D Istrict M Isses AYP D E S P Ite Im P R O V E D S C O Re S
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TAX PREP TIPS, TRAVEL, HOME AND MUCH MORE SUBSCRIBERS - FIND YOUR COPY OF INSPIRE WITH TODAY'S NEWSPAPER PRICE: $1 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012 • hometownlife.com League panel The League of Women Voters of D istrict m isses AYP Northwest Wayne County is presenting a panel of elected offi cials and administrators to discuss privatization despite im proved scores of government services 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. By Brad Kadrich While MEAP scores released tor of academic and assessment ments are made. 18 at the Livonia Civic Observer Staff W riter Wednesday morning show Plym services. “The state raised the “Our curriculum will be more Center Library. outh-Canton schools raising their cut scores significantly. We can’t rigorous,” Jones said. “The com The panel will in Two years ago, every school in scores o v er la st y e a r in 11 of 18 worry about that; this is the new mon-core state curriculum is clude State Sen. Glenn the Plymouth-Canton Communi areas, and keeping them lev standard, and we’ve got to get more rigorous, and we’re work Anderson, Livonia ty Schools, with the exception of el in two others, a state increase th e re .” ing on o u rs to b rin g it to th at lev Councilman Tom Robin Starkweather Alternative high in “cut” scores — the score the According to Jones, the state’s el.” son, former Wayne school, achieved Adequate Year state uses to separate proficient B oard of E ducation b ecam e one M atched ag ain st th e previ Councilwoman Susan ly Progress. and n onproficient g rad e s — of only th re e sta te s in the coun ous cut scores, Plymouth-Can Rowe, and Kristen Hen Two y e a rs la te r — despite kept district schools out of AYP try to lift th e ir cu t scores into ton continued to improve in most nessey, the Director of either higher or level scores in achievement. the top tier of AYP scoring. She areas, Jones noted. Only five Food Services for Plym the majority of the testing areas “M any o f our schools raised said the district’s ongoing move scores — third-grade reading outh Canton Schools. of the MEAP test — none of the their scores, but just didn’t make to match the state’s more rigor and math, fourth-grade writing, The public is invited district’s 25 buildings achieved it enough to make AYP,” said ous common-core curriculum to attend at no charge. AYP success. Dana Jones, the district’s direc should right the ship once adjust Please see SCORES, A3 For more information, contact Paula Bowman at (734) 455-4726. Group takes Senior party The committee put ballot wording ting together the 2012 P-CEP All Night Senior Party hosts a fundraiser f ig h t t o Tuesday at the Canton Cinema from 6-10 p.m. The party earns 50 appeals court percent of concession sales if the movie-goer By Matt Jachman brings a coupon they Observer Staff W riter printed off at home. There will be cou E ven b efo re P lym outh Town pons available in the ship voters have had their say iobby, organizers said, on a proposed special assess but those ohly earn 25 ment district, the citizens percent of the conces group that got the question on sion sales. th e b allot is heading to court to For more information seek a different outcome. and to get coupons, e-mail The Citizens Action Group Cathi Macko at cathiken- of Plymouth Tbwnship, which [email protected]. w ants to stop planned job cuts in the Plym outh Communi ty F ire D epart E x a m p r e p m ent, has filed The Huntington PHOTOS BY BILL BRESLER | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER a claim in the Learning Center of Can Noah Van Hook of the Plymouth Reign put a good foot into a shot at last year's Canton Cup soccer tournament. Michigan Court ton and the Plymouth Members of the Plymouth Reign would love to see the city of Plymouth make more soccer fields a priority in of Appeals chal Coffee Bean are part their master recreation plan. lenging Judge nering to offer a free G ershw in exam prep workshop Stempien D rain’s Dec. 19 event, taking place at decision on the the oldest independent Public’s ideas sought wording of the special assess ly owned coffee shop in ment district proposal. Michigan, the Plymouth CAG m em bers had pushed Coffee Bean. for a 1-mill ($1 for every $1,000 The event, called of a property’s taxable value) "Bean Studying?" takes on city’s recreation plan levy for five years, b ut D rain, place 5-6 p.m. Tuesday, in Wayne County Circuit Court, Feb. 28. denied its motion, and the town Plymouth Coffee By Matt Jachman ship Board of Trustees that eve Bean is located at 884 Observer Staff W riter ning p ut on the ballot a question Penniman in Plymouth. w ith no sunset and alm ost no For more information, Hockey and softball players are millage cap. call (734) 207-7930. invited to join fitness walkers, “We’re asking the Court of yoga practitioners, wood-carvers Appeals to reverse Judge Drain’s and other athletes and hobbyists clear legal error,” said CAG attor as Plymouth’s recreation depart ney Marvin Stempien, noting INDEX ment seeks ideas for updating its that the group’s petitions clear Business..............A8 five-year m aster plan. Crossword Puzzle ... B10 ly asked for a one-mill, five-year Entertainment......B5 The master plan is a detailed levy. “We have a constitutional Food.................. B7 look at parks and recreation right to have a petition accepted Homes................B10 facilities and their use, plus a by the township board.” Jobs................... B11 wish list and a road map for the It was a successful CAG peti Obituaries............B4 future. A public input workshop tion drive, and action by the Opinion.............. A10 on the plan update is scheduled Services.............. B11 group in circuit court, that led Sports.................B1 fo r 6:30 p.m . W ednesday at the th e b o ard to p u t th e proposal Wheels............... B12 Plymouth Cultural Center. on the-ballot. A master plan update is Among the groups to whom city officials reached out as they developed © The Observer 6 Eccentric required every five years for the their master recreation plan were senior citizens, who have used the Floating levy? Volume 125 • Number 53 city to be eligible for state grant Plymouth Cultural Center for events such as the Senior Olympics euchre The SAD plan will be decid funding, and Recreation Direc tournament. ed by tow nship v oters during Home Delivery: tor Steve Anderson said anyone the TUesday, Feb. 28, prima (866) 887-2737 with ideas about what they’d like the d ep a rtm en t is w ritin g the use city facilities, meeting with ry. If approved, the plan would to see the department do, and plan in-house, rather than hir hockey, soccer and baseball create a special assessment dis Return Address: 41304 Concept Dr. how they’d like any grant money ing a consultant, in order to save leagues, senior citizens and civ tric t o f all taxable p roperty in Plymouth Ml 48170 to be spent, is welcome to attend money — Anderson has already ic organizations. P ublic in put is a the tow nship, and th at proper- the brainstorming session. reached out to groups involved In p rep a rin g fo r th e update — in recreation programs or that Please see PLAN, A4 Please see APPEALS, A3 www.cfcu.org G et Financially Fit! (877) 937-2328 Consolidate high rate loans C o m m u n it y into one low payment. F in a n c ia l PLYMOUTH CANTON NORTHVILLE NOVI right here right for you • ‘ Rates as of 12/28/11, subject to change. Assumes auto pay from Community Financial checking. Federally insured by NCUA. tS Equal Housing Lender. ©2011 Community Financial A2 (P) O b s e rv e r & Eccentric | Thursday, February 16, 2012 L O C A L N EW S online at hometownlife.com AROUND PLYMOUTH "Around Plymouth" is designed to announce upcoming events C harter school planned taking place in the community. Items will run on a space-avail- able basis. Send details to [email protected]. BLOOD DRIVE Date/Time: Friday, Feb. 17, 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. for Plym outh area Location: Canton Public Library, 1200 S. Canton Center Details: The Canton Public Library will host the American Red Cross for a blood drive. Reservations are being accept By Matt Jachman ed now; walk-ins also welcome. Observer Staff W riter Contact: (734) 397-0999, Ext. 1071, or by e-mail to glad- [email protected]. A charter school man agem ent firm and an SPOTLIGHT AUDITIONS Upper Peninsula commu Dates/Times: Feb. 20-21, 7-10 p.m. nity college are planning Location: Village Theater at Cherry Hill, 50400 Cherry Hill to open th e P lym outh in Canton area’s first charter school Details: Spotlight Players presents "Into the Woods" in April late this summer. at the Village Theater, and the group is holding auditions. Organizers of the Plym The audition will consist of singing selections from the show, outh Scholars Charter cold readings, and a short dance may be taught.