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| Citizens panel looks at Wayne-Westland's future; "Change Or Die" | |
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| Topic Started: Jul 5 2009, 04:12 PM (79 Views) | |
| IlikeLIvonia | Jul 5 2009, 04:12 PM Post #1 |
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Citizens panel looks at Wayne-Westland's future By Sue Mason • OBSERVER STAFF WRITER • July 5, 2009 http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20090705/NEWS27/907050414/1027/NEWS10/Citizens+panel+looks+at+Wayne-Westland+s+future A photograph of Mao Tse Tung with the words “Change or Die” emblazoned across it sent a strong message to more than 100 people in the auditorium of the William D. Ford Career Technical Center last week: Things must change if the Wayne-Westland Community Schools are to thrive and prosper. The gathering was the introductory meeting of the district's 21st Century Schools Citizens Committee which will look at how the district can educate students while living within its means. The goal is to have a plan in place by fiscal 2010-11. “Our children must compete against the children of the world, what we once had is gone,” said Tom Watkins, former state superintendent who used the “Change and Die” slide to drive home his message that “no one is coming to your rescue, you are the cavalry.” The committee is made up of school administrators and staff as well as parents who are “viewed as stakeholders,” said Superintendent Greg Baracy. “You face several challenges. You have to work collaboratively to break patterns and change the perspective to change the status quo,” he said. “You have to look at this as an opportunity — the glass is half full, not half empty.” “This clearly driven by need,” added Jeff Rahmberg of Rahmberg Stover and Associates. “I think this is an opportunity to preserve the legacy of this district. We are facing the greatest economic challenge since the Great Depression.” Rahmberg, who worked with the district in the 1990s when it closed schools and moved to a middle school program, pointed out that Wayne-Westland has lost 1,800 students in 10 years. Those families “are just not here.” But it is a loss shared with other districts and it is how Wayne-Westland responds that “will affect the fate of its students.” A combination of declining enrollment and declining state support for the schools leaves the district facing a more than $8 million deficit next fiscal year, if nothing is done. And Deputy Superintendent Gary Martin told the group that the district needs to find a better way of doing things and trim $10-$15 million. (2 of 2) “The financial uncertainty is not going to get any better,” he said. “I don't anticipate a groundswell, we're going to have to live within our means.” The committee will look at such things as facility use and demographics, learning configurations, attendance boundaries and additional educational options in coming up with what Rahmberg described as a “plan that is sustainable over time.” Their work will be broken down into five phases — foundation work, fact finding, alternatives and options, formulating recommendations and how to implement the recommendations. “‘Change or Die' must be adopted by all schools,” Watkins said. “We don't have the resources to cut our way out of this mess. We have to follow the three R's — reform, restructure and reinvent. Change is not an option, change is mandatory. Knowledge, talent and skills are the commodities that matter in the 21st century.” The committee will meet later this month to begin its work. smason@hometownlife.com | (313) 222-6751 Next Page |
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| Whatever | Jul 5 2009, 04:24 PM Post #2 |
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'Rahmberg, who worked with the district in the 1990s when it closed schools and moved to a middle school program, pointed out that Wayne-Westland has lost 1,800 students in 10 years. Those families “are just not here.” But it is a loss shared with other districts and it is how Wayne-Westland responds that “will affect the fate of its students.”' How many students has LPS lost in just the last 3 years? Wayne-Westland is looking at a 8 million deficit while Livonia's is 7.5. Where's Livonia plan for the future? Obviously, we aren't doing much better than WW. Hey Randy, "no one is coming to your rescue, you are the cavalry.” What's your plan "B"? Let's hope plan "B" is better than plan"A." |
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| LPS Reformer | Jul 5 2009, 06:17 PM Post #3 |
The schools exist to educate, not employ.
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Plan B: Do a better job of hiding raises to the faithfull. 
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 LPS Reform Blog++++LPS Salary List 12/07 LPS Salary List 6/09 Contact me at: LPSReformer@gmail.com | |
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| Anna Krome | Jul 5 2009, 07:10 PM Post #4 |
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Good message, bad messenger. Mao Tse Tung was a psychopathic murderer with a kill number starting at about 14 million--going up to 50 million, for some studies. He killed more than Hitler, and they were his own people, nationality, religion, etc. "Change or Die" in Mao speak means literally "you change or you will die." Deaths were most likely torture, starvation then death. I hope WW picks a new spokesperson for their campaign. |
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Krome on Cars | |
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