LPS Reform

Why don't they listen to the parents?

2010-03-20T08:58:00.000-07:00

If you are a parent with an opinion you want considered, or ideas you want taken seriously, stay clear of Livonia Public Schools if you can. But why don't they listen?

Because they consider themselves superior to the parents. They feel they are the educators, and we can't be trusted to know what's best for our kids. They act as if we are children who are misbehaving and need to be put in our place.

Take a look at how they ignore public input. The Legacy Initiative was the biggest example, but hardly the first, or last. What about the superintendent search that was called off so Randy Liepa could be anointed. How about Everyday Math? How about all the unanswered phone calls to transportation when there is a problem with the busses? How about the budget and teacher raises? How about privatization?

The opinion Randy and the old guard have to the ideas of the public can be summed up in a single word.

Contempt.

Randy Liepa and the Open Meetings Act

2010-03-16T15:26:00.000-07:00

3/15/10
Randy Liepa and the Open Meetings Act

Randy Liepa was in rare form at tonight's LPS board of education meeting. He decided he had found a disruption in his meeting. A disruption so great that only the Livonia Police Department could deal with it. What was this disruption? What was this instrument of chaos and disorder?

A Nikon D-50 digital SLR mounted on a tripod.

Yep. He called the police because of a camera. A camera in a public meeting. A camera in a televised public meeting.

There I sat in the front row, with my trusty camera sitting on its tripod when Randy and Lynda Scheel walked up. Lynda didn't say anything, but nodded a lot while Randy talked. Without so much as a hello, he said "That camera is a disruption. You can either remove it, or leave the meeting." I responded "that may be your opinion, but you're wrong." I then advised him of the Open Meetings Act, and its prohibition against interference with a citizen's recording of a meeting.

He said "Regardless, if you don't take it down, you will have to leave". I advised I had no intention of taking it down. or leaving.

He walked away.

He then called in officers from Blue Line Security (I later found out these 2 had to stay to the end of the meeting). They tried to convince me I had to take down the camera or leave. When I explained the Open Meetings Act to them, they went over to Randy, talked, and left.

During all of this, the meeting was delayed (in all, about 45 minutes).

Randy then called in uniformed Livonia Police.

The officers advised I would be arrested if I did not remove my camera from the meeting, or leave. I once again explained the Open Meetings Act. The officer advised that it didn't matter. This was his (Randy's) meeting and building. If I did not remove the camera or leave, I would be arrested for disorderly conduct and trespassing.

Now, the officers were quite polite, and I wasn't all that interested in seeing what the inside of a Livonia jail cell looked like. So I told them I would do so because they were advising I had to do so in their official capacity. But I made it clear that this did not mean I accepted that Randy had a right to use the police in this fashion. Officer Tieg advised that Randy had "kindly offered to let me rejoin the meeting without my camera".

I then asked him what would happen if I brought a camera to a future meeting. He told me I would be arrested.

I went back to the meeting, and spoke at audience communication, much to the chagrin of Randy and Lynda.

At no point during this little display did I raise my voice, or show anger in any way. Because frankly, Randy's actions didn't make me angry. They simply gave me a profound sense of disappointment at what our district has turned into.

Loyd A. Romick

Dorothy's Experience?

2009-05-09T07:47:00.000-07:00

Below is the response from LPS, signed by Ms. Chomicz, in which I asked for her Human Resources experience, credentials, and certifications at the time she was hired as the district's Human Resources Director. The fact that this is all they could find, speaks for itself.

Could we not have found somone with better qualified for 132k?

The Not So Wizard of HR

2009-04-11T13:43:00.000-07:00

The recent lawsuits against LPS, brought as a result of Eric Zivkovich, have emphasized the need for solid human resource policies and procedures. Unfortunately, solid just doesn’t come to mind when looking at the HR structure of LPS under the leadership of Dorothy Chomicz.

For example, you would think that any employee that had been violent with a student would be subject to some kind of periodic follow up once they have returned to work. However, this apparently isn’t the case. Not even for those forced to attend anger management.

According to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) response, signed by Ms. Chomicz, the ONLY place documents that, would even identify such an employee, can be found is in the employee’s own personnel file. Now, if this is the case, how could they possibly follow up without a list outside of the personnel file? Are we expected to believe they do this by memory? Or, do they just plain don’t do it?

Creating, reviewing, and updating the HR procedures for the district is the job of the district’s HR Director. The position is both very difficult and very well paid, and does not lend itself to on the job training. It requires a solid base of technical knowledge on a variety of HR topics, and a wealth of experience to draw on.

Dorothy Chomicz has none of these.

Instead, she brings a vast reservoir of personal loyalty to Randy Liepa. This serves Randy quite well, but leaves the work of the HR Director to either be done by subordinates, or simply not done at all. It also leaves us paying not only the HR Director’s $132k+ salary, but also the consultants and lawyers she constantly needs to use to handle the day to day operations of her department.

There are no ruby slippers we can click three times to wake up from this mess; just the ballot box.

New LPS Reform Email Address

2009-01-18T11:00:00.000-08:00

I have a new email address available if you have information or concerns regarding the operation of the Livonia Public School district that you want made public.

All information will be held in strictest confidence.

The address is LPSReformer@gmail.com.

It's Good to be the King (with appoligies to Mel Brooks)

2008-11-28T05:43:00.000-08:00

One of the most enduring criticisms of public officials is that they treat the public budget as their personal piggy bank. The reason for this perception is simple. It's all too often true.

Take a look at Kwami Kilpatrick's expense reports or Jack Kirksey's LPS "consulting fees", and you can see that taxpayer dollars don't always get spent in the public interest.

Unfortunately, LPS does not seem to be an exception. When the last SEALS contract was ratified, Mrs. Markarian (president of our school board) told us all how she thought it was too generous, but voted for it anyways. What she didn't tell us was that her husband (Eric Markarian) is a member of SEALS. In other words, she was voting money for herself. Apparently, she considers it best to avoid the appearance of impropriety, by making sure you don't know about it.

However, the truth has a way of getting out. When asked why she didn't simply tell the public before the vote, she advised that the district's attorney's told her it wasn't illegal. Hmmm, not exactly a ringing endorsement of transparency and accountability in government.

That brings us to Mr. Markarian's new promotion.

First some background. About a year ago, the board approved a contract with an energy consulting firm to work on ways to reduce the district's energy bill. Part of this arrangement was to create a new position at LPS (energy coordinator). The district set the salary (90k+), and posted the position. Joe Harvey was selected, and has held the position since then.

However, Mr. Harvey is in the Army reserves and has been called up for a 1 year tour of duty in Iraq. Who did Randy Liepa pick for his replacement? Eric Markarian. Husband of Cyndi Markarian. President of the board of education. Gosh, what a coincidence.

Eric now goes from making $23.77 per hour as a custodian, to a salary of more than $90,000 a year coordinating the districts energy usage. This works out to be a nearly $40,000 raise. By comparison, even the highest paid teacher can't reach this level.

Randy Liepa confirmed the promotion, although he stated it had not yet become effective, at the 11/24/08 board of education meeting. But only as a response to audience communication.

So, if this is so above board, why not let the public know? For that matter, when was the board told? Why in the world did it not need the board's approval?

According to Mr. Liepa, Eric had applied when the position was first posted, and was the "next in line". He also assured the audience that "no back room deals had been made". In other words, it's just another coincidence.

By the way, why in the world do we need to pay $90k for a job that can done without a degree, and only requires the experience of a custodian? Couldn't that money have been better spent in the class room?

LPS has suffered under a culture of secrecy for years. Its gotten so bad lately, I'm wondering when they will outlaw the "F word". You know, FOIA. Sorry Randy, but it sure looks like those LPS "back rooms" are getting quite the work out. Who else has been getting preferential treatment? Linda Scheel's daughter in law, while Linda was board president? Gosh, another pesky coincidence.

So, in the immortal words of Mel Brooks, "It's good to be the king".

LPS BOE meeting 8/25/08

2008-08-25T18:33:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the highlights from the meeting:

There was a discussion about the demolition of Webster. They will remove all of the building, and the play equipment. However, they will leave the parking lot in place, and the area may be used as a socor field.

The process has been slowed, as some of the structure is considered toxic by the state, and has to be taken to a separate landfill.

Hull is currently used for storage, and is deteriorating. It's viability for being used as a school again is becoming "less and less". Randy states that Hull is considered an eyesore in the community, and that he is "very cognizant of that".

After the meeting, it was mentioned that Dorthy has a posting for an assistant director for the transportation department. This position would report to Steve Dickey.

LPS Salary List

2008-06-30T19:06:00.000-07:00

Here is the current list of employees for LPS, and thier salaries, or hourly rate.

http://home.earthlink.net/~kaos77/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/staff.xls

Who is Patrice Mang?

2008-03-29T06:25:00.001-07:00

Great info on Ms. Mang..

Mang Fundraiser April 5, 2008

2008-03-29T06:13:00.000-07:00

Take this opportunity to get to know Ms. Mang.

Additional contact info for the ever so hard to reach Mr. Hosman.

2008-01-27T16:44:00.000-08:00

Committee of the Whole 1/7/08

2008-01-07T18:31:00.000-08:00

Not much of note for the Curriculum Committee, but it got rather interesting during Building and Site.

Most of the board wanted to move forward with the Energy Education contract, but Steve King wanted to simply hire an energy czar, and do the work in-house. As a second option, he proposed using a Michigan company, instead of an out-state firm. "I think we should keep the taxpayer's money in Michigan".

Dan Lesard led the charge for Energy Education, repeatedly stating "we can't do this ourselves", and "we aren't capable".

The quote of the night came from committee chairman Greg Oke who said "If we could do this on our own, I like to think we would already have done it."

The real surprise of the night came when the bid for renovating Buchanan. Air conditioning is on the agenda. Not just for Buchanan, although they appear to be first in line, but for the entire district.

Lesard floated the idea of a bond issue to pay for it, but all seemed to agree that we should have a systematic plan to air condition ALL of the districts buildings.

The last point of interest is some new cell towers. All agreed that the $1200 a piece per month would be good for the district's bottom line. However, Tom Bailey voiced serious concerns about the health risks of cell towers within 1500 feet of a school.

Veteran controller punished for being a whistleblower.

2008-01-06T14:00:00.000-08:00

LPS employee files whistleblower suit
By Rebecca Jones
STAFF WRITER

The former controller of Livonia Public Schools has filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the district, claiming she was retaliated against for criticizing accounting practices.

Margaret Flower is suing LPS, Supt. Randy Liepa and Lisa Levesque, director of business services, seeking damages in excess of $25,000, according to a complaint filed in Wayne County Circuit Court.

Flower claims that her position was eliminated after she criticized purchasing and accounting practices stemming from the Legacy Initiative decision to close and reconfigure schools.The district was served with the suit late last week.

The claims are unfounded, said Donna McDowell, administrator of communication for the district. "We're confident that the court will agree."

Flower, a Dearborn Heights resident, has been on medical leave since Dec. 11, 2006, with an indefinite return date. In June, she received a letter that the district eliminated the controller position due to reorganization in the finance office. The letter stated that her school employment was not terminated.

Flower has continued to receive employment benefits, McDowell said. "She can return to work."

The district has continued to inform Margaret she will be considered for placement in any vacancy for which she is qualified," McDowell said. "We really feel that Margaret has been treated fairly throughout all her years of employment.

"Flower has worked for the district since August 1986. Court files state that she was suspended from her job for insubordination for three weeks on Nov. 17, 2006, and that she has become emotionally traumatized requiring medical care.

Her attorney, Douglas Webster, could not be reached for further comment.

In addition to breach of contract, Flower claims a violation of the Whistleblower Protection Act, after she spoke out against accounting practices that she said would result in unreliable financial documents for the district. She said that her job was eliminated as a result of talking to the media. McDowell, who has not seen the lawsuit herself, said the district is reviewing the facts of the case. The district's attorney Gary King has not yet filed a response.

rrjones@hometownlife.com (734) 953-2054 shttp://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/.../712230515/1027

Did Randy go to far?

2007-12-21T17:26:00.000-08:00

School officials hit with lawsuit

Livonia Public Schools Superintendent Randy Liepa and Finance Director Lisa Levesque were served with a "whistleblower" lawsuit from the district's former controller last week. Margaret Flower, who served as controller for 21 years, has been on a medical leave of absence since November 2006, when she was suspended for three weeks on insubordination claims. Her suit claims she was suspended for speaking out about improper accounting practices. A spokeswoman for the district denied the claims and said Flower continues to receive medical benefits and can apply for other vacancies when she returns from her leave. Her job has been absorbed by others.http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...D=2007712190359

LPS Student counts

2007-12-10T13:41:00.001-08:00

Riley Playscape

2007-12-10T06:25:00.001-08:00

This is it? 1 playscape for 810 Kids?

Why the pay raises for the top paid admins at LPS?

2007-12-07T17:23:00.000-08:00

Why is it that parents are expected to sacrifice, but the cabinet keeps raking in the big bucks?

Postal reward notice for explosive device

2007-12-04T17:11:00.000-08:00

Please help the post office catch this genius.

Randy can't find support for honoring Carl Galka

2007-11-29T18:16:00.000-08:00

LPS selling a "fix" for Everyday Math?

2007-11-28T17:53:00.000-08:00

This form came home with my 1st grader. Now, shouldn't the proper materials be provided, rather being held out for sale?

The Face of the Livonia Teacher's Union

2007-11-17T16:17:00.000-08:00

Livonia's plan to handle budget problems divides community

Carolyn Norris-DeyellMichigan’s education funding crisis tore a community apart when the Livonia Board of Education announced a plan to close six elementary schools and one middle school because of budget problems in the 17,000-student district.

“Our school board didn’t make a snap decision on this,” Livonia EA President Carolyn Norris-Deyell said. “A committee consisting of administrators, parents, teachers, community and board members spent a year formulating a pro-active plan to maintain programs and staff.

To maintain staff and programs? Why not a plan that puts our kids education, and the solvency of the district ahead of jobs?

“While critics say over and over that ‘the money isn’t going to the classroom,’ I say that the classroom is the teacher. Our Livonia Legacy Committee recognized that the teacher is the key to helping our students achieve and came up with the best plan to retain as many teachers as possible.”

So all we need to do to raise MEAP scores is give the teachers a raise?

But when the plan was announced in November 2005—to close the six elementary schools and one middle school, and to convert three middle schools into schools for fifth and sixth grade students—the outcry was immediate, Norris-Deyell said.

“Parents didn’t want to lose their neighborhood schools, and they didn’t want to see their kids bused to schools across town,” Norris-Deyell said.

“I can understand the reaction. Parents and children are losing their relationship with teachers at their old school, and students will have to make new friends at a new school. That’s sometimes difficult for young children.”

Angry parents opposing the plan tried to recall five school board members last summer. “Thankfully, the recall failed,” Norris-Deyell said. “We worked hard opposing the recall.”

So much for the Myth that the teachers union was neutral.

While the Livonia plan divided the community, “it was done for the good of the district,” she said. “If we had the funding we need for education, this would not have happened.”

The good of the district, or the good of a bloated administation filled with friends and family?

The 2007 LPS Chart of Accounts

2007-11-14T17:15:00.000-08:00

Take a look for yourself.

http://home.earthlink.net/~kaos77/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/Chart_of_accounts_07.pdf

So, how do you measure the Legacy Experiment?

2007-11-12T16:47:00.000-08:00

Let's take a look at Mr. Liepa's goal posts.

Jay Young, a well paid $upporter

2007-11-07T19:25:00.001-08:00

Ever wonder what an LPS "consultant" makes? Not bad money. Too bad Dr. Liepa is mighty vauge as to just what Jay is doing to earn that pay check.

The Real Jack Kirksey

2007-10-30T07:14:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sx_H6IhiUqk

Ann Rae in action

2007-10-28T12:07:00.000-07:00

Field trip accident

2007-10-25T16:50:00.000-07:00

The True LPS Visionary!

2007-10-04T16:17:00.000-07:00

What do these 2 have in common?

2007-09-30T09:10:00.000-07:00

Margaret Flowers reports accounting problems at LPS

2007-09-29T16:58:00.000-07:00

LIVONIA
School officials spar on surplus

Controller claims purchases ate cash
May 5, 2007
BY ZACHARY GORCHOW
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

Livonia Public Schools' controller accused her superiors Friday of moving up bus purchases to eat up a budget surplus because they feared angering school board members who months earlier closed schools in part because of finances.

The accusation came four days before district voters are to elect three board members.

The district's superintendent rebutted the claim, saying the district has nothing to hide and made the purchase for financial, not political, reasons.

When the district closed the books on the 2005-06 fiscal year, it had a $3.8-million surplus instead of a $1.5-million deficit officials had predicted. Controller Margaret Flower said Lisa Levesque, director of business operations, told her she wanted to pay $1.8 million in cash for new buses in the 2005-06 fiscal year to reduce the size of the surplus and avoid a school board backlash. The buses initially were to be financed.

Flower said the superintendent interceded but agreed to the purchase of $800,000 in buses. Flower acknowledged coming forward in the political equivalent of the last minute with Tuesday's elections looming, to convince voters of the need for change on the board. The main issues in the race have been closing and reconfiguring schools. "I think there needs to be a culture change in there," Flower said.

Levesque could not be reached for comment.

Superintendent Randy Liepa denied having the conversation Flower alleges. He said the district purchased the buses with cash because it was a better long-term move than financing them. "This is all old news," he said. "This is all information that's been reviewed publicly before the board of education." Liepa said the existence of a $3.8-million surplus when a $1.5-million deficit had been expected is small considering the district's $160-million budget.

As for Flower's accusation against her superiors, Liepa said, "It's a disagreement between people in the department."

Contact ZACHARY GORCHOW at 313-223-4536 or zgorchow@freepress.com>

Whistleblowing

2007-09-29T16:49:00.000-07:00

Whistleblowing

Former cops win suit against Kilpatrick, Detroit

2007-09-29T16:45:00.000-07:00

Former cops win suit against Kilpatrick, Detroit

Steve King Pics

2007-09-27T18:25:00.000-07:00

We're back, still adjourned, but back.

2007-09-24T18:40:00.000-07:00

Steve King's comments on 9/17/07

2007-09-21T16:02:00.000-07:00

Meeting Ajourned?

2007-09-21T14:59:00.000-07:00

LPS takes the Heat

2007-09-20T18:53:00.000-07:00

The Loyalty Oath

2007-09-18T19:38:00.000-07:00

Random thoughts on BOE meeting 9/17/07.

2007-09-17T18:36:00.001-07:00

How are kids supposed to study in 88+ degree heat? And if it would cost $1,000,000 per year to run, then why do we run it in the central office? Why in each principal’s office? Mr. Freeman wants to know what we should give up to pay for it. How about the raises we keep giving our top administrators?

+++

Thank you Mr. King. Thank you not only for asking tough questions, but also for asking them during the board meetings were the public could hear the answers and watch the reaction of the admins. Lisa Levesque did not exactly look like a happy camper at being questioned about the books. And why in the world is there not a board policy on when a purchase order is needed?

+++

Tom Bailey was rightfully concerned with the budget in Lansing. But I have to wonder how much worse it will be when the student loss due the Legacy Experiment adds on top of it. How many kids will we loose? 400? 500? 600? Now Tom suggested closing school for a couple of weeks to make up the loss. Hey Tom, how about shutting off Liepa’s AC?

Laura Cox Photo Op

2007-09-15T19:32:00.000-07:00

Salary Foia 2007

2007-09-15T07:19:00.000-07:00

2007-09-14T16:07:00.000-07:00

2007-09-13T19:09:00.000-07:00

2007-09-12T19:00:00.000-07:00

2007-09-12T18:54:00.000-07:00

ELECTION ROUNDUP: Livonia mayor to be Brosnan or Kirksey

2007-09-12T18:46:00.000-07:00

Salaries for Danielle Daniels and Cynthia DeMan

2007-09-07T20:42:00.001-07:00

No Cuts!

2007-09-05T18:50:00.000-07:00