• From: Judy Gafa <gafaj@gpschools.com>
    Date: April 28, 2016 at 4:54:35 PM EDT
    To: "Niehaus, Gary" <Gary.Niehaus@gpschools.org>
    Cc: "ahmed@portraitplacegpw.com" <ahmed@portraitplacegpw.com>, "Brian Summerfield" <summerb@gpschools.com>, Cindy Pangborn <cindypangborn@gmail.com>, "Cindy Pangborn - Grosse Pointe Public School System (pangboc@gpschools.com)" <pangboc@gpschools.com>, Dan Roeske <roesked@gpschools.com>, "Ismail, Ahmed (GPPSS)" <ismaila@gpschools.com>, Lois Valente <valentl@gpschools.com>, Margaret Weertz <weertzm@gpschools.com>, "Howell, Keith" <Keith.Howell@gpschools.org>, "Meier, Sara" <Sara.Meier@gpschools.org>, "Fenton, Christian" <Christian.Fenton@gpschools.org>, "Dean, Jon" <Michael.Dean@gpschools.org>
    Subject: Re: FW: GPPSS - Pre-School (Parent/GPPSS Contract)

    Thank you.  I was confused about needing a contract. Sounds like things are going well with the current practice
    Judy

    On Thursday, April 28, 2016, Niehaus, Gary <Gary.Niehaus@gpschools.org> wrote:

    This is in response to a question about Pre-K Program contracts and terms.  We do not have a formal contract or terms now.  It is working the way it is so we just were reporting what we do now.  Our payments are current and have stayed so for years.

     

    Thanks,

    GCN

     

    From: Judy Gafa [mailto:gafaj@gpschools.com] 
    Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2016 12:53 PM
    To: Niehaus, Gary
    Cc: ahmed@portraitplacegpw.com; Brian Summerfield; Cindy Pangborn; Cindy Pangborn - Grosse Pointe Public School System (pangboc@gpschools.com); Dan Roeske; Ismail, Ahmed (GPPSS); Lois Valente; Margaret Weertz; Fenton, Christian; Howell, Keith;amanda.sanders@gpschools.com; Meier, Sara
    Subject: Re: FW: GPPSS - Pre-School (Parent/GPPSS Contract)

     

    Is this something new with preschools.

    I never signed a contract with my 3 children but it has been awhile?

    Judy

    On Thursday, April 28, 2016, Niehaus, Gary <Gary.Niehaus@gpschools.org> wrote:

    Dear Board Members,

     

    The Pre-School Programs have been running without a formal contract for parents.  We have treated our Pre-K Program much like our other students.  Parents fill out an application, are billed and have been responsible for their payments.  Everyone knows we have a waiting list.  If they do not pay then they do not stay.  Another student is added from the waiting list.  I will ask Keith to check and see if other Pre-K Programs have a contract and terms.  Our GPPSS has run well but if a contract and terms are needed then we need to know why and what it would look like.

     

    Thanks,

    GCN

     

    From: Howell, Keith 
    Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2016 11:17 AM
    To: Niehaus, Gary
    Cc: Fenton, Christian; Dean, Jon; Sanders, Andrea; Meier, Sara
    Subject: FW: GPPSS - Pre-School (Parent/GPPSS Contract)

     

    Hi Gary,

    The preschool program does not have a formal contract for “terms and conditions” with respect to payments.   All parents are current in their payments and the program do not have issues with parents making payments.  

     

    Application Process states the following:

     

    The application process for the Grosse Pointe Public School System Child Development and Preschool Program has been designed to guarantee all applicants a fair and equitable opportunity. Parents should be aware of the application timelines. Listed below are the guidelines regarding the application process.

     

    Applications for the GPPSS Child Development and Preschool Program are available online and through the office 313-432-3809. The application process begins on January 4, 2016 and ends on February 4, 2016. The lottery drawing will be held on February 8, 2016. Applicants will be notified in writing as to whether they have been accepted into the preschool program and if their choice school is available. Parent(s) will have an opportunity to accept or reject acceptance into the program within 48 hours of notification. Full Day Programs require a $100.00 nonrefundable registration fee. Half Day programs require a $75.00 nonrefundable registration fee.

     

    If there are more requests for admission than space available, a lottery will be held. At the time of the lottery, all names will be pulled and assigned a number. Those names who do not receive a spot will form a waiting list in the order they were pulled. Applications submitted after the lottery will remain in the database until the original waiting list has been exhausted. In the event the original waiting list is exhausted, names will be pulled from the database based on time and date of submission.

     

    All placements approved will be based on space availability.

     

    Transportation is not provided; it is the sole responsibility of parents to transport their children to and from the preschool.

     

    Students requesting a preschool placement should identify which building or buildings he/she would like to attend, but requests for specific teachers will not be allowed.

     

    This is for placement in the preschool program only. Students will return to their neighborhood school (if their preschool placement is different) for K-5.

     

    Applications can be found under each specific age link on the main page.

     

    Please let me know if you need additional information. 

     

    Keith Howell

    Director of PreK-Elementary Instruction

    313-432-3044  keith.howell@gpschools.org

    Twitter: @principalhowell

     

    Grosse Pointe Public School System  www.gpschools.org

    Our Vision: One GP – where everyone learns, every day

    Our Mission: Promote Innovation → Maximize Potential → Embrace Community

     

    Confidentiality Notice:  This message, including any attachments, is intended for the use of the named recipient(s) and may contain confidential and/or privileged information.  ANY unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution of the communication(s) is expressly prohibited.  If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy any and all copies of the original message. 

     

    From: Ahmed Ismail [mailto:ahmed@portraitplacegpw.com] 
    Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2016 9:47 AM
    To: Niehaus, Gary
    Cc: Howell, Keith; Dean, Jon; Fenton, Christian
    Subject: GPPSS - Pre-School (Parent/GPPSS Contract)

     

    Gary,

    Please have Keith send me the terms and conditions pages that are not included in the document for which Keith provided on April 20th (see below) in response to my April 19th request (also below).

    The URL that Keith provided links to a page of “non-financial/legal” items.  There has to be a page that spells out the cost of the services we are providing, the terms of payment, the remedies we have in case of non-payment, arbitration, force majeure, etc. (the “terms and conditions”). The document linked has none of these items.

    Thank you,

    Ahmed

    From: "Niehaus, Gary" <Gary.Niehaus@gpschools.org>
    Date: April 20, 2016 at 2:13:49 PM EDT
    To: "ahmed@portraitplacegpw.com" <ahmed@portraitplacegpw.com>, "Brian Summerfield" <summerb@gpschools.com>, Cindy Pangborn <cindypangborn@gmail.com>, "Cindy Pangborn - Grosse Pointe Public School System (pangboc@gpschools.com)" <pangboc@gpschools.com>, Dan Roeske <roesked@gpschools.com>, "Ismail, Ahmed (GPPSS)" <ismaila@gpschools.com>, Judy Gafa <gafaj@gpschools.com>, Lois Valente <valentl@gpschools.com>, Margaret Weertz <weertzm@gpschools.com>
    Subject: FW: GPPSS - Pre-School Discussion and Attendance Contracts

    FYI…GCN

     

    From: Howell, Keith 
    Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2016 11:48 AM
    To: Niehaus, Gary
    Cc: Fenton, Christian; Dean, Jon
    Subject: FW: GPPSS - Pre-School Discussion and Attendance Contracts

     

    Attached is the link to the contract.  It can be found on our website. 

    http://www.gpschools.org/cms/lib/MI01000971/Centricity/Domain/146/ChildCareContract.pdf

     

    Keith Howell

    Director of PreK-Elementary Instruction

    313-432-3044  keith.howell@gpschools.org

    Twitter: @principalhowell

     

    Grosse Pointe Public School System  www.gpschools.org

    Our Vision: One GP – where everyone learns, every day

    Our Mission: Promote Innovation → Maximize Potential → Embrace Community

     

    Confidentiality Notice:  This message, including any attachments, is intended for the use of the named recipient(s) and may contain confidential and/or privileged information.  ANY unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution of the communication(s) is expressly prohibited.  If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy any and all copies of the original message. 

     

    From: Ahmed Ismail [mailto:ahmed@portraitplacegpw.com] 
    Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2016 1:50 PM
    To: Niehaus, Gary
    Cc: Fenton, Christian; Howell, Keith; Dean, Jon; Summerfield, Brian (GPPSS); Fenton, Christian; Ismail, Ahmed (GPPSS)
    Subject: GPPSS - Pre-School Discussion and Attendance Contracts

     

    Gary,

     

    I apologize to you and your administrators in advance for the number of emails you will be receiving from me with questions on items that were brought up during our short board budget meeting last night.  I find that putting my thoughts and concerns in an email is the most efficient way I have to communicate with all of you collectively absent an actual work session meeting.

     

    Mrs. Pangborn raised a question of income versus expense which was quickly dismissed because of what was believed to be an inaccuracy in the numbers she was presenting.  Frankly, I was remiss at the time, as I should have asked to have a minute to absorb her and Mr. Roeske’s representations.  After a cursory glance, I believe they were both right.  I think they were offering up numbers for different periods of time and hence comparing apples-to-oranges.  I am going to look into it further this weekend and determine what the right numbers are and if Mrs. Pangborn’s concern was justified.

     

    In the interim, please forward a copy of our written contract(s) we execute with the parents who participate in our Pre-School Infant (under 12 months) and our Toddler (2-3 year) programs.  If these are done by way of a preliminary agreement with some kind of follow-up or final agreement at which time a deposit is collected, please send me copies of both documents.  If there are any terms and conditions that are incorporated by reference, please provide copies of these documents as well.

     

    If there is any reason why I won’t be able to receive these documents by Friday, please let me know by mid-day tomorrow.

     

    Thank you in advance for your help.

     

    Ahmed

     

     

    Ahmed Ismail, Trustee

    Grosse Pointe Public School System

    313-343-9060 (The Portrait Place, 10am – 5pm)

    313-969-1541 (Cell, 6pm – 11pm)