• From: Cindy Pangborn <PangboC@gpschools.org>
    Date: Mon, Jun 22, 2020 at 2:48 PM
    Subject: Re: Headstart Approval Prior to Governor's School Distancing Requirement Announcement
    To: Michael Jon Dean <deanM@gpschools.org>
    Cc: Ahmed Ismail <ahmed.ismail@comcast.net>, Gary Niehaus <niehaug@gpschools.org>, School Board <schoolboard@gpschools.org>


    Jon, I would appreciate answers to Mr. Ismail’s questions for tonight’s meeting. Surely you would know all the answers to his questions before this was put up for a vote . Is there a reason why this action item is being voted on tonight without previous information or notification?
    Cindy

    On Mon, Jun 22, 2020 at 1:51 PM Michael Jon Dean <deanM@gpschools.org> wrote:
    Ahmed

    Thanks for reaching out. I'm responding on behalf of Gary since he ended up having a follow up medical procedure this weekend and he is currently out of the office.

    I appreciate your points. If you'd like to discuss please don't hesitate to connect with me via cell phone at 313.694.7260.

    Take care

    Jon

     


    M. Jon Dean

    Deputy Superintendent for Educational Services

    Grosse Pointe Public School System

    Our Vision: OneGP - where everyone learns, every day

    Our Mission: Promote Innovation ® Maximize Potential ® Embrace Community

    313.432.3015 Email: deanm@gpschools.org

    twitter: @jdeanlearner

     

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    On Mon, Jun 22, 2020 at 10:28 AM Ahmed Ismail <ahmed.ismail@comcast.net> wrote:
    Hello, Gary et al,

     

    I hope this email finds you and your families all in good health.

     

    I noticed a Memo of Understanding for Project Headstart is an action agenda item for this evening’s meeting. I would like to offer the following comments/suggestions to you all for consideration prior to any vote on this issue:

     

    ATYPICAL APPROVAL PROCESS. It has always been a given GPPSS procedure that action items be discussed and announced to the public at your first meeting of the month and voted on at the second meeting of the month. This process gives the public a chance to communicate with you on the issue, and gives Board members a chance to ask follow-up questions and request back-up information. Why isn’t this process being followed on this issue? Think about how this looks as far as transparency with your constituents. It is not a smart PR move.\
    USE OF TROMBLY FIRST FLOOR ROOM. You may have already discussed this, but why isn’t the classroom being given for use at a loss at Trombly being used in your ECC program?
    COST ANALYSIS. One of the things that should have accompanied this request last meeting is a breakdown of GPPSS costs to fulfill its responsibilities under the contract. The contract you are voting doesn’t just include the use of a room, gymnasium and playground. It also includes ALL operational costs other than some staffing, i.e. electrical, janitorial, COVID-related sanitation services and maintenance costs that the general fund will have to absorb in an already disastrous fiscal year, one that is sure to only get worse. The costs of doing the proper sanitation alone for the use of the classroom and its related gymnasium and playground use will be in the tens of thousands of dollars. As board members, you have a fiduciary responsibility to your constituents to analyze the TOTAL cost to the system versus the number of GPPSS students it will service. I didn’t even see any estimates as to these numbers. Why aren’t those being presented?
    UNCERTAINTY OF 2020-21 SPACE NEEDS. The most important consideration you should be thinking about with regards to this proposal is that you have NO idea as to what space requirements will be for the 2020-21 school year in able to deliver your mandated K-12 curriculum to your actual GPPSS students. You may very well need these classrooms as well as the classrooms at Poupard so that you can “spread out” your elementary students. How can you possibly vote to give up two classrooms and create an unmandated, atypical per student expense without knowing exacting what the Governor is going to require of you in the Fall?

    Please – delay any vote on this item until you have considered the above and made this information available to your constituents. It’s the right thing to do to fulfill your fiduciary obligations.

     

    Thank you for your consideration.

     

    Ahmed Ismail