Brendan Walsh

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#0000BF" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="044005a0exvipq.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Copperplate Gothic Bold" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Eastside Republican Club"><U><B>Home</B></U></A><B>  </B><B> </B></FONT><B>  | </B><B> </B><B> </B><B>  </B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Copperplate Gothic Bold" ><B>Eastside Republican Club</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="erc_meeting_dates.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Events"><U>Events</U></A>   |   <A HREF="eastside_republican_review_summary.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ERC Review"><U>ERC Review</U></A>   |   <A HREF="michigan_s_13th_district.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Congressional District News"><U>Congressional District News</U></A>   |   <A HREF="civic___governmental_links.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U>Links</U></A>   |   <A HREF="erc_officers.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Us"><U>About Us</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> <B>Brendan Walsh</B></div> <div> <A HREF="link_to_michigan_gop.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Michigan Republicans"><U><B><IMG SRC="05358580.gif" border=0 width="88" height="88" ALT="Michigan GOP" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="michigan_s_13th_district_13th_district_events_2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Congressional District News"><U><B>13th District Event Calendar</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="redistricting_maps_based_on_2000_census.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="District Maps"><U><B>District Boundary Maps</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="erc_meeting_dates.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Events"><U><B><IMG SRC="81b871f0.gif" border=0 width="135" height="31" ALT=">>Events" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div>  <A NAME="top_of_page"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <I><U>Public School System Treasurer</U></I></div> <div> <B>Brendan Walsh, Public School System Treasurer</B></div> <div> <B>Lauds New GP Public School Teacher Labor Contract</B></div> <div> A bevy of GOP candidates and a presentation by Brendan Walsh, treasurer of the Grosse Pointe public school system, filled the ERC Forum, June 15 at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial in Grosse Pointe Farms.<IMG SRC="19dafa490.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="329" ALT="ERC board member George R. McMullen, Jr., left, with public school trustee Brendan Walsh" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="8" VSPACE="8"></div> <div> Calling it a “landmark,” Walsh lauded the collective bargaining agreement recently negotiated with teachers that extends through June 2013.</div> <div> He said, “The new agreement effectively ties employee compensation to the district's means to pay it.”</div> <div> Walsh explained that a key provision takes effect in the final year, 2012-2013, of the contract when the compensation formula will be conditioned on the system's general fund equity, or “rainy day account,” not falling below 10% as determined by audit.</div> <div> For comparison, he noted that fund equity is presently 18%, and he predicted that through good management it might increase to more than 20% by next year.</div> <div> Under the new contract formula, any drop below 10% would result in a compensation reduction in an amount necessary to recover the proportionate wage increase associated with the employee group.</div> <div> Walsh assured the audience that with the new contract, “we are living within our means.”</div> <div> For historical perspective, the treasurer compared teacher salaries today with those in effect in 1994--the days before Proposal A. He said that on an inflation-adjusted basis, today's teacher salaries are actually 3.5% lower.</div> <div> In a second comparison, he said that despite enrollment declines of recent years, current system enrollment is actually up compared to pre-1994 levels.</div> <div> Walsh then named two expense factors contributing to the current fiscal crisis. He said that there has been a 28% increase in health care costs, and a 76% increase in retiree-related expenses.<IMG SRC="19dc2c960.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="406" ALT="Candidates Brian Breslin, John Chouinard and Robert Sheehy" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="8" VSPACE="6"></div> <div> To help mitigate these increases, the new contract includes a doubling of some employee office visit and emergency room co-payments, and a 7% employee contribution to the cost of health care premiums. In addition, beginning in 2011-2012, employees will be responsible for one-half of any insurance premium increase.</div> <div> Despite some grim financial headlines, Walsh said that to partially offset teacher retirements, the system might actually need to hire some teachers before school resumes in the fall.</div> <div> Of the new contract, he added, “It is an outstanding story.”</div> <div> It was approved on May 18, 2010, between the <A HREF="http://gpschools.schoolwires.net/176710831104719910/blank/browse.asp?a=383&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&c=64227" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://gpschools.schoolwires.net/1767108"><U>Grosse Pointe Board of Education</U></A> and the teacher's bargaining unit, the Grosse Pointe Education Association.</div> <div> In addition to teachers, the association consists of counselors, speech pathologists, media specialists, psychologists, social workers, and others, and is an independent unit of the Michigan Education Association.</div> <div> <I><B>Other Voices</B></I></div> <div> Meanwhile, critics of the agreement point out that instead of achieving immediate taxpayer and budget relief, many of the contract's efficiencies are postponed until its final year.</div> <div> One board member, Tom Jakubiec, has noted that in lieu of immediate salary concessions, salary increases are allowed for all levels of existing teachers.</div> <div> They observe that ratification by well over 90% of teacher and building administrators suggests that a majority of union members would have approved a less costly contract.</div> <div> Former board trustee Ahmed Ismail has argued for increased efficiencies through changes to building level management, redefinition of responsibilities for high school department chair positions, and increasing high school class size by one student. >><A HREF="http://ahmedismail.typepad.com/points/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://ahmedismail.typepad.com/points/"><U><I>Read Ismail's Points about the Pointes</I></U></A>.</div> <div> <I><B>Candidates in the Spotlight</B></I></div> <div> Also part of the Forum, chairman John Chouinard turned the podium over to each of the four candidates present who, in turn, made brief remarks.</div> <div> Brian Breslin, a retired Ada businessman, spoke on behalf of his statewide bid for the GOP's MSU Trustee nomination. He summarized his leadership plan that included good stewardship of tax dollars and ensuring that MSU tuition is affordable. The trustee nomination will be decided by delegates to the August 28 Republican State Convention. >><A HREF="http://breslinformsu.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://breslinformsu.com/"><U><I>See Breslin's campaign site</I></U></A>.<IMG SRC="19defa310.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="305" ALT="Charles S. Davis III, candidate for state representative, district 1" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="8" VSPACE="6"></div> <div> Farms councilman Charles S. Davis, III, outlined his financial and management background as qualifications to serve as State Representative, District 1. Davis will compete in the August 3 Republican primary for the Republican nomination. >><A HREF="http://davisstaterep.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://davisstaterep.com/"><U><I>See Davis' campaign site</I></U></A>.</div> <div> Businessman Robert J. Sheehy, candidate for Wayne County Commissioner, District 1, presented his qualifications for the office. Sheehy is unopposed for the Republican nomination, thus will be on the November 2 General Election ballot.</div> <div> Finally, ERC chairman John Chouinard, himself a candidate for the State Senate, District 2, gave the audience an overview of the district, and explained his financial background and campaign plans. Chouinard is unopposed for the Republican nomination and is, therefore, also assured a place on the November 2 General Election ballot.</div> <div> <I><B>School Board Treasurer Brendan Walsh</B></I></div> <div> Walsh became <A HREF="http://gpschools.schoolwires.net/17671091813514563/site/default.asp" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://gpschools.schoolwires.net/1767109"><U>school board treasurer in January 2010</U></A>. Earlier, Walsh served as both vice president and president of the board.</div> <div> Members of the seven-member board are elected and serve as volunteers. Walsh was appointed for an interim period to fill a board vacancy in August 2005. Subsequently, he was elected to a four-year term expiring December 31, 2010.</div> <div> In his blog, “Walsh's Views on G.P. Schools,” he explains, “My service to the Grosse Pointe Public School System has provided me the unique opportunity to revisit my passion for education and I have greatly enjoyed the experience, albeit through some troubling times for public schools in Michigan.” >><A HREF="http://viewsonschools.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://viewsonschools.com/"><U><I>Read Views on G.P. Schools</I></U></A>.</div> <div> “I have taken pride in my contributions, leveraging my background and skills in education, business, and technology to add value to the Board and the community.”</div> <div> Walsh is a lifelong resident of Grosse Pointe Park and a 1986 Grosse Pointe South graduate. Walsh earned a B.A. and a teacher's certificate (English, Latin) from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.</div> <div> He has taught in Detroit at Cass Technical and Southeastern High Schools, and it Trenton High School.</div> <div> Today, Walsh is a consultant for a publicly held information technology firm.</div> <div> Walsh is an avid runner and marathoner, having competed in several marathons including the Boston Marathon.</div> <div> Walsh and his wife, Sarah, are the parents of three children.</div> <div> The Eastside Republican Club Forum is normally held on the third Tuesday of the month from September through June. Admission is free and the public is always welcome.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="#top_of_page" TITLE="Brendan Walsh"><U>back to top</U></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>