On Nov. 8, voters in the Livonia Public Schools district will choose three board of education trustees.
Superintendent Andrea Oquist reports to the school board members, who oversee the overall direction for the district. Trustees serve four-year terms and are paid $50 per meeting.
Hometown Life sent each candidate a questionnaire on their ideas and the state of the district today. Some particularly long answers were shortened, which is indicated with an ellipsis.
Colleen Burton currently serves as the school board’s president. She’s been involved with Livonia schools for years, which includes roles with the PTA, booster club and the LPS Education Foundation. She’s been on the board since 2009.
Jeff Ferguson is running for the school board for the first time. He has a professional background as a teacher in secondary grades. He’s worked for public, charter and private schools.
Elizabeth Jarvis is running for a third term on the school board. She’s also been involved with the LPS Education Foundation, school robotics programs and the Michigan PTA.
Mark Johnson currently serves as the board’s vice president. Johnson is an attorney and serves with other community boards like the Livonia Community Prayer Breakfast and the Livonia Parks and Rec Commission.
Emily Keith is running for office for the first time. She’s an accountant and is involved with the Livonia Soccer Club, PTA, Livonia PFLAG and Moms Demand Action.
Pamela Morgan is a first time candidate. She’s currently employed by the Plymouth-Canton district and has been involved with a Livonia PTA group as well as the Delta Kappa Gamma Association.
Reina Vendramini is another first time candidate. She teaches dance lessons and has a teaching background in public school and homeschooling. Outside of work, she’s active in her church.
Burton: I have served on the Livonia School Board for 13 years with a proven record of transparent, productive leadership, and have over 20 years of volunteer service in all levels of the district. I am a certified School Board Member with the Michigan Association of School Boards, having earned the Awards of Merit, Distinction, Master Board, Diamond Board, and Honor Board Member. I am running to use my experience and passion to continue excellence in education in Livonia Public Schools … Effective Board members are active in the schools and the community, and communicate well on behalf of both the citizens and the district.
Ferguson: I was an educator for over ten years. My wife is a teacher and both of my sons are in or have graduated from Livonia schools. My family’s experiences, coupled with my own, give me a broad knowledge of public education. I want to be a school board member because I want to serve my community by representing parents who, like myself, believe in education without politics, district transparency, parental rights, and family values. I believe school board members are there to serve the community by making informed decisions that help create a highly successful educational environment. To be informed you must listen to the needs and concerns of school employees, students and the parents … in addition to doing your own extensive research.
Jarvis: My qualifications for being a school board member include having successfully held the position for eight years. That is a lot of job experience. Additionally, I have received training from the Michigan Association of School Boards and have received honors from them as well. I have the experience and knowledge needed to do the job … I want to continue in this role to help the district continue to be an excellent learning environment for student and families, and an excellent employer for the 2,000 staff members who work as part of the district. Coming back from the pandemic puts us in a growth position. Board members must be focused on this growth, and on moving the district forward; not looking backward.
Johnson: I am qualified to be a board member as I have been in that role for going on twelve and a half years. During that time, I have helped guide the district, in my role as Secretary, Vice President and President, through some very difficult times. I have helped pass and implement, thanks to the generosity of the community, the 2013 and 2021 Bonds and the Wayne County Enhancement Millage, all of which have helped the district upgrade its aging facilities, create financial stability, hire and retain high quality staff and many other priorities of the district … There is much more to do which requires a stable and experienced board. That is why I have chosen to seek re-election …
Keith: As a Livonia Public School alumni, mother and aunt to children currently attending LPS, spouse to a LPS substitute teacher, and former VP board member of a PTA I would bring a fresh perspective. I have experience in working with government funding when I was an accounting manager/budget specialist at a not-for-profit agency that services people with developmental disabilities. My work as an external auditor has given me the skills to read through complex contract language and question if we can improve on how a task was done last year. My current position as Senior Director of Accounting has given me experience with keeping expenses in line with the budget …
Morgan: I have been a teacher for over 30 years in the Plymouth-Canton School District and I am presently teaching first grade. I have also taught K-8 and Adult Education. I was Teacher of the Year for the North West Wayne County ARC … My diverse experience in education, and especially my experience during the pandemic has provided me with opportunities to share empathy, leadership and great concern … I want to be a school board member because I am passionate about bringing public education back to the forefront. I want to facilitate wise decisions making during these turbulent times and lead Livonia Public Schools on the path of excellence … I promise I will serve the community with a unique view as a parent and a teacher …
Vendramini: Livonia is home. I graduated from Stevenson, then received my B.A. from Hope College. I chose Livonia to raise my three sons as a single mom, educating them through LPS, homeschooling, and charter schools. I have taught junior high, French, dance, and have been a substitute teacher. My sons were all in LPS during the lockdowns, and I witnessed the harmful effects of the pandemic policies on my children and others in the community. I spoke up at school board meetings and met like-minded parents. Together we formed United Parents of Livonia Public Schools. The purpose of this group is the same purpose I have in running … be a voice and advocate for parents, students, and community members …
Ferguson: I am not happy with the overall direction of Livonia schools. More and more decisions are being made to push a political agenda rather than providing a quality education for our children that is free of political bias. Discipline is down, behavior is worse, and the current environment doesn’t seem to promote personal integrity and responsibility.
Jarvis: As we return to normal … the district is in a growth-focused orientation. LPS learned many things from the pandemic, we are not the same district we were before. The district used the interim years to its advantage, examining its mission, purpose, vision, and culture. We looked for opportunities for improvement, development, and growth. The district is improving its facilities and resources, using both the dollars from the recent bond issue, and the Covid-relief funds … There are exciting new pilot programs being introduced, which will expand and enhance teaching and learning. We are continuing to address the mental and emotional well-being of students and staff in the district … I am happy with the overall direction of the district because that direction is forward.
Johnson: I am extremely happy with the overall direction of the district … We have the best superintendent in the state. Not only is she a product of the LPS school system, but she has also been a teacher, administrator and cabinet member in LPS … The district is focused on a commitment to student learning, investing in high quality teachers and staff, fiscal responsibility and upholding a culture in which we value one another … We have been able to reduce overall class sizes, provide extra help for our students by adding support teachers, elementary student assistance providers, after school support and more at the elementary level. At the secondary level, we have added assistance providers, social workers, psychologists, interventionists and many more …
Keith: I am happy with the overall direction of the district. LPS offers a variety of options for our students starting off with early childhood programs such as the Great Start Readiness Program for at-risk-4-year-olds and the Young Fives pre-kindergarten program to a K-6 Japanese immersion school, state-renowned special education programs and finally high school level programs specializing in subjects such as a Global Education, Creative and Performing Arts, and the Livonia Career and Technical Center.
Morgan: I am happy with the core curriculum that has been organized by incorporating science and social studies into the Elementary Reading Programs. I am happy about the new STEM program being piloted at Elementary Schools. Teachers need more time to plan with their team members and this program will add a block of planning for teachers … We need to support our teachers as much as possible and make sure they feel valued. I am happy about the Technical Career Center that allows opportunities for students to learn a skill that they can use after graduation … We need to train our students for future jobs …
Vendramini: Livonia Public Schools has traditionally been a strong, well-respected district … However, I have become increasingly concerned with the direction the district is taking. I see a need to reprioritize excellence in academics and vocational training. Social and political agendas have been creeping into our schools … To improve our district, student behavior needs to be addressed … and teachers need to be supported … Also, it is imperative that our school board members listen carefully to parents who come to them with legitimate and pressing concerns. With parents at the helm of their children’s education and well-supported teachers, our children will be happy and successful, and our district will be an example of Excellence for the entire state.
Burton: Yes, I am very happy with the direction of Livonia Public Schools. The district has lowered class sizes, enhanced classroom and extra-curricular offerings, added STEM curriculum K-12, doubled the academic and emotional support specialists, psychologists, and social workers, secured multiple-year contracts with raises for all employee groups, and achieved financial stability. We passed two bonds, one of which without any increase in taxes for our community, to provide significant security, technology and building upgrades including performing arts centers, air conditioning, an early childhood center, a robotics facility and updated media centers to benefit our students, staff and community.
Jarvis: As in any emergency recovery, the first step is to assess the damage. Like every school district, LPS must assess learning loss, as well as the emotional and mental health impact of the pandemic on our students and our staff. The American Rescue Plan dollars received through ESSER 3 have already been allocated to provide additional services for instructional staff; pupil support services; and modifications to basic programs. Some of the items covered include additional mobile learning devices for students; the hiring of additional school psychologists, social workers, and other mental health and social learning specialists district-wide; and the hiring of additional media & technology teachers …
Johnson: The pandemic took a tremendous toll on our students in terms of mental health and learning. It also took a toll on our teachers and administrators. We need to continue to expand the resources to address those issues. Likewise, we need to retain and attract outstanding and high-quality teachers and staff … Given recent events, student and staff safety should be out front. We will continue to monitor and evaluate our procedures to protect all who learn in, work in or visit our buildings. Regarding the ARPA funds, these are being used for such things as student mobile devices … We have been able to add psychologists and social workers at all three high schools and teachers at the elementary level … Special needs classrooms benefitted as well.
Keith: The district’s priorities coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic should be to address students and teachers mental health and safety by investing in more support staff, develop programs to help students catch up on the education gap, address the impact the pandemic had on students with disabilities, and to improve the remote capabilities of the facilities through better WIFI and more computers for students. The ARPA funds should be spent on these items as well as building updates to increase security measures since these funds are a one-time source of funding they should be used on programs that don’t need long-term financing.
Morgan: The district’s priorities should be to spend the ARPA funds on intervention for students at all levels. The gaps in students’ education for the past three years is stifling. The priority should also be to make class sizes smaller … Teachers need extra planning time to strategize how they are going to meet the needs of the struggling learner. Parents should also be included in curriculum decision making and spending of ARPA funds. Discipline also needs to be a priority … Teachers, paraprofessionals, lunch aides, classroom assistants struggle with students’ behavior. Behavior problems are increasing because of the lack of discipline and respect …
Vendramini: The school district’s priority needs to be addressing learning loss. Whether that means hiring additional support staff, offering tutoring, or finding other creative solutions, our district needs to do whatever it takes to support our students who have missed so much since March 2020.
Burton: An urgent need is academic and social/emotional support of students following the past two years. I am very proud of getting our students back in school full-time in the fall of 2020, one of the few districts to do so, while offering every student and teacher the choice of in-person or virtual learning. I support utilizing federal funds for smaller class sizes, data-driven curriculum, and added academic and social/emotional student assistance providers for whole group and individual student needs.
Ferguson: Student behavior following the pandemic has become a significant problem and deterrent to effective learning, and teachers are burnt out. I believe that school districts need to prioritize getting teachers the support they need and also focus on implementing discipline and setting high expectations for personal integrity for students.
Johnson: While diversity, equity and inclusion has become somewhat of a catch phrase recently, this philosophy is not new to LPS. We have always been focused on making sure that every child has a place in this district and in providing the best education to those children who have been entrusted to us. So, that tangible thing is to provide the same opportunity, the same tools and the same education to every child who comes through our doors so that when they graduate and leave LPS they are prepared to be people of character who are contributing members of society and who seek opportunities to learn throughout their lives, be independent and confident and prepared with the academic skills necessary to pursue educational and career pathways.
Keith: Currently, LPS has a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force with an LPS employee liaison. This task force is not widely known across the school community. Therefore, the action the district can take is to communicate that the task force exists, encourage parents and students to join, and put in place policies/curriculum recommended by the task force across all schools within the district.
Morgan: Focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion puts people into stereotypes which are not productive and can become destructive. Instead of focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion, the district needs to focus on training staff and students with communication training which includes all people. We need to be better listeners and to be able to communicate with each other. We need to speak with each other, no matter the difference, which is the key to creating a vibrant and inclusive environment. We should be hiring staff members because they are the best candidate for the job.
Vendramini: We need to acknowledge each student as a unique person, and then prioritize supporting each and every student to learn and achieve as a valued member of the LPS community. With high expectations for behavior and inclusion of parents in their children’s education, our teachers will be able to reach and teach all students regardless of different characteristics. As a district we should focus on our common identity as members of a strong Livonia Public Schools community.
Burton: As president, I open every Board meeting with that commitment to our community, and respect is the first of the LPS Community With Character … Diversity, equity and inclusion is not new. It means embracing the wide variety of people in our care, and making sure that each has what they need to be able to learn. Some students need speech, vision, or hearing assistance. Some need learning assistance, behavioral help or nutrition assistance. Some may need emotional or mental health interventions. Some simply need a group of friends with whom they feel safe … Addressing individual needs and being respectful and kind to every single person creates the culture of belonging that is at the core of diversity, equity and inclusion.
More:Comerica bank to sell Livonia office building, move to neighboring Farmington Hills
More: Developer proposes 449 rental homes in southwest Canton with pool, splash pad, dog park
More:Braden Fracassi can handle the adversity for South Lyon football. He keeps proving that
Ferguson: This is somewhat of a loaded question, because DEI has become so political. Of course being fair and impartial is important. Providing an effective learning environment in a diverse classroom is important. These are not debated goals. Some people believe there is always a lack of DEI, and therefore there is always a need to push DEI training and policy. I do not believe this. DEI policy can be divisive and create tension if it is pushed when there isn’t an actual problem. One tangible action Livonia Public Schools can make is to use discretion with DEI.
Jarvis: One of the strongest features of Livonia Public Schools is its approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion. In our schools, you will find students of all abilities, backgrounds, capacities, and learning styles … In addition to our mainstream classrooms, we have a variety of programs for students who have special ed requirements; students who are gifted or talented, and more … The programs we offer in LPS attract students from all across western Wayne County. One tangible action would be to continue working with local businesses to provide equitable opportunities for all our students to find meaningful training and work opportunities, including internships, on the job training, co-op work positions, and more. This would be a win-win for the entire community.
Keith: The best quality of education is through the public school system where school is designed for all students. In order to attract new and returning students to the district I would continue growing the diverse number of programs already offered through the district and make sure these programs are communicated to the community.
Morgan: We can attract new and returning students by building a collaborative relationship with parents and involving them in decision making. Livonia Public Schools needs to communicate that we are about preparing students for a successful future. That future may include a trade school, college or perhaps the student will graduate with a skill where they can be hired immediately after graduation. School of Choice should only be instituted after all stakeholders have been placed in their assigned schools … School of choice gives parents a choice where they want their student to attend and it also adds more funds to our district. It can open options for students if their district doesn’t offer a specific educational or extracurricular program but a nearby one does.
Vendramini: Parents began removing their children from the public schools when they were better funded: money is not the problem. Committed parents want their children to go to a school with high expectations for behavior … They want their children to learn reading, writing, and arithmetic, and then be exposed to good literature and great ideas. They want opportunities for students to train for trades as well as to prepare for successful college careers and beyond. They want to trust that teachers and schools are not going to force political and social agendas on their children. I want to create and uphold policies that move Livonia Public Schools in this direction …
Burton: Livonia Public Schools actually did not see a dramatic drop during Covid, but rather a one-year dip that rebounded the following year … We got our students back in school full-time in the fall of 2020, something that few other districts offered, along with a virtual option for every student and teacher. Attraction and retention of students has been a priority for LPS for more than a decade. I support our very limited schools of choice opportunity, but the biggest draw to Livonia Public Schools is our wide variety of exemplary … including remedial and advanced courses, special education, STEM curriculum, robotics, Career Technical Center opportunities … Japanese immersion, and a wide … athletic and extra-curricular program. The breadth of these opportunities is why I recommend LPS to every family!
Ferguson: I believe that parents should be able to choose the school or schooling options that will best meet their needs, as each parent knows best what their child needs. If there is a trend of parents pulling their students from public schools, then serious attention needs to be given to the reasons parents made that decision. In the case of the pandemic, I believe many parents felt they had no other choice but to pull their children from schools that wereenforcing policies that violated their personal beliefs and freedoms.
Jarvis: Many school districts may be experiencing a Covid-related decline in enrollment … While we saw a significant one-year decline in 2020-2021, likely due to the choices families were making regarding the pandemic, we have since seen those numbers return to normal. The decline in 2021-2022 was more typical of the trend we had seen in prior years, again correlating to the decline in birth rates … Livonia Public Schools has a limited Schools of Choice policy … This program has been successful, and we will continue using it, in a limited capacity in coming years …The magnet programs we offer for gifted students and in Japanese Immersion Elementary, and our Career & Technical Center also draw students to LPS …
Johnson: When schools were closed … The real challenge was how to get those same students back into the classroom. LPS was the leader in this regard. Not only were we able to so, but for those students who preferred to remain at home we offered Livonia Virtual … We offered students who chose to return to the classroom at the beginning of the school year, the choice to switch to Livonia Virtual mid-year, and those who chose Livonia Virtual in the beginning to switch to the classroom … I think this helped in keeping many of our students … In terms of schools of choice, those may, in certain circumstances, serve a useful purpose in areas where school are failing to provide an appropriate education …
Morgan: Residents need to understand the extreme stress that teachers and students have experienced with safety protocols. The fear factor a teacher experiences each day of going to work and having to perhaps go into a lockdown because of an intruder is real … Imagine trying to make a decision, if you were the teacher of staying in a room with your students or having students go out the windows. Lock down drills have become like fire and tornado drills. This is real. Teachers and students live it every day. Livonia Public Schools needs to reevaluate all safety procedures in all buildings, providing police officers with key fobs to enter buildings and to provide cameras and extra personnel to provide the safety of all.
Vendramini: I think many residents would be surprised at the time and space given to social and political agendas in schools, some more than others. Not only does this take away from precious instructional time, but in some cases it violates the rights of parents to direct the care and education of their children as provided for in Michigan law. I would address this issue by examining the programs and environment provided for students and then determining necessary policies to ensure that learning remains the top priority and that parental and student rights are respected.
Burton: So much of the district’s efforts are spent with our students and staff, and rightly so, that keeping members of the community who don’t have children in school informed is a constant challenge. For example, for the last several years LPS has taught the Communities with Character program in all grades, which includes respect, responsibility, grit, mindfulness, empathy, integrity, reflection, and confidence. If you visit our buildings, you will see these displayed on our walls and in our practices, and can hear even our youngest learners incorporating these words into their vocabulary … LPS is a major component in our high property values, and it is important to remind people why!
Ferguson: Based on both of my children’s daily personal experiences, academic dishonesty is a serious problem in the middle and high schools. The extensive cheating is evidence that real learning is not happening. Schools need to not only enforce policies to limit possibilities to cheat, but personal responsibility and integrity must be worked into the curriculum at all levels.
Jarvis: … I believe residents should definitely be aware of some of the things happening in our district and schools: We are piloting programs in elementary education and Kindergarten placement … Our class sizes have been reduced, and are well below negotiated limits … Additional staff has been hired to accommodate student needs in Learning Skills, Behavioral Health, Academic areas, and Mental Health …We have purchased more than $3 million in textbooks and resource materials for K-12 areas. There are many more exciting things happening in LPS … I invite residents to contact their local principal, or the superintendent, to learn more.
Johnson: LPS is very lucky to have a community that is very aware and knowledgeable about what goes on in the district. Our PTAs and PTSAs are the best in the state. We welcome and encourage parents to be partners in their child’s education. Perhaps more importantly, the superintendent regularly communicates with the community, updating them on what is happening in the district. We value transparency which avoids issues arising … Our Project Lead the Way, implementing STEM at selected K-4 schools. Or the outstanding programs available at the Livonia Career Technical Center, including the upcoming new Robotics area. These are just a few Points of Pride …
Keith: Learning gaps caused by inequity facing our student population that struggle with transportation and childcare. Last year there was a bus staff shortage causing routes to be cancelled and the district spread it equally across the route … Historically, lower income households struggle with transportation which when buses are not running in those areas will cause more absences causing a learning gap. When faced with a bus shortage I would propose keeping the routes that service lower income households and only spreading the cancellations across the other routes. The before and after school care programs in the schools cost money making it hard or impossible for lower income families to use. I would propose the district provide these services free of charge similar to the lunch program.
