• From: Judy Gafa <GafaJ@gpschools.org>
    Date: Fri, Nov 30, 2018 at 4:49 PM
    Subject: Re: GPPSS - Enrollment Variance Questions
    To: <ahmed.ismail@comcast.net>
    Cc: Abbey, Lisa (GPPSS) <lisa.abbey@gpschools.org>, Gary Niehaus <niehaug@gpschools.org>, Ismail, Ahmed (GPPSS) <ismaila@gpschools.org>, John Minnis <jminnis@grossepointenews.com>, Mary Anne Brush <mbrush@grossepointenews.com>, Michael Jon Dean <deanM@gpschools.org>, Rebecca Fannon <fannonr@gpschools.org>, School Board <SchoolBoard@gpschools.org>, Wendy Saigh <saighw@comcast.net>, <cindypangborn@gmail.com>



    Ahmed 

    Just to remind you. Last year when we hired Plante Moran you were very much in favor of them providing us projection numbers 

    I also believe the last year you were on the board prior to running again. The count was off by 100 students 

    Judy

     

     

    On Fri, Nov 30, 2018 at 4:37 PM Ahmed Ismail <ahmed.ismail@comcast.net> wrote:

    Jon,

     

    Thank you for copying all of us on your response to Wendy Saigh, John Minnis and Mary Anne Brush.

     

    First, has your department taken over the oversight of the enrollment numbers from the Business Department?  I was surprised that your response to some questions that Wendy, John and Mary Anne have apparently asked was from you rather than Lisa Abbey.  As you know, prior to Chris Fenton’s departure, enrollment issues always flowed through his department.

     

    Just so I can get a better handle on this enrollment number issue, please provide the following relative to our student count:

     

    1. The student count as reflected in the final GAAA for the 2017-18 school year;
    2. The student count on which the 2018-19 budget accepted by the Board was built;
    3. The student count on the first day of school (September 2018);
    4. The student count on 2018-19 count day (October 3, 2018);
    5. The student count (as adjusted) on October 17, 2018;
    6. The student count (as adjusted) on November 2, 2018;
    7. The student count (as adjusted) on November 14, 2018 (MSDS);
    8. The student count (as adjusted) on November 15, 2018 (Wayne RESA); and
    9. The student count as certified by Wayne RESA.

     

    In addition to the above, please provide answers to the following:

    1. When was the last time the enrollment projection used for building the school system budget for the year was off by 100 students?
    2. As I recall, we have been contracting with Plante Moran to provide us with budget projections since Chris Fenton left.  Is this correct?
    3. Why did we decide to switch from doing the enrollment projections inhouse to using Plante Moran?
    4. When was Plante Moran made aware of the quantum difference between their projections and our enrollment on the first day of school?
    5. How much do we pay Plante Moran for their student enrollment projection service?
    6. Does this service come with any kind of accuracy guarantee?
    7. When was the first time the potential for being off 100 plus students from our budgeted numbers brought to the attention of Dr. Niehaus?
    8. When was the first time any mention of a potential 100 plus student count shortfall was brought to the attention of President Summerfield?
    9. When did the administration realize that this student count shortfall would trigger President Summerfield’s resolution on building re-purposing?

     

    I hope the above questions are self-explanatory, Jon.  I would appreciate the answers (at least) to the first section regarding student counts by this coming Monday at 5pm.  If you could provide the answers to any remaining unanswered questions by Wednesday of this coming week, it would also be appreciated.  In the chance that you have one or two you for some reason can’t answer by Wednesday, please let me know which questions I won’t have answers to when you send the count information in the first section of questions on Monday afternoon.

     

    Thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this request.

     

    Best wishes,

     

    Ahmed

     

     

    From: Michael Jon Dean <deanM@gpschools.org> 
    Sent: Friday, November 30, 2018 2:37 PM
    To: Wendy Saigh <saighw@comcast.net>; John Minnis <jminnis@grossepointenews.com>; Mary Anne Brush <mbrush@grossepointenews.com>
    Cc: School Board <SchoolBoard@gpschools.org>; Ahmed Ismail <ahmed.ismail@comcast.net>; cindypangborn@gmail.com; Rebecca Fannon <fannonr@gpschools.org>; Gary Niehaus <niehaug@gpschools.org>
    Subject: Enrollment Presentation Questions

     

    Wendy and John,

     

    Since both of you have asked similar questions, Dr. Niehaus asked me to follow up with both of you regarding the questions you had about the timing of our enrollment information being presented to the BOE.

     

    I've attached a timeline provided by WRESA to our pupil accountant that the District is required to follow.  Below is a summary of the dates pertinent to your inquiry:

     

    • October 3rd - Count day
    • October 3rd - October 17th - 10 school day period for students to attend school (unexcused)
    • October 3rd - November 2nd - 30 school day period for students to attend school (excused)
    • November 14th - district count certified by MSDS
    • November 15th - count day materials provided to WRESA

    GPPSS complied with all of the above deadlines.

     

    On November 15th our audited account become available to administration.  It was presented at the next BOE meeting on November 26th.

     

    In terms of the timing of the preparation of the presentation, I began the first draft of that presentation on approximately November 16th.

     

    The above timeline is similar to the timeline used by WRESA (and GPPSS) in prior years.

     

    Please let me know if you have further questions about the timing of our enrollment information.

     

    Jon

     

     

     

    1. Jon Dean

    Deputy Superintendent for Educational Services

    Grosse Pointe Public School System

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