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Sorry for the additional comments but in reviewing Mr Ismails request to leave the survey up until all focus groups have been done, I realized that School Exec Connect would not of been able to present any data to us on the 23rd as that is the date of the last focus group.  If we kept the survey open for a few days past the 23rd it would of impacted our Monday meeting and the ability of School Exec Connect to provide all the gathered data, by this Friday to the BOE

Respectfully

Judy Gafa

On Tuesday, March 17, 2015, Judy Gafa <gafaj@gpschools.com> wrote:

Mr Ismail,

I asked Mr Peterson how difficult it would be to reactivate the link to the survey and he stated it was a little more involved than one would think, hence the decision to not reactivate it.  If we had your concern beforehand we certainly would of left it up. 

As for your request for the survey data, you certainly are welcome to FOIA the results but Mr Fenton does not have the results. The survey was run through the School Exec Connect server and they are working to get it into the board packets by Friday.

You are certainly welcome to FOIA School Exec Connect for the information, if you so desire. 

Mr Peterson did indicate they are doing their best to get it to ALL board members by Friday, so I will leave that decision to you.

Respectfully

Judy Gafa

On Tuesday, March 17, 2015, Ahmed Ismail <ahmed@portraitplacegpw.com> wrote:

Mrs. Gafa,

As I said in my prior email, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on the logic behind the decision to not allow residents/forum attendees access to the online survey at least through the date of the last focus group meeting.  As I stated in my prior email of this date (copy below), I see no downside to it and plenty of upsides.  I don't quite understand your reference to "…I only wish you had brought it to our attention…".  If I had told you of my concern prior to March 15th, would you have left it online for the residents?  If so, how much work can it possibly be to re-activate the link?

In any event, as I stated in my prior email, I will advise anyone who asks me about it of your rationale and of the fact that the survey is officially closed.

A semi-related concern I have is your comment in the email below that, "….all trustees will receive the survey data this coming Monday during the board meeting…".  If the survey is now closed, why can't we receive the results with the information packets we are delivered every Friday?

This is a huge issue.  I see no reason why we shouldn't have the survey information to study over the weekend so that we have time to forward you/the search firm any requests for additional information prior to the Monday board meeting.  With 674 responses (which means the possibility of 674 individual resident comments), I feel it is unfair to us as board members and to the public we are representing to expect us to be able to ask the proper questions of the search firm representative(s) without thoroughly digesting the data.  Being given the information the same evening we are to discuss it should be unacceptable to everyone on the board, not just me.

If the delivery of the survey information on Monday versus the prior Friday has been cast in concrete, then please be kind enough to honor my previous request to receive any individual comments given in the free form text box at the end of the survey.  If this is going to be an issue, please extend the courtesy of advising me upon receipt of this email.  I do not want to find out on Monday of next week that this data will be withheld, as  I would like the opportunity to submit a FOIA request to Mr. Fenton in time to have the information as soon as possible, preferably before Monday's meeting.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Ahmed Ismail

From: Judy Gafa [mailto:gafaj@gpschools.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2015 6:54 PM
To: ahmed@portraitplacegpw.com
Cc: Lobert, Larry; Peterson, David; Fenton, Christian (GPPSS); Roeske, Daniel (GPPSS); Summerfield, Brian (GPPSS); Valente, Lois (GPPSS); Weertz, Margaret; Pangborn, Cindy; Harwood, Thomas (GPPSS)
Subject: Re: Your Decision to Not Put Survey Back Online; Individual Survey Comments Request

Mr Ismail

The survey was posted Feb, 24th to March 15th. Three days longer than advertised. There has been 674 responses.  

The focus group schedule has been posted for at least two weeks.  There were no concerns raised that the two did not coincide, until yesterday, after the survey had closed and data was starting to be gathered for the March 23rd meeting.  

I certainly understand your personal disappointment and concerns I only wish you had brought them to our attention before March 15th when the survey was taken down.

 All trustees will receive the survey data this coming Monday during the board meeting

Respectfully

Judy Gafa

On Tuesday, March 17, 2015, Ahmed Ismail <ahmed@portraitplacegpw.com> wrote:

Hello, Judy and Larry,

 Thank you both for your prompt response to my follow up email below.

Not that it is going to apparently change anything, but I have to respectfully disagree with the reasoning for not allowing the community access to the survey until a few days after the last focus meeting for three reasons:

First, there are many, many people who don't feel comfortable raising their hand and expressing their opinions in front of a crowd that would share them through the anonymity of an online survey.  I see no harm in not letting them have an opportunity to have their voice heard in whatever way they are most comfortable.

Second, there may be forum attendees who never knew that the online survey existed or that it was going to be turned off before they attended their meeting.

Third, I can't see the harm in allowing anyone to complete the survey at least through the date of the last focus group meeting (and preferably for a few days after).  Why not give the community every possible opportunity to comment in a manner most comfortable to them at least through the last day of the focus group meeting?

In any event, I guess we can respectfully agree to disagree on this issue.  I will share the rationale you have outlined below with those who ask why the survey is no longer online.

Thank you again for your answer.

Ahmed

P.S.  On an semi-related note, I want to make sure that when these surveys are compiled and the results are shared that I receive the actual, individual comments expressed by residents individually and not in the form of a generalized comment.  I don't know how much extra copying this involves, but if there is any additional copy expense in order to receive this very important individual information, I totally understand--just