• From: Ahmed Ismail [mailto:ahmed@portraitplacegpw.com]
    Sent: Friday, November 11, 2016 3:54 PM
    To: 'Kathleen Abke'
    Cc: Niehaus, Gary; Dean, Jon; 'Brian Summerfield'; 'Cindy Pangborn'; Gafa, Judy (GPPSS); Hamka, Moussa; 'Cindy Pangborn - Grosse Pointe Public School System'; 'Dan Roeske'; 'Ismail, Ahmed (GPPSS)'; 'Margaret Weertz'
    Subject: GPPSS - Giving Dr. Niehaus a Chance to Do His Job

     

    Mrs. Abke et al,

     

    Because of our wonderful email policy, an email I sent to Dr. Niehaus letting him know about an issue is morphing into an international incident.

     

    To recap, I received answering machine messages re: an some kind of announcement at South. I retrieved them at 1:30 this morning because I am out of the office at the MASB Convention.  I relay the info on to Dr. Niehaus so that he isn’t blindsided with the issue, thinking it was the right thing to do.

     

    Dr. Niehaus responds to me this morning that he is handling it and meeting with the parents and properly copies the other board members with his response to me.  Issue resolved as far as I am concerned—Dr. Niehaus is handling it.

     

    Instead, snippets of the interaction are made public by way of a board member responding to Dr. Niehaus’ email to me which was copied to the board and now everyone is choosing sides when this may be nothing more than a misunderstanding or misinterpretation of Mr. Hamka’s intent.

     

    Dr. Niehaus was made aware of the messages I had received and is handling it.  End of story.  There is no need for posturing by way of our email system.

     

    Ahmed

     

     

    Ahmed Ismail, Trustee

    Grosse Pointe Public School System

    in care of:

    The Portrait Place

    20231 Mack Avenue

    Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236

    313-343-9060

     

    Please note:  The comments and opinions in this transmittal are those of the sender exclusively and are not necessarily shared by the other members of the Grosse Pointe Board of Education and/or the administration of the Grosse Pointe Public School System.

     

     

     

     

    From: Kathleen Abke [mailto:abkek@gpschools.com]
    Sent: Friday, November 11, 2016 12:40 PM
    To: Judy Gafa <gafaj@gpschools.com>
    Cc: Niehaus, Gary <Gary.Niehaus@gpschools.org>; ahmed@portraitplacegpw.com; Dean, Jon <Michael.Dean@gpschools.org>; 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>; Margaret Weertz <weertzm@gpschools.com>
    Subject: Re: GPPSS - Hamka PA System Speech to Students

     

    I heard from several in support of Mr. Hamka's announcement as well.  I don't know how a message that our schools are safe can "espouse fear."  I support his message of safety and inclusion, and as board members we need to, under law, provide for the safety and welfare of our students.  The fear was already there, Mr. Ismail.  It wasn't created.

     

    Respectfully,

    Kathleen Abke

     

    On Fri, Nov 11, 2016 at 12:28 PM, Judy Gafa <gafaj@gpschools.com> wrote:

    Gary

    I heard from several parents who were very supportive of Moussas message on Wendesday morning.  

    Judy


    On Friday, November 11, 2016, Niehaus, Gary <Gary.Niehaus@gpschools.org> wrote:

    Ahmed,

     

    I am meeting with Ann Vanker and Biz Williamson on Monday morning at 8:00 with Moussa Hamka.  I have had both sides covered.  I do not have a script or recording.  Brian Summerfield was complimentary of the announcement.  Kathy Abke called with a Facebook quote that was very positive.  There are two sides to this issue.  You might call Brian or Kathy to see what they have heard.  I am trying to keep the meeting with Ann and Biz to hear their side of the message.  After their meeting, I will be spending time with Moussa.  I appreciate your concern and heads up.

     

    Thanks,

    GCN

     

    From: Ahmed Ismail [mailto:ahmed@portraitplacegpw.com]
    Sent: Friday, November 11, 2016 1:31 AM
    To: Niehaus, Gary
    Cc: 'Ismail, Ahmed (GPPSS)'
    Subject: GPPSS - Hamka PA System Speech to Students

     

    Gary,

     

    I received a number of phone messages Thursday regarding a school-wide PA system speech Moussa made relative to the outcome of the presidential election.  The parents were livid about the school system endorsing the use of our school resources to espouse fear by virtue of the principal telling the students that they were safe at South, and that his office was always a safe haven for them if they wanted to talk about how our new president was going to affect them and their families.

     

    What can you tell me about this happening?  Have you heard from any parents?  If what I am hearing is what happened, Moussa was way, way out of bounds.  What is being done to neutralize the fear he created with his comments?

     

    Any help in understanding this issue (possibly there was a script or recording made of the speech?) will be greatly appreciated.

     

    Best wishes,

     

    Ahmed