• From: Ismail, Ahmed (GPPSS)
    Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2016 11:08:11 PM (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)
    To: brendanwalsh68@gmail.com
    Cc: School Board
    Subject: Fwd: FW: GPPSS' increasingly degrading financial trajectory

    Hello, Brendan,
    I hope this email finds you well.
    First, let me preface this email by apologizing in advance for any formatting or attachment errors in this email.  A new policy was implemented requiring all Board members to send school system related emails only from a "gpschools" Gmail account and not their personal or business email accounts. Having to learn a new email program after using only Outlook since 1997 is definitely going to be more frustrating and more of a time burner than I imagined.  As an example, you may remember how anal I was about subject lines being accurate descriptors of the email contents.  After I finish this email, I am going to go online to find out how to change the FW: subject line.
    In any event, I am writing you in reference to your email today (copy hopefully attached) regarding your concerns about the trending you see in the numbers.
    There is no question in my mind that you have an intimate understanding of our budget and the "formula" contracts that we have in place.  While I can't speak for the other members of the board, I welcome your input.  
    Unless things have changed since the first of the year, we have a Finance Committee consisting of Mrs. Gafa, Mr. Summerfield, Dr. Niehaus, Mr. Fenton, Dr. Dean and possibly others.  You may recall that when you first joined the Board, we had an Audit Committee that consisted not only of Board members and administrators, but also of community members.  If Dr. Niehaus and Mrs. Gafa are agreeable, would you be willing to serve as the community representative member of the Finance Committee?  
    Dr. Niehaus and (I believe) all of the members of the Board are committed to broad-based community involvement and total transparency in everything done in the school system (which is one of the reasons I am pecking away to you on Gmail).  To me, your background as one of the engineers of the formula contract and your knowledge of the numbers can only be a plus for the community.
    I am going to forward this email to Dr. Niehaus and Mrs. Gafa with the request that they seriously consider the pluses of your involvement with the request that they contact you. I hope you will have the time to lend your knowledge and "spreadsheet expertise" to the process.
    Best wishes,
    Ahmed
    Ahmed Ismail, Trustee
    Grosse Pointe Public School System
    Phone: 313-343-9060 (The Portrait Place - 10am-5pm)
    Notice to Recipient:  The views expressed in this transmittal and its attachments (if any) are those of its author individually and are not necessarily shared by the other members of the Grosse Pointe Public School System's Board of Trustees and/or its administration.  


    ________________________________
    From: Brendan Walsh
    Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2016 8:49:00 AM (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)
    To: School Board; Niehaus, Gary; Fenton, Christian; Dean, Jon
    Subject: GPPSS' increasingly degrading financial trajectory

    School Board Members, Dr. Niehaus, Dr. Dean and Mr. Fenton,

    Please review the attached. The short but pleasant ride of annual surpluses appears to be coming to a halt. It is time to refocus on the operating budget and its relationship to employee contracts.

    I speak with years of intense experience. You and the district are at an incredibly important juncture, one that was anticipated in 2009-10. Many of us worked very hard to protect the district under these circumstances.

    Please do not ignore history or the numbers. I remain committed to seeing the district navigate these turbulent financial waters. I welcome any discussion on these topics.

    Regards,
    Brendan