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| I’m Voting YES Twice!; Millage's | |
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| Topic Started: Oct 22 2009, 04:26 PM (1,570 Views) | |
| pattyj | Oct 22 2009, 04:26 PM Post #1 |
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I do understand the frustration in many, and there has to be a way to stop the madness of the state, LPS and other districts for the money not reaching the children in the classroom. But PLEASE understand if these millage’s don’t pass, mine and your children will suffer.... they won't have the money to fix a leaky roof, a broken window, bathrooms will close if they can't afford to fix the plumbing. This is a must YES twice vote.... If the schools go down, the city goes down.... if the city goes down, the business's leave... and if the businesses leave so much for your already low property values.... This isn’t about Liepa or the BOE it’s about survival for our community..... I’m voting YES! |
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| Mrs.M | Oct 22 2009, 04:40 PM Post #2 |
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I'm glad you'll be voting in the election. It's too bad you forgot, didn't have time, had a family crisis or whatever the reason was for not voting in the last school board election in May. UNLESS of course you're not Patty Jolly, as you claimed you were. Patty Jolly's name didn't show up as having cast a ballot in Livonia for the May election. |
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| LPSisPoor | Oct 22 2009, 05:48 PM Post #3 |
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You are so misinformed it's pathetic. How many leaky roofs, broken windows, bathroom plumbing problems do you think could have been fixed with the $1.5 million LPS spent on a soccerdome instead? How come Plymouth Canton has more students with better test scores on LESS money? Liepa loves uninformed people like you - and you must enjoy being taken advantage of! Your children could have so much more if the folks at central office were held accountable. |
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| LPS Reformer | Oct 22 2009, 06:24 PM Post #4 |
The schools exist to educate, not employ.
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 Lord Lieapus Rex: Behold all ye ignorant masses! See the words of my new prophet, and know MY Truth! |
 LPS Reform Blog++++LPS Salary List 12/07 LPS Salary List 6/09 Contact me at: LPSReformer@gmail.com | |
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| professionalmom | Oct 22 2009, 08:21 PM Post #5 |
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Sorry. Four "no" votes expected from this household. |
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| LPS Reformer | Oct 22 2009, 08:26 PM Post #6 |
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The schools exist to educate, not employ.
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And 2 more from this one. |
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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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| pattyj | Oct 23 2009, 05:02 AM Post #7 |
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Because Jolly is my maiden name.... I voted at the last election THANK YOU and every election! I also fought hard and voted YES on the recall.... I just know that in the next few years without that sinking fund they’ll then use money that could be used in the classroom to fix buildings. |
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| fhsalumni | Oct 23 2009, 05:31 AM Post #8 |
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All this bickering and name calling is certainly helping our children.  I feel like I just walked by a conversation between 2 of my elementary students.  Let's get it straight in Lansing and restore our funding, then everyone can resume their disputes over our current board, soccer dome, and the upcoming millage. No matter how you feel about our BOE, we need that money that Granholm chopped off twice this week without a care. That should be everyone's focus and priority. Just my opinion.
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| This_Is_Crazy | Oct 23 2009, 06:02 AM Post #9 |
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Stop blaming Granholm! She has been and continues to be the biggest 'best friend' any school district could want. Liepa is just too stupid to know this. Granholm has had a longstanding record of SUPPORTING public school districts BIGTIME, with BIGTIME BUCKS! Go back and check her record. She is trying to continue that record. She is is the middle of a huge political fight with the senate republicans. What she is trying to do is get MORE money for schools. This is why she is standing up to the senate republicans and forcing their hands by her veto power. Her little stop-over at the central office to talk to Liepa was to tell him to 'shut up' and let her do her thing. FIGHT POLITICAL BATTLES! She probably said something like this to Liepa: 'Are you stupid of what? I'm doing this veto thing to get you more money by forcing the senate republicans to increase revenues'. Like I said, Liepa is just too stupid. STUDY THE SITUATION RANDY! Any superintendent of any public school district that criticizes Granholm for trying to fix the huge hole in the school aid budget must be brain numb. LET HER DO HER POLITICAL THING! LPS will see the money restored. Blame the senate republicans for this huge mess and NOT Granholm! And for Gods sake, Liepa, shut the hell up already, and stop going over to the City and flapping your mouth with that big republican blow-hard Kirksey! |
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| Whatever | Oct 23 2009, 08:55 AM Post #10 |
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Oh Patty.....I feel bad for you. Do you really think they will spend the money on their existing buildings that need repair? Remember when they bulit that bullet-proof building to store the lawn mowers? So much waste.....we're still paying for improvements made to the buildings they closed. Are your kids benefiting from those improvements? Buildings that will probably be torn down in the future. I'm sure they used sinking fund $$$ to clean up the empty, vandalized buildings they closed. And of course, there's that soccerdome that we will be paying for. Wake up Patty, you've been duped! |
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| Ava | Oct 23 2009, 09:04 AM Post #11 |
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Patty, I was against the recall and I'm voting NO on both millages. Edited by Ava, Oct 23 2009, 09:05 AM.
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| LPS Reformer | Oct 23 2009, 05:58 PM Post #12 |
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The schools exist to educate, not employ.
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Were is Lansing going to get the money to give? |
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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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| LPS Reformer | Oct 23 2009, 06:41 PM Post #13 |
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The schools exist to educate, not employ.
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If anyone feels they have a moral duty to pay more of their earnings for public education, then go ahead. I have no doubt Randy will be willing to cash your check. Just remember, when you agree with a tax increase that you can afford, you are also agreeing to have it taken from you neighbor who can not. |
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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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| Al Beabak | Oct 23 2009, 07:39 PM Post #14 |
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I can't even afford a tax renewal, how would I ever afford an increase?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?. Guess we all have to make do with less, and that includes the public sector. |
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| LPS Reformer | Oct 24 2009, 08:21 AM Post #15 |
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The schools exist to educate, not employ.
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 LISA: Not Now. Not Ever. Not Even a Penny. Edited by LPS Reformer, Oct 24 2009, 08:23 AM.
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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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| Whatever | Oct 24 2009, 08:08 PM Post #16 |
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Two different issues. One doesn't have anything to do with the other. |
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| This_Is_Crazy | Oct 25 2009, 08:45 AM Post #17 |
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LISA: Not Now. Not Ever. Not Even a Penny......will go towards buying myself a comb! What's that red on her fingers? Blood? |
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| Mrs.M | Oct 25 2009, 09:16 AM Post #18 |
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Letters 10/25/09 LOhttp://www.hometownlife.com/article/20091025/OPINION03/910250460/1199/NEWS10/Letters+to+Livonia+editor Say yes to schools A friend of mine recently asked, “Does Livonia Public Schools really need the current millages renewed? Do they really need that money?” Great questions, and the answers depend on our definition of “need.” According to state law, we don't need to provide the first-class opportunities that we do for our students. We don't need to maintain our buildings in a safe, clean and inviting way. We don't need new technology, a wider selection of books, safely operating school busses, sports and drama facilities or our numerous extracurricular programs; and we don't need a district vision. For me, the better word might be “want.” I want our kids to attend a school that has received the highest NCA District Accreditation possible. I want the classrooms to have fewer than 30 students. I want a district that has the technology and equipment to give our children a competitive advantage. I want a district that will attract quality educators. I want a district that will continue to attract new families, will protect our property values and will ensure a quality future for our community. We have a lot of things in our lives that can be eliminated if we look at barebones “need.” I don't need to live in this district; I choose to, I want to - because of the quality of the Livonia Public Schools district. The state has serious budget issues. Politicians are reducing the amount of money they will share with our communities and they are reducing the amount they share with our schools. The millage renewals being requested are dollars that stay here in our district. These are dollars controlled right here, and they benefit each and every one of us. I am both a home owner and business owner within the district. As a business owner, I consider this a sound investment and a solid value because, yes, good schools benefit the business community as well. If you want to protect your property values, renew the strength of our communities and the benefits enjoyed in our district, let's maintain our investment. Please get out and vote on Nov. 3 and say yes to schools and support both renewal proposals. John J. Hiltz Chairman of LPS millage renewal committee Don't be misled Livonia Public Schools' voters must not be misled by comments by two opponents as quoted in the Sunday, Oct. 18, edition. I hope readers understand that the two tax proposals are only millage rate renewals — not an increase in the tax rate. Homeowners must realize that their tax bills, based on approval of the millage renewals, will be reduced because of declining property assessments. As a former Observer & Eccentric community editor (including five as Livonia Observer editor), I fail to comprehend why the Sunday tax story quoted two private citizens as though they represented a large organized group. One of the critics was a school board member 27 years ago and apparently fails to realize that things have changed since then. The critics (are there only two in the district?) also complained about the number of “overpaid” school administrators — a point clearly refuted by the school superintendent. A suggestion that the three high schools should have only one athletic director instead of one for each of the schools clearly shows a failure to understand the long hours needed to maintain one school, much less adding more to the work load. As a former Observer & Eccentric community editor, I have covered many school and municipal tax proposals. There will always be critics and dissenters but let's not give them the voice and instant credibility to try to influence less-informed voters. The two critics are entitled to their opinions, but I hope that voters will depend more on informed and well-reasoned arguments in deciding how to vote on the proposals. I hope most voters will look beyond the narrow sniping of two voters and support the Nov. 3 millage proposals. Without the renewal of the proposals, a serious financial crisis would soon become a major disaster. Leonard Poger Westland Vote no on millages Disaster has become the common talking point during the debate over the sinking and operating mileages for LPS. In other words, vote yes or all is lost. I disagree. There is a reason that Mr. Liepa scheduled the millage vote this early — because he knew people were angry enough at his waste to vote it down. So he gave himself enough time to go back to the voters two more times. A no vote would send two powerful messages. First, rewrite the sinking fund request so that the money can only be spent on school buildings. No more $1 million soccer domes. Second, all district employees will need to make concessions (that means teachers, administrators and AFSCME), and we can no longer be a job fund for the friends and family of the administrators and board members. Do we really need 43 employees making $100,000 in this economy? The only way Mr. Liepa and the board of education members will give up on the intolerable waste in this district is if we withhold the money until they are forced to do so. That is why I am asking you to join me in voting no on both millage requests. Loyd A. Romick Livonia Millage renewals are critical In November, Livonia school district voters will be asked to renew two millages — the operational millage and the sinking fund millage. These critical millage renewals appear before voters every five years and do not represent any sort of tax increase. The Livonia Parent Teacher Student Association Council supports the proposal to renew these millages and strongly encourages its member units and local PTA/PTSA members to support them as well. This is not new money. It is not an additional tax. Every five years, the Livonia school district is mandated to seek voter approval to continue receiving funds it needs to meet its budget. If the millages are not renewed, the district will be forced to eliminate people, projects and programs, in addition to any cuts necessitated by loss of income from the state. The funds used to annually repair and renovate buildings and sites come from the sinking fund millage. The failure to renew the sinking fund millage would result in the loss of $6 million earmarked for the renovation of Livonia Public Schools' facilities. Currently, the operating millage generates $30 million and is used for such areas as instruction, staff and programs necessary for the daily operation of Livonia's public schools. The failure to renew the operating millage would result in a loss of approximately 20 percent of the district's general fund budget needed to successfully operate Livonia Public Schools. The LPTSAC is privileged to be an integral part of the Livonia school community, and recognizes that the school environment affects the ability of children to learn. We believe times mandate the need to attract young families into our school district by renovating our facilities to meet current architectural and technological standards. LPTSAC also feels that attracting and retaining exceptional teachers is fundamental to the superior education historically provided by Livonia Public Schools. Approving the proposed millage renewals is essential toward providing an exemplary and meaningful education experience for every child in Livonia's public schools. We ask all Livonia voters to approve the millage renewals in the November election. Heidy Nance Livonia Parent Teacher Student Association Council president Vote yes on millages It is hard to believe, but I have now lived long enough to see a second generation of my family educated in the Livonia Public Schools. My two children are Churchill High School graduates, and my granddaughter is an eighth grader at Holmes Middle School. Although officially qualifying as a senior citizen, I am more concerned than ever about LPS having the resources it needs to provide the excellent educational program it has always been known for. Loss of state revenue caused by the Michigan budget crisis is the latest blow. On the ballot Nov. 3 are two proposals to renew the millage LPS is permitted to raise locally. This millage represents about 20 percent of the district's revenue. In the past the school board has been responsible and has generally not levied the full amount of millage the voters have authorized. A renewal of this millage will not increase your taxes. A failure to renew this millage would mean disastrous cuts. In these difficult times, the need for excellence in education is more important than ever. Please join me in voting “yes” on the two millage renewal proposals on Nov. 3. Richard C. McKnight Westland Renew school millages I am an attorney at Cummings, McClorey, Davis & Acho, one of Michigan's larger law firms based in Livonia. I have two children in college, both of whom are products of Livonia schools. As members of the business community we have sponsored student interns from our schools, participated in the Business-Teacher Connection program, the Here -to-There mentoring program and we also provide volunteer services to the district. It is part of our firm philosophy that we have an obligation to help those institutions, both public and private, that are the foundation of our community. Livonia's schools are among the finest in the state. Our company needs well-educated workers at every level of our organization. We have come to expect and rely on the quality of the students and employees who are Livonia graduates. It is important to understand that an excellent school district is one of the most critical factors business people use to assess whether to make an investment in a community. We need to ensure that high standards of excellence are maintained in our schools, which in turn will help us retain existing businesses and successfully compete for new businesses to come to Livonia. Nobody should underestimate how difficult that competition has become. I strongly encourage the renewal of the millage proposals on the upcoming ballot. These funds are absolutely needed for school operations, especially now that state support of our schools continues to shrink. As a resident, I know my interest in quality schools here has not ended just because my children have matriculated to college. Renewing the millage will send a strong signal that Livonia's long-standing commitment to excellent schools continues. Gregory A. Roberts Livonia |
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| ppplivonia | Oct 25 2009, 09:52 AM Post #19 |
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This is too funny. I almost pppeed my pants! |
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| George | Oct 25 2009, 09:55 AM Post #20 |
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Me too..... |
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