LPS Link #2 ~ Sept. 30, 2025
For our previous LPS Links, please visit our LPS Link page!
Greetings LPS Families & Staff,
Just one month into the new school year, and we are already into the swing of our school routines ~ families are engaged, students are learning and growing each day and our dedicated staff is 1,000% invested in our kids!
Yesterday, our elementary educators spent the day analyzing student academic data and collaborating with their instructional teams in what we call “data dives.” We are so proud of their efforts to meet the unique needs of our students through intentional intervention and collaboration with colleagues. These efforts are essential to high levels of student learning!
This is how we feel about the new school year in LPS!
Marching Band Showcase TONIGHT
Are you free tonight?? If you are, don’t miss the opportunity to see our amazing and talented students perform in the Marching Band Showcase, being hosted by Churchill HS. See the information below for all the details on this special event!
Play Unified, Live Unified!
Play Unified, Live Unified! That was the theme of a very special Field Day event at Churchill High School last Thursday, where more than 300 students from special education and general education from Grant, Johnson, Randolph, Webster, Churchill, Franklin and Frost had an absolute BLAST during a Unified Field Day!
It was amazing to see peers helping peers and our dedicated staff members guiding students through activities such as volleyball, basketball, a parachute game, dancing, yard games, hurdles and more!
The rainy day didn't detract from the fun! Everything was held inside the two gymnasiums and other athletics spaces at Churchill.
Student Count Day
Coming up on Wednesday is Count Day and it’s a perfect time to emphasize the importance of consistent student attendance across the district. When students miss school, they’re missing out on critical learning opportunities. We like to share the following graphic, which demonstrates the impact of inconsistent attendance.
Please partner with us to ensure your child is attending school regularly. If you need assistance in problem solving a chronic attendance issue with your child, please reach out to your school to talk with an EST, SAP, counselor or administrator ~ we want to help.
Important Information about School Funding & the State Budget
In an earlier message to staff and to families, Superintendent Oquist shared how LPS is advocating strongly for appropriate and adequate public school funding by urging state lawmakers to adopt a budget that truly meets the needs of children across Michigan.
To amplify this call, our Board of Education unanimously adopted the resolution below at its regular meeting on September 22, 2025.
As of today, September 30, the state legislature has still not adopted a budget — including the Fiscal Year 2025–2026 School Aid Fund. Without action, Michigan faces a government shutdown on October 1.
This uncertainty is not acceptable for our schools, families, or, most importantly, our students. By law, schools are required to pass their own budgets before July 1— and LPS did so, despite the lack of a finalized school aid budget from the state — while our district and others across the state are left waiting for the state to fulfill its responsibility.
We ask you to please review the resolution below, which has been sent to Governor Whitmer, legislative leaders in the House and Senate, and our local representatives.
In addition, Superintendent Andrea Oquist sent the following letter to state lawmakers and Governor Whitmer:
Dear Governor Whitmer, State Senators and House Representatives for Livonia Public Schools and House/Senate Leadership,
On behalf of the Livonia Public Schools Board of Education and our entire school community, I am writing to share the enclosed resolution adopted unanimously by our Board during a Special Meeting held this evening.
This resolution expresses our deep concern and growing frustration over the continued delay in the passage of the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 School Aid Budget.
As you are aware, Michigan law requires both the state legislature and local school districts to adopt their respective budgets by July 1. Despite this legal obligation, the state has failed to provide the necessary funding framework, leaving districts like ours to make critical decisions without essential financial information.
Livonia Public Schools has upheld its fiduciary responsibility by adopting a budget under these uncertain conditions. However, the absence of a finalized School Aid Budget has already hindered our ability to plan effectively for the upcoming school year and has negatively impacted our students, staff, and programs.
Our Board urges, in the strongest terms, lawmakers to prioritize the needs of Michigan’s students by immediately passing a comprehensive School Aid Budget that fully allocates funding intended for public education. Furthermore, we affirm that school funding must remain independent of unrelated budget negotiations, such as those concerning road infrastructure.
We appreciate your attention to this urgent matter and stand ready to work collaboratively to ensure that every Michigan student receives the support and resources they deserve.
Sincere regards,
Andrea Oquist
Superintendent
Livonia Public Schools
Safety Update for LPS Staff and Families
Keeping safety and security at the forefront of our minds remains the highest priority in Livonia Public Schools. Each school year, we review and update our Safety E-Flipbook for students, families and staff.
At times we hear, “I don’t know what safety protections or protocols are in place in LPS.” This booklet was created to help staff, parents and students feel knowledgeable and confident about what we have in place to keep our schools safe and secure.
As emailed to all of you previously, we are including this important information again for your review, and we invite your feedback on the final page of the “e-flipbook.” Simply click on the link below and click on the opening graphic to begin viewing this important information.
**PLEASE TAKE TIME TO REVIEW THIS**
CLICK HERE TO REVIEW THE 2025-2026 LPS SAFETY & SECURITY UPDATE
Safe Storage Law
In a time of all-too-frequent tragedies involving firearms across our state and country, Livonia Public Schools reminds families about Michigan’s Safe Storage Law, which went into effect in February 2025. The State requires each school district to notify its school community annually of this law.
To help protect Michigan families – particularly children – from the tragedies of gun violence and unintentional firearms injuries, the law requires individuals to keep unattended weapons unloaded and locked with a locking device or stored in a locked box or container if it is reasonably known that a minor is likely to be present on the premises.
The new secure storage law can be viewed here: Public Act 17 of 2023,
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, two-thirds (67%) of unintentional firearm injury deaths among children and adolescents occurred when the shooter was playing with the firearm or showing the firearm to others. Overall, firearms used in unintentional injury deaths were often stored unlocked (76%) and most of these unlocked firearms were also loaded (91%). Unlocked firearms were most commonly accessed from a nightstand or other sleeping areas (30%).
In addition, firearms are involved in more than half of suicide deaths in Michigan. Secure storage can also serve as a suicide prevention strategy.
In 2020, firearms became the number one cause of death for children in the United States and Michigan, surpassing motor vehicle deaths and those caused by other injuries.
Additional resources:
Firearms Storage Penalties flyer
Meet our Board of Education!
We are proud to have one of the most dedicated and accomplished school boards in the State of Michigan! Our Board of Education has been recognized by the Michigan Association of School Boards as an Honor Board, a distinction that demonstrates their commitment to excellence in leadership.
Each member has completed extensive MASB courses designed to deepen their knowledge, strengthen their decision-making skills, and ensure they are fully prepared to guide our district forward.
Beyond training, our board members devote countless hours to collaborating, learning, and making decisions that put students first. They play a vital role in shaping the vision of our schools — focusing on academic achievement, student well-being, and fiscal responsibility — while also being champions for our staff and families.
We are grateful for their leadership, service, and advocacy. Their teamwork, professionalism, and passion for education truly make a difference in the lives of our students and in the success of our community.
