Ahmed is also accusing the parties, which include two board members who, like her, are Yemeni Americans, of discrimination (based on sex and nationality) and defamation. That focus is also the primary reason I was able to identify that I needed additional support at this time. Why is it that nothing was reported about the teachers resigning until now? In an unexpected move, Hamtramck Public Schools Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed has taken a leave of absence. Ahmed is claiming the board members violated her contractual right to manage Hamtramck Schools administrative personnel decisions by demanding teachers union members be promoted to administrative positions. Sascha Raiyn is Education Reporter at 101.9 WDET. Ahmed defended those involuntary transfers, citing the need to meet federal guidelines to serve an influx of autistic students with special needs who needed specialized teachers. Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. "She has a contract with Hamtramck. Recently, the board voted not to renew Imbrunones contract with the district. }. 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. margin: 0 -8px !important; David Melkus for the plaintiff. Hamtramck, MI . Jaleelah Ahmed filed a 38-page lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Detroit on May 23, alleging five of the seven school board members,Evan Major, Salah Hadwan, Moortadha Obaid, Showkat Chowdhury andRegan Watson and theHamtramck Federation Teachers conspiredto terminate her employment over teacher transfer complaints and other matters. 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. Come get answers to your questions about the flu and COVID-19. We strive to follow best practices based on federal requirements outlined in Section 508the "Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards," authorized by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Boardas well as recommendations of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). News, analysis and scores on Detroit and Michigan sports teams. 2023 The Detroit News, a Digital First Media Newspaper. It also said it was running an investigation on the matter, but has not given any details on that investigation. Her director of human resources, Michelle Imbrunone, also took a medical leave of absence in October. In the last year, over 20 teachers and administrators opted to resign and take jobs with other districts in protest of the management decisions. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective. There was a lot of teachers who were kind of dissatisfied with Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmeds leadership, Albaugh says. If you encounter a problem accessing materials, information, or technologies at MCAS or would like to provide feedback, contact: hmezzadri@hamtramckpublicschools.org. Dr. Adnan Aabed. While I know the news of my leave may come as a surprise, I also know that you will continue to serve as an invaluable partner in your childs education. HAMTRAMCK Hamtramck Public Schools Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed, who has been on leave since last October, has filed a lawsuit accusing five board members and the teachers union of conspiring to get her fired. 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. [1] As of 2011 the official graduation rate is 62%. This web page contains links to one or more pages that are outside the HPS network. Hamtramck Public Schools will be led by two administrators while its superintendent is on a temporary leave of absence. Here are the top scams of 2022, totaling $8.8 billion in losses, Three Ramadan Nights activities to attract thousands of visitors to Dearborn. About Bridge Academy East. She remains on the districts payroll as of Feb. 18, more than a month after a Jan. 10, 2022, self-declared back-to-work deadline. 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. Hamtramck Public Schools will be led by two administrators while its superintendent is on a temporary leave of absence. Audit Reports 2017-2018. . 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. Interim Superintendent. She claims she was terminated while she was on leave. Hamtramck Six Hamtramck schools employees are suing the interim superintendent and district, alleging the interim leader has discriminated against them, retaliated when they filed. Hamtramck Public Schools (@hamtramckpublicschools) Instagram photos and videos. We're really reaching out to the community to . Hamtramck School Dist. That lawsuit has been pending for about one year and Ms. Adamczyk is represented by Gary Miotke as her attorney if that name sounds familiar it is because he represented former HPD officer Dennis Whitty in two employment suits against the City of Hamtramck which settled for several hundred thousand dollars. Ahmed announced her leave of absence last week on the district's Facebook page. .page .article .comments .fb-comments span, By Charles Sercombe The City will go bankrupt or lose the vital protection of our First Responders if they do not pass their millage request. She declined further comment. It is my hope that I will return and come back revitalized, with a refreshed perspective to continue to lead our efforts and be the driving force behind the advancement and vision we have for the students and families of Hamtramck Public Schools. The nature of the investigation has not been made public by the district. In a letter to the Hamtramck community posted on Facebook this week by Hamtramck Public Schools, Ahmed announced she was stepping away. HAMTRAMCK, Mich. - Hamtramck Public Schools is now leaving the crossroads of a few changes - labor talks between administration and the teacher's collective bargaining unit are continuing, COVID-19 restrictions are relaxing, federal grant dollars are being allocated, and then some. Ahmed's gross pay was $176,750 in 2020-21; she was appointed superintendent in July 2019. 115 Construction Superintendent Jobs in Hamtramck, MI hiring now with salary from $61,000 to $123,000 hiring now. Your email address will not be published. .page .article .comments .fb-comments iframe { That job included improving English language proficiency and academic performance. All rights reserved. Simon Albaugh covers Hamtramck for the Yemeni American News. 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. Ahmed is also asking for back pay, though she has been on paid leave since October. HAMTRAMCK, Mich. - After the sudden absence of Superintendent Ahmed, the temporary replacement Nabil Nagi will take full control of the responsibilities of the Hamtramck Public Schools Superintendent. As of Feb. 28, the school districts website did not recognize Ahmed in any role. Print Edition Her contract ran through June 30, 2024. Renowned Chef Anthony Bourdain at Polonia. Her announcement was made public on the HPS Facebook page on Tuesday. Ahmed initially took a medical leave back on October, citing the stress she endured during the Covid pandemic. 1K followers 500+ connections. My kids in HPS virtual academy. Previously, Felix was a Superintendent at Anderson Commun ity School Corporation. This web page contains links to one or more pages that are outside the HPS network. 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. Join to view profile Hamtramck School District . Mind sharing? 2021 Salaries and Benefits over $100k. She was promoted to superintendent in 2019-20. Accessibility is a core component of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and it is referenced throughout the UDL Guidelines. The Hamtramck Review said this week that trouble began with several job transfers of teachers, some involuntary, which resulted in backlash from some board members about former Human Resources Director Michelle Imbrunone, who was hired by Ahmed. First Yemeni-American Superintendent of Schools in the United States Detroit Metropolitan Area. 2023 The Detroit News, a Digital First Media Newspaper. Newsletters on topics that interest you most. A clue has emerged as to why Hamtramck Public Schools District Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed remains on leave. HPS teachers held week-long protest over superintendents return, Once again, the city has to face financial issues. Unlimited access to subscriber only articles on desktop, tablet and mobile web. Ahmeds evaluations for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years were highly effective, the highest possible rating, the suitalleges. Ahmed is allowed to remain on paid leave for up to 60 days. WDET is a community service of Wayne State University. Hassan Abbas It said: About Neither Ahmed nor Imbrunone have spoken on the matter. Im looking forward to working with [the acting superintendents] on some of the initiatives that had stalled over the last couple of weeks I hope those initiatives can begin to get us out of this crisis, Coral says. In an interview, Interim Superintendent Nabil Nagi spoke . Your email address will not be published. Something must not be going right. After questions from residents and local media, the board said it had extended her leave, but did not explain why. (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';fnames[1]='FNAME';ftypes[1]='text';fnames[2]='LNAME';ftypes[2]='text';fnames[4]='MMERGE4';ftypes[4]='date';fnames[6]='MMERGE6';ftypes[6]='text';fnames[5]='MMERGE5';ftypes[5]='date';fnames[3]='MMERGE3';ftypes[3]='date';fnames[7]='MMERGE7';ftypes[7]='date';fnames[8]='MMERGE8';ftypes[8]='zip';fnames[9]='MMERGE9';ftypes[9]='radio';fnames[10]='MMERGE10';ftypes[10]='text';fnames[11]='MMERGE11';ftypes[11]='text';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Your connection to news, music, conversation. "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.". Argued May 7, 1986. Felix received a bachelor's degree degree from Inter-American University and a master of business administration ( M. B. If you encounter a problem accessing materials, information, or technologies at MCAS or would like to provide feedback, contact: hmezzadri@hamtramckpublicschools.org. She said the stresses of the pandemic has caused her to prioritize and address my own physical, mental health and well-being. A lot of the teachers have left HPS. Jaleelah AhmedSuperintendent of SchoolsPhone: 313.591.7413Fax: 313.432.8409. Hamtramck Public Schools did not incur a deficit during the 2020-21 Fiscal Year. According to district payroll records, Ahmed was still collecting paychecks as of Feb. 18, 2022. Budget/Transparency Reporting and Title IX, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Department. Without more details, this word doesnt convey much. 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. Section 1.3: Audit. They are being sued by former school district employee Christina Adamczyk. Come get answers to your questions about the flu and COVID-19. HPS is committed to ensuring that our educational materials and websites are accessible, equitable, and usable to everyone. I have no idea about the happenings in school this year. 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. This Material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form. A clue has emerged as to why Hamtramck Public Schools District Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed remains on leave. Pre-K and Kindergarten Round Up March 15, 2023 1p-3p, Notice of Cancellation of COW Meeting 12-20-2022. Your email address will not be published. 08 Nov 2022 By The Yemeni American News The topic of banning explicit books in school districts has now made its way to Hamtramck. The purpose of my page is to explore educational topics and share progress about my journey as the. Ahmed has been receiving pay during her absence, as she is still under contract with the district, which has not officially terminated that contract. Required fields are marked *. We offer Arabic education, after school programs, tutoring, and more! Some of those who left have since returned while Ahmed and Imbrunone were on leave. Anyone in the loop? What was better before that has gone worse in last couple of years? Terms of Use | Online Privacy Policy. Councilmembers and the mayor want a raise. 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. In an unexpected move, Hamtramck Public Schools Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed has taken a leave of absence. Join us for an Open Forum! We strive to follow best practices based on federal requirements outlined in Section 508the "Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards," authorized by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Boardas well as recommendations of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Superintendent at Hamtramck Public Schools . Having our students return to learning in our schools these past two months has been wonderful both for our students and our faculty and staff members. At least 28 people have resigned since the start of the school year, including 12 teachers at Dickinson East Elementary who quit recently. Toni Coral, the president of the teachers union, characterized the working conditions in the district as chaotic a description that was repeated over and over. 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 Hamtramck Public Schools haven't had a permanent leader since mid-October, when Superintendent Jaleelah Hassan Ahmed announced "a temporary leave of absence to address my own personal. Hadwan didnt explain the nature of the investigation. Your email address will not be published. At a recent school board committee meeting, board Vice President Showkat Chowdhury asked when the district would begin a search for a new superintendent. Copyright 2022 by WDET and Wayne State University. We strive to follow best practices based on federal requirements outlined in Section 508the "Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards," authorized by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Boardas well as recommendations of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Pre-K and Kindergarten Round Up Flyer. Felix Chow is a Superintendent at Hamtramck Public Schools based in Hamtramck, Michigan. WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. Join us for an Open Forum! Jaleelah Ahmad and the Hamtramck School District are still currently embroiled in a Federal Civil Rights Act lawsuit the are defending in U.S. District Court in Detroit pending before Judge Stephen Murphy III. Bridge Academy West West (6-8th) 3105 Carpenter Ave. Wish there was a way to stay informed! By Nargis Rahman - YAN - Hamtramck. The lawsuit alleges the school board refused to permit the involuntary transfer of teachers to serve the students, resulting in the Hamtramck Schools being out of compliance with federal and Michigan laws governing the education of students with disabilities. 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.. Last Wednesday I sat down with the Hamtramck Public Schools Superintendent Jaleelah Hassan Ahmed to discuss parent and student engagement projects and how the district will work with the City of Hamtramck and the local Census committee to get everyone counted for Census 2020. The Hamtramck High School building. There has been wide speculation over whether Ahmed will return in January. They complained, sometimes bitterly, of their management style, and the many job transfers they imposed on staffmembers. Throughout the pandemic, I have continually reinforced that the well-being of our school community is the districts primary concern. She was scheduled to return on Jan. 10 but it was announced, at last months regular board meeting, that she remains on leave apparently at the boards insistence. The lawsuit is seeking to prevent the board from continually extending Ahmeds leave and stop her from returning to work. Trusted, up-to-date local Detroit and Michigan breaking news. 775 likes. 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. All Rights Reserved. We wish Ms. Ahmed the best during her leave of absence. Hamtramck Public School District . Ahmed is the first Yemeni-American to be appointed as superintendent of the Hamtramck School District. He says divisions over the districts return to school policies heightened problems that already existed. Bridge Academy East is a free public charter school district serving students in grades K-5th and houses a GSRP preschool program. Comments (-1) Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Donate | Contact Us, Michigan senator rakes in donations from energy companies, blasts them on Twitter, On House Bill 4001, Michigan Senate Republicans deny immediate effect, preserve tax cut, Why a Michigan paraprofessional left his union, Feds give Michigan $110M to install 127 EV chargers. width: 100% !important; Posted Oct. 22, 2021. News, views and interviews from the Arab world and the Arab American community. Hamtramck Federation of Teachers President Toni Coral says she wishes Ahmed well, but there is a lot of work to do in the district. Coral, who is a teacher, says policies that made teachers feel unwelcome exacerbated the teacher shortage and crisis that the district is facing. They were named to replace Jaleelah Hassan Ahmed at a school board meeting Wednesday. Posted Feb. 11, 2022. Menhem Aouad. Another falsehood claimed that the teacher resignations during the 2021-2022 school year were caused by or related to Ahmeds involuntary transfer decisions. Thats a significant loss to a system with only around 200 teachers and like many districts already dealing with a shortage of teachers. Pre-K and Kindergarten Round Up March 15, 2023 1p-3p, Notice of Cancellation of COW Meeting 12-20-2022. Renowned Chef Anthony Bourdain at Polonia. The Hamtramck school board voted 4-2 in favor of the suspension of superintendent Paul Stamatakis. 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. width: auto !important; Budget/Transparency Reporting and Title IX, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Department. Hamtramcks acting superintendent Nabil Nagi did not respond to an email seeking comment on Ahmeds status. Ahmed notified district officials on Oct. 11, 2021, that she would stop performing her duties as superintendent until Jan. 10, 2022. Hamtramck Public Schools (@hamtramckpublicschools) Instagram photos and videos. Toast of the Town A Paczki Day diary: Brrrrr who invited winter to the party? Jaleelah Ahmed, Superintendent of Hamtramck Public Schools, Hamtramck, Michigan. School district fell short retaining them. HPS does not control the content or relevancy of these pages. Nor is it easy to be openly vulnerable with you. 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. Required fields are marked *. Nabil Nagi Interim Superintendent. The board met last Wednesday and accepted her request for a leave. According to district records, Ahmed has been collecting regular paychecks the entire time she has been off the job. She received the highest possible performance rating from evaluations since she became superintendent in 2019, something the lawsuit points out. There is little doubt the school district suffers from a bit of turmoil at this time with all the staff turnover. Support staffs seem to be quitting as well. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. File photo, By Charles Sercombe Ahmed and the district also face litigation from a former middle school vice principal. HAMTRAMCK Hamtramck Public Schools Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed, who has been on leave since last October, has filed a lawsuit accusing five board members and the teachers union of conspiring to get her fired. Ahmeds leave took many in the district by surprise. Superintendent Jaleelah Hassan Ahmed cites the impact of the coronavirus pandemic as the reason behind her decision to take a temporary leave of absence. Some teachers and administrators said transfers made no sense and felt punitive against those who had raised concerns over work conditions during the pandemic. Toast of the Town A Paczki Day diary: Brrrrr who invited winter to the party? Ahmed announced her leave of absence last week on the districts Facebook page. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); News, views and interviews from the Arab world and the Arab American community document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright The Arab American News. Supreme Court of Michigan. Both Ahmed and Imbrunone came under intense criticism from teachers and administrators after they took their leaves of absence. 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. These steps are necessary to protect the privacy of all concerned, the confidentiality of district information and records, and to ensure that district operations function in an orderly fashion. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. Ahmed is asking a judge to issue an injunction prohibitingtermination of her employment, back payand damages for mental anguish and emotional distress. 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. Thank you for your understanding and compassion, it is my honor and privilege to serve. It says the board members prevented her from bringing the district into compliance with federal and state law to accommodate an influx of autistic students by refusing to permit her to involuntarily transfer certified teachers to serve those students. I must prioritize and address my own physical, mental health and well- Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). 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. The district responded by stripping her of school building and communications access codes, keys and pass cards. The Review obtained a copy of the district email directing employees not to contact Ahmed. Section 4: Benefits and Salary of Superintendent and employees greater than $100,000. Relations between the district and Ahmed werent always sour. Toast of the Town A Paczki Day diary: Brrrrr who invited winter to the party? Hamtramck, MI 48212 INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT Nabil Nagi Phone: 313.591.7400 Fax: 313.284.6094 Office Hours: 8:00am - 4:00pm. Originally meant to be split between Nagi and Sherry Lynem, the Interim Superintendent position will now be completely filled by Nagi. These transfers were made to improve the educational opportunities of Hamtramck Schools students, Lusk said, but triggered demands from school board members and the union forAhmed to firethe district's Human Resources director,MichelleImbrunone. 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. We have seen the impact of the pandemic, not only on the physical well-being of our students, families, teachers, and staff, but also on the social and emotional health of our community. At last weeks board meeting, several teachers spoke out about what it has been like with Ahmed as superintendent She was very serious about that. It is against that backdrop that I am writing to inform you that I will be taking a temporary leave of absence to address my own personal well-being. Your email address will not be published. You could win a $20 gift card in the raffle! Annual Amount Spent on Lobbying -- Not Applicable ($0) max-width: none !important; Nabil Nagi, the districts English Language Director, and Sherry Lynem, the districts Chief Financial Officer, were appointed to share the duties of superintendent. Decided December 22, 1986. 2). In the meantime, the board has authorized Nagi to lead contract negotiations with district employees, including teachers. Director of Student Services. A. ) In September 2020, the district experienced aninflux of autistic students, the suit alleges, promptingAhmed to direct the involuntarytransfer of twoteachers from their former assignments so the autistic students would have teachers who were properly certified under federal and Michigan law. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. 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. Your email address will not be published. By Charles Sercombe It is also unknown whether if the two are still on the districts payroll. Board President Salah Hadwan replied: Well, were still in an investigation. This content is only available to subscribers. Unlike many news organizations, we made a choice to keep all of our independent, investigative reporting free and available for everyone in our community. 2K followers . 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. HPS teachers held week-long protest over superintendents return, Once again, the city has to face financial issues. 75897, 75901, (Calendar No. Here is Ahmeds letter to the community that was posted on the districts Facebook page announcing her leave: Major, a school board trustee, said on Tuesday the board has not had an opportunity to meet to discuss the allegations inthe lawsuit. 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. 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