Employees shall not discuss the employment circumstances of Superintendent Ahmed with anyone unless cleared by Lynem or Nagi. going backwards from our best years In what way? Unlike many news organizations, we made a choice to keep all of our independent, investigative reporting free and available for everyone in our community. Definition of Terms 2020-2021 School . Ahmeds evaluations for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years were highly effective, the highest possible rating, the suitalleges. Something must not be going right. Decided December 22, 1986. Im looking forward to working with [the acting superintendents] on some of the initiatives that had stalled over the last couple of weeks I hope those initiatives can begin to get us out of this crisis, Coral says. The energy and passion they bring every day continues to make a world of difference and will play a huge role in helping accelerate their learning as we continue to address the effects of COVID learning loss. Section 5: Miscellaneous. Sherry Lynem, the district's chief financial officer, and Nabil Nagi, the director of English Language Development, will share responsibilities as acting superintendents. Relations between the district and Ahmed werent always sour. At least 28 people have resigned since the start of the school year, including 12 teachers at Dickinson East Elementary who quit recently. Hamtramck School District Of The City Of, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 854 school districts in Michigan (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2020-2021 school year. The Hamtramck Public Schools are operating with a surplus (thanks to Thomas Niczay's, former Superintendent, diligence in budget and cost control) and will be able to continue operations if they do not pass their bond. A poll suggested that some 50 percent of teachers considered leaving the district for other jobs. Print Edition Board President Salah Hadwan replied: "Well, we're still in an investigation.". This web page contains links to one or more pages that are outside the HPS network. }. At last weeks board meeting, several teachers spoke out about what it has been like with Ahmed as superintendent The nature of the investigation has not been made public by the district. Unlimited access to subscriber only articles on desktop, tablet and mobile web. All rights reserved. The suit says Ahmed has been discriminated against by the board members and the teachers union based on sex and national origin, as the districts previous superintendent, a White man, had made similar decisions as her without repercussions. Major, a school board trustee, said on Tuesday the board has not had an opportunity to meet to discuss the allegations inthe lawsuit. Sherry Lynem, the districts chief financial officer, and Nabil Nagi, the director of English Language Development, will share responsibilities as acting superintendents. from . HPS Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed is under an investigation while on extended leave from her job. Ahmed is allowed to remain on paid leave for up to 60 days. She was very serious about that. Hamtramck Public Schools did not incur a deficit during the 2020-21 Fiscal Year. Aiyash, who was not re-elected among fellow board members as president of the board, has not attended a board meeting since January, the Review said. Thats a significant loss to a system with only around 200 teachers and like many districts already dealing with a shortage of teachers. Your email address will not be published. The board has two other members, DazShavon Hall and Jihan Aiyash, who were not named in the lawsuit. This content is only available to subscribers. Toni Coral, president of theHamtramck Federation of Teachers, said Thursday the lawsuit had been sent to attorneys to review. Required fields are marked *. Photo: Hassan Abbas/The Arab American News, Later on, several teachers spoke up, complaining of a poor work environment in the district set up by Ahmed and Imbrunone, with the teachers union describing the environment as chaotic.. Come get answers to your questions about the flu and COVID-19. The information was contained in the districts response to a Freedom of Information Act request. March 3rd, 3pm-4:30pm, Hamtramck High School Auditorium Free food and drinks! Teachers have spoken out at school board meetings to criticize Ahmeds leadership. Another falsehood claimed that the teacher resignations during the 2021-2022 school year were caused by or related to Ahmeds involuntary transfer decisions. The former superintendent of Hamtramck Public Schools is suing the school district, five members of its school board and its teacher's union, alleging a conspiracy to oust her, defamation and. Pre-K and Kindergarten Round Up Flyer. Ahmed also alleges school board members and the teacher's unionprovided falseinformation to local media which "ran articles impugning her professional reputation" and that false information was posted by the teachers unions on itsFacebook account impugning herprofessional reputation. The suit says Ahmed was harassed by the board members over her defense of the human resources director and blamed both for the mass exodus of teachers and placingImbrunone on a paid leave of absence in October. 2). Also on the boards agenda were the hirings of nine new teachers and staff employees, including one for the filling of the high schools vacant principal position. "We believe it is important to continue to respond to the changing pandemic, and to always put the safety of our school community first," Hamtramck Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed said in a. 775 likes. 1K followers 500+ connections. 1/ Day for Students & Staff (HOZ - Final Exams), No School for Students & Staff, Spring Break, HAMTRAMCK PUBLIC SCHOOLS3201 Roosevelt StreetHamtramck, MI 48212SUPERINTENDENTJaleelah AhmedPhone: 313.591.7400Fax: 313.284.6094Office Hours: 8:00am - 4:00pm. Hadwan didnt explain the nature of the investigation. Plunkett Cooney, a Detroit law firm, defends Ms. Ahmed and the district. She is a native Detroiter who grew up listening to news and music programming on Detroit Public Radio. display: block !important; One teacher said that, since Ahmed became superintendent, the district has been going backwards from our best years. An email apparently circulated among Hamtramck Public Schools employees ordered them to not contact Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed, who is now on a leave of absence. Obaid credited Niczay for steering the schools to a financially healthy position after the district was in deficit. Hamtramck Public Schools ( HPS) is a public school district based in the city of Hamtramck, Michigan ( USA) in Greater Detroit . "I would say on the surface that,not speaking for the board, I would hope anyone reading or seeing of these types of allegations would be able to look at the history andthe diligence the board has shown inthe pastfor listening to our community and trying to build thebest school system we can for families.". We offer Arabic education, after school programs, tutoring, and more! Support staffs seem to be quitting as well. Hamtramck School Dist. That job included improving English language proficiency and academic performance. Pre-K and Kindergarten Round Up March 15, 2023 1p-3p, Notice of Cancellation of COW Meeting 12-20-2022. | Earlier this year, dozens of Hamtramck teachers protested outside the districts administrative building during contract negotiations, detailing strained conditions at the school during Ahmeds tenure. At a recent school board committee meeting, board Vice President Showkat Chowdhury asked when the district would begin a search for a new superintendent. Her announcement was made public on the HPS Facebook page on Tuesday. Councilmembers and the mayor want a raise. Your email address will not be published. Budget/Transparency Reporting and Title IX, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Department. The district has the Schools of Choice program, which allows non-district students to enroll in district schools. Hamtramck Public Schools posted a letter from Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed, in which she explained that the leave is for her own personal well-being during the pandemic. Your commitment to their success has been a driving force for me and the HPS faculty and staff throughout the challenges we have seen these past 18 months. 2023 Mackinac Center for Public Policy Audit Reports 2017-2018. . The decision, to temporarily step aside, was not entered into lightly. 2023 The Detroit News, a Digital First Media Newspaper. She received the highest possible performance rating from evaluations since she became superintendent in 2019, something the lawsuit points out. The district, including interim Superintendent Nabil Nagi, has been extremely tight-lipped on the circumstances surrounding Ahmeds leave of absence. Mobile app for news, photos and video on the go. According to district payroll records, Ahmed was still collecting paychecks as of Feb. 18, 2022. Anyone in the loop? Michigan is home to the top-ranked public square in the entire U.S. WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. Posted Oct. 15, 2021. HAMTRAMCK, Mich. The superintendent of the Hamtramck School District was suspended with pay last week due to allegations that he violated state law while holding bids for contracts and for misallocation of school funds. WDET is a community service of Wayne State University. Ahmeds lawsuit says school board members Evan Major, Salah Hadwan, Moortadha Obaid, Showkat Chowdhury andRegan Watson and the teachers unionprovided falseinformation to local media, which hurt her reputation and that the teachers union posted that false information on itsFacebook account. Ahmed is the first Yemeni-American to be appointed as superintendent of the Hamtramck School District. If you encounter a problem accessing materials, information, or technologies at MCAS or would like to provide feedback, contact: hmezzadri@hamtramckpublicschools.org. Nabil Nagi. Ahmed's gross pay was $176,750 in 2020-21; she was appointed superintendent in July 2019. A mass exodus of teachers from the school district took place under Ahmeds term last year. That focus is also the primary reason I was able to identify that I needed additional support at this time. Your email address will not be published. HPS is committed to ensuring that our educational materials and websites are accessible, equitable, and usable to everyone. Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). Menhem Aouad Director of Student Services. A. ) being. This website provides the option to use Google translate; HPS cannot assure accuracy of the translation. This web page contains links to one or more pages that are outside the HPS network. Sascha Raiyn is Education Reporter at 101.9 WDET. Ahmed announced in October she was going on a leave of absence because of stress from handling school affairs during the pandemic, on doctors orders. It is my hope that I will return and come back revitalized, with a refreshed perspective to continue to lead our efforts, Ahmed wrote in the letter. They complained, sometimes bitterly, of their management style, and the many job transfers they imposed on staffmembers. Menhem Aouad. margin: 0 -8px !important; Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. The suit alleges the board members made false statements like saying that Ahmed was collecting her salary even though she refused to work and that there was no legitimate reason for her medical leave of absence. Hamtramck Six Hamtramck schools employees are suing the interim superintendent and district, alleging the interim leader has discriminated against them, retaliated when they filed. HPS teachers held week-long protest over superintendents return, Once again, the city has to face financial issues. The mass exodus has been connected with her time as superintendent in local conversations and in local media over the months of her unexplained absence, during which teachers themselves spoke out during public meetings. It seems like it would be big news. The district has so far not given any details on why Ahmed never returned from that leave. In the last several months, there have been mass resignations by veteran teachers and staff members. HPS teachers held week-long protest over superintendents return, Once again, the city has to face financial issues. Nabil Nagi, who is the interim Superintendent for Hamtramck Public Schools released a statement on Friday, November 4th addressing this matter. The suit allegesthe union and school board membersharassedAhmed in an effort to force her to dismiss Imbrunone, blamedAhmed and Imbrunone for teacher retirements and resignations and placedImbrunone on a paid leave of absence on Oct.28. [1] As of 2011 the official graduation rate is 62%. Ahmed was appointed as superintendent about two years ago, replacing longtime superintendent Tom Niczay, who retired. There was a lot of teachers who were kind of dissatisfied with Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmeds leadership, Albaugh says. Abdul Hussain, a parent, said that for two years we found unity. 08 Nov 2022 By The Yemeni American News The topic of banning explicit books in school districts has now made its way to Hamtramck. Renowned Chef Anthony Bourdain at Polonia. This website provides the option to use Google translate; HPS cannot assure accuracy of the translation. Bridge Academy West West (6-8th) 3105 Carpenter Ave. Councilmembers and the mayor want a raise. There is little doubt the school district suffers from a bit of turmoil at this time with all the staff turnover. Board President Salah Hadwan replied: Well, were still in an investigation. After questions from residents and local media, the board said it had extended her leave, but did not explain why. .page .article .comments .fb-comments span, During my absence, the Board of Education will appoint an interim superintendent who will have the full support of the entire team at Hamtramck Public Schools. In an interview, Interim Superintendent Nabil Nagi spoke . Sarah Filipiak, who announced her resignation last week as principal of Dickinson East Elementary School, said that, under Ahmeds leadership, the message is loud and clear: you cannot grow here. 2021 Salaries and Benefits over $100k. Councilmembers and the mayor want a raise. Hamtramck Federation of Teachers President Toni Coral says she wishes Ahmed well, but there is a lot of work to do in the district. They felt that some involuntary transfers that administration had implemented were retaliatory people who had spoken up about some things suddenly found themselves moved, Coral says. HPS does not control the content or relevancy of these pages. Over 20 teachers, administrators and staff members have resigned since last June. Without more details, this word doesnt convey much. The Review obtained a copy of the district email directing employees not to contact Ahmed. It is also unknown whether if the two are still on the districts payroll. Mind sharing? Ahmeds leave took many in the district by surprise. Posted: Saturday 06.04.2022 9:07 pm Revised: Friday 06.10.2022 9:07 pm Toast of the Town A Paczki Day diary: Brrrrr who invited winter to the party? He says divisions over the districts return to school policies heightened problems that already existed. Does anyone know whats going on in Hamtramck public schools? Her announcement was made public on the HPS Facebook page on Tuesday. Do they deserve it? "At Hamtramck Public Schools, we are committed to providing high-quality education services that our families deserve. A clue has emerged as to why Hamtramck Public Schools District Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed remains on leave. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. On the agenda for the school boards regular monthly meeting Wednesday evening, an additional 11 more teachers and staff members announced their resignation including the principal of Dickinson East Elementary School. She said the stresses of the pandemic has caused her to prioritize and address my own physical, mental health and well-being. Ahmed and the district also face litigation from a former middle school vice principal. Enroll Today Meals & Nutrition Transportation Home Our District Superintendent Home Meet the Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed Superintendent of Schools Phone: 313.591.7413 Fax: 313.432.8409 "We attempted unsuccessfully to pass a bond in 1997. Ahmed notified district officials on Oct. 11, 2021, that she would stop performing her duties as superintendent until Jan. 10, 2022. Accessibility is a core component of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and it is referenced throughout the UDL Guidelines. Both Ahmed and Imbrunone came under intense criticism from teachers and administrators after they took their leaves of absence. 2K followers . Renowned Chef Anthony Bourdain at Polonia. Previously, Felix was a Superintendent at Anderson Commun ity School Corporation. She did not say what specific ailment she has. width: 100% !important; Director of Innovative Programming. Join us for an Open Forum! That desire was underlying each of the decisions she made," Lusk said. Ahmed has been on the job since 2019, and recently received a contract extension. Budget/Transparency Reporting and Title IX, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Department. First Yemeni-American Superintendent of Schools in the United States Detroit Metropolitan Area. 75897, 75901, (Calendar No. Ahmed has been superintendent since 2019. Why is it that nothing was reported about the teachers resigning until now?