Back to the email menu 

From: Ahmed Ismail [mailto:ahmed@portraitplacegpw.com]

Sent: Saturday, April 11, 2015 3:29 PM

To: 'Judy Gafa'

Cc: Fenton, Christian; Summerfield, Brian (GPPSS); Roeske, Daniel (GPPSS); 'Valente, Lois (GPPSS)'; 'Pangborn, Cindy'; Fenton, Christian

Subject: McMullen/Weertz Interest is Posting Qualifying Board Emails Retroactive to January 1, 2015

Mrs. Gafa et al,

First, to be clear, this is an informational email, and in no way a mass solicitation or an attempt to mass deliberate the issue initially suggested by Mr. George McMullen in his email (April 11, 2015 11:25:48 AM) and supported by Mrs. Weertz in her email addressed to schoolboard@gpschools.org (April 11, 2015 2:21:39 PM ) of going back in time and posting all of the emails since the first of the year that meet the threshold set by the recently voted on policy of posting emails wherein a board member has emailed three or more other board members.

Three thoughts I hope the sponsors (if any) of a resolution along these lines consider are:

1.            all of the emails that would fall under this retroactive posting

concept are not available to Mr. Fenton for review for potential posting;

2.            consider the cost of doing this and the burden it will put on an

already overworked Mr. Fenton and Mrs. Kilimas; and

3.            if this it to be a reality, in order that it dovetail with all of

our other 2014-15 school business and school records, please seriously consider using July 1, 2014 as your retroactive date.

Again, I am specifically requesting that no one respond with their thoughts to the above so as to in any way create the perception of  a "round robin"

discussion as referenced in MCL 15.263.

Thank you and best wishes to all,

Ahmed Ismail

P.S.  I received your response to Mrs. Weertz twice, as you "cc'd" board members individually as well as "cc ing" schoolboard@gpschools.org, which autoforwards the email to all board members as well as Mr. Fenton, Dr. Dean and Mrs. Fannon.  Just thought you'd want to know.

Notice to Original and/or Secondary Recipient(s) of this Email:

The opinions expressed in the email above and its attachment(s) if any are those of the author exclusively and are not necessarily shared by the other members of any public or private boards and/or their respective organizations on which the author serves.

This email is in no way an attempt to establish any kind of "round robin"

communication with other members of

any aforementioned organization(s) which may be subject to the requirements of The Open Meetings Act.

Please proceed accordingly if you feel a response is warranted.

-----Original Message-----

From: School Board [mailto:SchoolBoard@gpschools.org]

Sent: Saturday, April 11, 2015 2:25 PM

To: Harwood, Thomas; Fenton, Christian; Dean, Jon; Fannon, Rebecca; cindypangborn@gmail.com; Lois Valente (valentl@gpschools.com); 'Daniel Roeske' (roesked@gpschools.com) (roesked@gpschools.com); summerb@gpschools.com; Ahmed Ismail (ahmed.ismail@comcast.net); weertzm@aol.com

Subject: FW: FW: E-Mail Postings/Resolution

________________________________

From: Judy Gafa

Sent: Saturday, April 11, 2015 2:23:31 PM (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US &

Canada)

To: Margaret Weertz

Cc: School Board; Harwood, Thomas; Fenton, Christian; Dean, Jon; Fannon, Rebecca; cindypangborn@gmail.com; Lois Valente (valentl@gpschools.com); 'Daniel Roeske' (roesked@gpschools.com) (roesked@gpschools.com); summerb@gpschools.com; Ahmed Ismail (ahmed.ismail@comcast.net)

Subject: Re: FW: E-Mail Postings/Resolution

Mrs Weertz

Yes it would need to come in the form of a resolution and be a part of a future agenda action item.

Respectfully

Judy Gafa

On Saturday, April 11, 2015, Margaret Weertz <weertzm@aol.com<mailto:weertzm@aol.com>> wrote:

Ms. Gafa,

I am ok with Mr. McMullen's request to make public all emails since January because, in essence, this was the start of our term. Should this be an official vote of the board though?

Margaret

Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 11, 2015, at 5:26 PM, School Board <SchoolBoard@gpschools.org>

wrote:

>

>

> ________________________________

> From: George McMullen

> Sent: Saturday, April 11, 2015 11:25:48 AM (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time

> (US & Canada)

> To: School Board

> Subject: E-Mail Postings/Resolution

>

> Dear Grosse Pointe Public School System School Board

>

> Hope all is well and so far the Superintendent search at least from

> this residents point of view gets an A+

>

> But I digress from the reason for my note

>

> I wanted to write about the resolution passed  by a 6-0 vote at the

> March 13th school board meeting about posting e-mails that are sent to

> more than 3 board members by a board member on the GP School districts

> web site (see attachments above)

>

> Attending the meeting I quite frankly was a little skeptical about the

> resolution. I liked the concept but there seemed to be an issue for

> administration (adding more work when technically we are supposed to

> be educating students) and how many would be posted would it be of

> benefit to the community was it worth the effort etc etc

>

> But as I review the e-mails and there is now some history to go by

(although not a lot of time has passed ) I believe it's a wonderful policy.

As Trustee Summerfield stated and I paraphrase "it's not going to be a million e-mails" and thus far it hasn't been. I review them constantly and from what I have heard in the community it appears that they are being reviewed and the policy is well received.

>

> Also I attended the policy committee meeting recently and there were

> many positive discussions on the issue..so it appears it's here to

> stay

>

> It has had the unintended benefit for me of the feeling of being

> closer to

the board and more involved in the process. Further it's has added to the overall discussion of various issues and allows me more information to prepare more for meetings and have a more focused public comment based on better information.

>

> I believe it also makes our system the leaders in transparency above

> and beyond many districts in the state and perhaps Nation

>

> In short I love it

>

> My request and not now but perhaps when the budget is complete and the

> new Superintendent is seated that the board expand the policy and make

> it the postings of e-mails retroactive to the beginning of the current

> board to January 1st 2015

>

> Also I'm very sensitive to adding additional work for administration

> so I hope that is a consideration.and I have not heard any feedback

> from administration on this additional task assigned to them..I'll

> leave that to you to determine

>

> I believe it would be wonderful for the community and for the board to

> set

a tone the is beyond the transparency expected and dictated by the state.

>

> If I may be of help in this request please do not hesitate to contact

> me on this issue I will be following up after the current priorities

> are set and completed

>

> Yours in service

>

> Geo

>

> George  R. McMullen Jr.

> 1382 Hollywood Ave.

> Grosse Pointe Woods, MI

> 48236

>

> Phone: (313) 886-9959

> Cell: (313) 549-6363

> E-mail: george@grmcmullen.net<mailto:george@grmcmullen.net>

>

> <GP School board agenda 3.16 .2015.pdf> <GP School board Resolution

> 3.16.2015 .pdf>