids," said Steve Archibald, Stevenson High School principal. However, students who take part in activities right after school might also find themselves in a scheduling crunch. "Hopefully we'll get enough."

If fewer than 20 students sign up for seventh hour, the class might be canceled.

Students would be responsible for transportation home.

For Stevenson freshman Kelly Charniga, seventh hour really isn't an option.

She has gymnastics practice starting at 3 p.m. every day after school. "It's a good idea for other kids, though," she said.

New state requirements for specific courses, which take effect for the Class of 2011 (today's freshmen), reduce LPS students' elective opportunities from 12 to eight over the course of their high school careers.

Livonia Career/Technical Center principal Janet Haas took her concerns about how this would affect participation in two- and three-hour programs at her school to the state policymakers.

As a result, students can get Algebra 2 credit through Career Technical Center programs and the required senior math credit, she said. Students will also get the 20 hours of online learning experience there.

"I don't feel that we're being shortchanged anymore," she said. However, she added that fitting in the requirements takes planning, and counselors will start working with students in middle school to develop an educational plan for their high school careers.

Even if they earn enough credits, students will not be able to graduate early. District policy requires students to attend for eight semesters.

Seventh hour is also an option for students who fail a required class. Unlike summer school, students will not pay tuition.

The move will cost the district between $90,000 and $180,000 per year.

Beginning with the 2009-10 school year, American government and economics will also be offered during seventh-hour.

Although there was talk of offering before-school classes, after examining the situation, it makes more sense to offer after-school classes, rather than getting students and teachers to school at 6:30 a.m., Archibald said.

Offices already remained staffed after school until 4:30 p.m.

http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/.../802030512/1027
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With vision set, schools seek districtwide accreditation
By Rebecca Jones
STAFF WRITER


Using its "shared vision" as a foundation, Livonia Public Schools will seek districtwide accreditation through North Central Association Committee on Accreditation and School Improvement.

Individual schools will continue to be accredited, but the district accreditation process also examines the organization structure against seven standards based on educational research, said Charlotte Worthen, director of instruction for the district. Those standards happen to align directly with the shared vision, Worthen said.

"This year, we have established a renewed focus on our shared vision and district NCA accreditation would offer a venue for that work to occur," Worthen said.

Accreditation is a continuous process of self-evaluation, reflection, and improvement. Outside sources visit sites, help identify strengths and weaknesses and validate the organization's work with what amounts as an international mark of quality.

For district accreditation, establishing vision and purpose is the first step and something that LPS can check off its to-do list.

"We're really ahead of the game because of the work we put into the vision," said Supt. Randy Liepa.

Next, the district would establish indicators that can measure progress toward those goals.

"We'll be able to show how our processes are moving us toward that vision," Liepa said, "and if not, then that's something we'll be able to see and if there's a hole then we'll be able to fill that hole."

This spring or fall, a group will visit with the district and help create an action plan for reaching specified goals. In 18 months, visitors would monitor the district's progress.

District accreditation will also save LPS money, Worthen said. Instead of each school hosting a visit every five years, evaluators would make one visit to the district every five years, for a savings in the range of $57,500 to $69,000 every five years.

The district NCA team will continue to monitor schools annually, Worthen said.

In addition, the work that a school does under NCA fulfills the requirements for Education YES!, Michigan's system of school accreditation.

http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/.../802030516/1027
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Council sticks with Ford for police fleet
By Alex Lundberg
STAFF WRITER


It was a classic household vehicle debate played out on the city's stage: Fast and sporty lost out to prudent and economical.

Livonia's police department wanted something faster but the City Council wants to keep the city's biggest taxpayer happy, so almost all of the city's new police cars will be Fords.

The council voted Jan. 16 to approve the purchase of several Ford Motor Co. products including 14 Crown Victorias, three Tauruses, one Fusion, one Explorer, one Escape, two Chevrolet Tahoes, four Chevrolet Impalas and two other unmarked Ford cars.

But what police officials wanted was a different group of 28 cars that included five Dodge Chargers and only nine Crown Victorias. Following the recommendation of state and national police organizations as well as their own experience, the police said the Chargers were faster, nimbler and better suited to their needs than the Ford product.

Capt. Richard Cramb said the Chargers are more expensive than the Crown Victorias, about $2,000 more each, but after other factors are considered the numbers even out.

"It becomes a wash when you factor in maintenance and mileage," he said. "Those are places where the Charger beats the Crown Vic."

He said the Charger is consistently judged best by the Michigan State Police and the national police agencies that rate police equipment in terms of acceleration, handling and top speed. When he spoke to the council, police Chief Robert Stevenson said there have been several instances where the Charger has allowed Livonia officers to catch wanted felons when a slower car wouldn't.

The economics of the Big Three automakers isn't part of the department's thinking.

"We're sympathetic to the state of the Ford Motor Company's finances but not at the expense of officer safety, officer morale or public safety," Stevenson said.

Councilman Thomas Robinson said if the police officers serve the city, it is them up to the city to support the police officers.

"I haven't heard a good argument not to give them the cars," he said. "It's within the budget."

Councilman Don Knapp said 75 percent of the police cars on the road are Crown Victorias and that's a sign of reliability. He said sending a message to the city's largest taxpayer, Ford, was important too.

The vote to approve the purchase of the mostly Ford package was 4-3, with council members Jim McCann, Joe Laura, Brian Meakin and Knapp voting for it; council President Laura Toy, Councilwoman Terry Godfroid-Marecki and Robinson voted against the purchase. The cost for the new cars will be $561,531.

http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...535/1027/NEWS10
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Honestly, what is the problem with giving our police what they need to do their job. Does anyone really believe Ford would pull out of Livonia if we didn't buy those cars? Or buying those Crown Vics is really going to make a difference at Ford? Sounds like a backroom deal to me.
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Mrs.M
Veteran
There've also been a couple Letters to the Ed regarding the purchase. It seems the other city cars, inspection cars etc also are Ford. Is that blind devotion?

It seems the 4 city council members (McCann, Laura, Meakin and Knapp)
know what's best for the Police, maybe they want the police chief to hand in his badge and retirement. OR maybe somebody got a ticket or two*, by a cop in a Charger. ;)






*to, too, two Those darn homynms will get you a LOT of times. thyme
they're there their your you're ewe you and more and more
No, I know, I knew I wasn't going to start a new topic.

I'd agree with you, but then we'd both be WRONG.
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Jimid
Feb 3 2008, 09:45 AM

He said the Charger is consistently judged best by the Michigan State Police and the national police agencies that rate police equipment in terms of acceleration, handling and top speed. When he spoke to the council, police Chief Robert Stevenson said there have been several instances where the Charger has allowed Livonia officers to catch wanted felons when a slower car wouldn't.


Looks like another case of "damn the best research available" in this town. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that all crime comes in to, and out of this city via I-96. You need a fast car on that freeway. I think a few of our council members over thought this, or got a free lunch somewhere.
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Mrs.M
Veteran
http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...519/1199/NEWS10

Put safety of officers first

What a interesting front page story. Council sticks with Ford. Isn't Mr Laura a current or retired Ford motor employee? His conflict of interest is not the only problem with council not giving the police what they asked for.

Apparently the recommendations of state, and national police organizations, or their own police department meant nothing to over half of the council. I guess officer safety, officer moral and public safety doesn't matter much either. The purchase of 15 Ford vehicles should have been a big enough message to Ford (out of 26).

If the council wants to send a message to its biggest taxpayers and voters (Livonia citizens) they should be putting us and the safety of its police department first.

Tim Smith


http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...=73307539046571



Letters to the editor

Why not better police cars?

Technology allows residents to watch and listen to City Council meetings 24/7 on the city of Livonia Web site. The recent Jan. 16 City Council meeting included Item 13, a proposal to purchase 28 replacement vehicles for the police (heard 26 minutes into the videocast).

The Chief of Police spoke for almost 10 minutes explaining his concerns with eliminating the Dodge Charger from their fleet. The officer emphasized that the Charger continues to be the leading vehicle in every area of evaluation and performance. He did mention the maintenance cost is slightly higher, however, he also stressed that the Charger: is the choice vehicle by the majority of the officers, has better fuel economy, has advanced stability features, has quicker acceleration and better breaking.

The chief was sympathetic to the financial woes of Ford Motor and was in favor of a gesture in support of Ford. Currently the marked fleet is 28 Crown Victorias, four Chargers, and one Chevrolet. The Police Department suggested or requested 25 Crown Vics, five Chargers and three Chevrolets. Also worth mentioning is an upgrade and redo of the Ford that has been coming for two years, just hasn't arrived yet; the department has even lent a Charger to Ford's engineering department for evaluation.

The hiring freeze and reorganization of the department, the fact the police went almost three years without a contract and are now working almost another year without a contract should have been additional factors considered when the vote was taken for granting the officers their request. Law abiding citizens in Livonia are proud and pleased with the performance of the Livonia officers.

The council members had copies of the additional recent data and evaluations. Apparently the proposal by the police, after a few compromises, was actually below and within their budget. Justifying that Ford is the number one taxpayer in the city and the argument that 75 percent of police vehicles on the road are Crown Vics. shouldn't cut it for the safety and morale of our officers and citizens. Marecki, Robinson and Toy voted to grant the chief's request. The others against. Who benefits from the purchase?

Dianne Marietti
Livonia

I'd agree with you, but then we'd both be WRONG.
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Larry Martin
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
Jimid
Feb 3 2008, 09:40 AM
Even if they earn enough credits, students will not be able to graduate early. District policy requires students to attend for eight semesters.

This type of blatant money grab at the expense of students bothers me more and more everytime I run across it. P-CCS has a similar policy of mandating 7 semesters to get a degree while acknowedging that enough credits can be earned while still a Junior.

Early graduation is not for everyone. Personally, I would like to see my children get many college credits while still in HS, wheter by AP courses or dual enrollment. Cheaper for me. However, to mandate that ALL students MUST stay for 8 semesters is WRONG.

"Research says" (in this case, good, reproduceable, reliable, time tested research) that early admittance to Kindergarten, subject acceleration, whole grade acceleration and early graduation are proper tools to use to enhance education for gifted children. Holding these kids back does a tremendous disservice to them and the community in general.

The list is almost endless of influential leaders who graduated early. A good example at this time of year is Martin Luther King. He started Moorehouse College at 15.

MLK got into college without his High School diploma. He skipped 9th and 12th grades.

Could entry into college happen today without a HS Diploma, when districts cling to each student in a mad frenzy for the foundation allowance?

No... Parents once again have to fight the system to get what should be readily available and accessible.

Time to get off the soap box again.

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