My kids in HPS virtual academy. Another teacher said that there was no confidence in the leadership, and that the district was not prepared to start up the new school year with in-classroom teaching. She was hired to do a job. Trusted, up-to-date local Detroit and Michigan breaking news. Superintendent Jaleelah Hassan Ahmed cites the impact of the coronavirus pandemic as the reason behind her decision to take a temporary leave of absence. Over 20 teachers, administrators and staff members have resigned since last June. Required fields are marked *. 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. 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. 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. Ahmed initially took a medical leave back on October, citing the stress she endured during the Covid pandemic. Sherry Lynem, the district's chief financial officer, and Nabil Nagi, the director of English Language Development, will share responsibilities as acting superintendents. Nabil Nagi, who is the interim Superintendent for Hamtramck Public Schools released a statement on Friday, November 4th addressing this matter. 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. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. Argued May 7, 1986. It also says that the board members and teachers union falsely instructed teachers that it was necessary for them not to contact Ahmed during her leave. What was better before that has gone worse in last couple of years? She was very serious about that. Mind sharing? Hamtramck schools embrace community initiatives, gear for Census count . Your email address will not be published. Did anyone press those teachers for more details? Wish there was a way to stay informed! Obaid credited Niczay for steering the schools to a financially healthy position after the district was in deficit. Join to view profile Hamtramck School District . Renowned Chef Anthony Bourdain at Polonia. Nabil Nagi Interim Superintendent. Print Edition Exclusive podcasts from our top journalists. The district is also facing allegations it has retaliated against outspoken staff. She did not say what specific ailment she has. Toast of the Town A Paczki Day diary: Brrrrr who invited winter to the party? HPS does not control the content or relevancy of these pages. Nabil Nagi. The Hamtramck school board voted 4-2 in favor of the suspension of superintendent Paul Stamatakis. David Melkus for the plaintiff. Budget/Transparency Reporting and Title IX, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Department. Posted Oct. 22, 2021. 2K followers . Nabil Nagi, interim superintendent, said the district wasunable to provide information or comment on legal matters. Come get answers to your questions about the flu and COVID-19. 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. Hadwan didnt explain the nature of the investigation. Ahmeds evaluations for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years were highly effective, the highest possible rating, the suitalleges. Please consider a gift today to help shine a light on government through independent journalism. 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. Her suit asks that she receive front-pay in case the district does successfully terminate her. Dr. Adnan Aabed. Councilmembers and the mayor want a raise. By Nargis Rahman - YAN - Hamtramck. According to district payroll records, Ahmed was still collecting paychecks as of Feb. 18, 2022. Definition of Terms 2020-2021 School . The decision, to temporarily step aside, was not entered into lightly. Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). At a recent school board committee meeting, board Vice President Showkat Chowdhury asked when the district would begin a search for a new superintendent. If you encounter a problem accessing materials, information, or technologies at MCAS or would like to provide feedback, contact: hmezzadri@hamtramckpublicschools.org. from . She was expected to return in January, but did not, with no explanation from the district. 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. Bridge Academy East (PreK-5th) 9600 Buffalo St. Hamtramck, MI 48212. going backwards from our best years In what way? Copyright 2022 by WDET and Wayne State University. HPS teachers held week-long protest over superintendents return, Once again, the city has to face financial issues. 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. Hamtramck Public Schools ( HPS) is a public school district based in the city of Hamtramck, Michigan ( USA) in Greater Detroit . Dr. Jaleelah Ahmed, superintendent of Hamtramck Public Schools and a member of the K-12 Alliance, said schools have tough decisions to make without direct orders from the state or county health . At least 28 people have resigned since the start of the school year, including 12 teachers at Dickinson East Elementary who quit recently. Hamtramck Public School District . Apply for A Construction Superintendent jobs that are part time, remote, internships, junior and senior level. The district has the Schools of Choice program, which allows non-district students to enroll in district schools. 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. First Yemeni-American Superintendent of Schools in the United States Detroit Metropolitan Area. It is strange that people quitting after school year started. The Review obtained a copy of the district email directing employees not to contact Ahmed. .page .article .comments .fb-comments iframe { Thank you for your understanding and compassion, it is my honor and privilege to serve. HPS does not control the content or relevancy of these pages. HPS teachers held week-long protest over superintendents return, Once again, the city has to face financial issues. 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. 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. The suit also says that the previous superintendent, Thomas Niczay, had made involuntary transfers in the past, with no repercussions. 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. 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. We're really reaching out to the community to . 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). He says divisions over the districts return to school policies heightened problems that already existed. | }. Your email address will not be published. Board President Salah Hadwan replied: "Well, we're still in an investigation.". According to a letter the district sent to Ahmed on Oct. 14, 2021, she was also barred from taking any actions as a school official. The alleged conspiracy andthe stress suffered during the COVID-19 pandemiccaused Ahmed to experience severe emotional distress, the suit alleges, and forced her to take a three-monthmedical leave that beganOct. 10. File photo, By Charles Sercombe Comments (-1) Interim Superintendent Nabil Nagi earlier told The Review that he does not discuss personnel issues. Required fields are marked *. Nor is it easy to be openly vulnerable with you. The purpose of my page is to explore educational topics and share progress about my journey as the. 775 likes. | .page .article .comments .fb-comments span, About Bridge Academy East. 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. Major, a school board trustee, said on Tuesday the board has not had an opportunity to meet to discuss the allegations inthe lawsuit. "At Hamtramck Public Schools, we are committed to providing high-quality education services that our families deserve. This web page contains links to one or more pages that are outside the HPS network. 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. In the meantime, the board has authorized Nagi to lead contract negotiations with district employees, including teachers. 75897, 75901, (Calendar No. They complained, sometimes bitterly, of their management style, and the many job transfers they imposed on staffmembers. Unlimited access to subscriber only articles on desktop, tablet and mobile web. Ahmed is asking a judge to issue an injunction prohibitingtermination of her employment, back payand damages for mental anguish and emotional distress. Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). .page .article .comments .fb-comments { Section 5: Miscellaneous. If you encounter a problem accessing materials, information, or technologies at MCAS or would like to provide feedback, contact: hmezzadri@hamtramckpublicschools.org. In an unexpected move, Hamtramck Public Schools Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed has taken a leave of absence. In the last year, over 20 teachers and administrators opted to resign and take jobs with other districts in protest of the management decisions. It was disappointing to read the names (some familiar) of so many young teachers who left HPS recently. That job included improving English language proficiency and academic performance. It also said it was running an investigation on the matter, but has not given any details on that investigation. The Hamtramck High School building. Toast of the Town A Paczki Day diary: Brrrrr who invited winter to the party? Interim Superintendent. Ahmed has been on the job since 2019, and recently received a contract extension. Renowned Chef Anthony Bourdain at Polonia. She declined further comment. She received the highest possible performance rating from evaluations since she became superintendent in 2019, something the lawsuit points out. 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. Interim Superintendent & ELD Director at Hamtramck School District Hamtramck, Michigan, United States. Come get answers to your questions about the flu and COVID-19. 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. Sascha Raiyn is Education Reporter at 101.9 WDET. 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. Toni Coral, president of theHamtramck Federation of Teachers, said Thursday the lawsuit had been sent to attorneys to review. This website provides the option to use Google translate; HPS cannot assure accuracy of the translation. 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. In an unexpected move, Hamtramck Public Schools Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed has taken a leave of absence. Above: Hamtramck Public Schools Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed says the portable classrooms for elementary school students stand in the way of equitable learning "Hamtramck has never passed a bond like surrounding cities," Ahmed said. Something must not be going right. Superintendent of Hamtramck Public Schools discusses challenges for upcoming school year Dr. Jaleelah Ahmed, superintendent of Hamtramck Public Schools and a member of the K-12 Alliance, said schools have tough decisions to make without direct orders from the state or county hea.. View article WXYZ Detroit Your email address will not be published. The lawsuit is seeking to prevent the board from continually extending Ahmeds leave and stop her from returning to work. 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. Ahmeds gross pay was $176,750 in 2020-21; she was appointed superintendent in July 2019. Hamtramck Public Schools will be led by two administrators while its superintendent is on a temporary leave of absence. In 2016, Ahmed was hired to serve as the district'sEnglish language development director. HPS teachers held week-long protest over superintendents return, Once again, the city has to face financial issues. Ahmeds leave took many in the district by surprise. Why is it that nothing was reported about the teachers resigning until now? |. "We attempted unsuccessfully to pass a bond in 1997. Posted Oct. 15, 2021. Her announcement was made public on the HPS Facebook page on Tuesday. Teachers have spoken out at school board meetings to criticize Ahmeds leadership. In her letter, Ahmed said that she is taking a break from her position to prioritize and address my own physical, mental health and well-being. The district has so far not given any details on why Ahmed never returned from that leave. width: auto !important; Her announcement was made public on the HPS Facebook page on Tuesday. All Rights Reserved. "She has a contract with Hamtramck. Pro-Israel, pro-corporate outside funds thrown at campaign opposing Talib in 12th District primary, Maker of Pillsbury products divests from Israel, after multi-year boycott campaign. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Nabil Nagi, the districts English Language Director, and Sherry Lynem, the districts Chief Financial Officer, were appointed to share the duties of superintendent. Mobile app for news, photos and video on the go. By Charles Sercombe 2). 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. WDET is a community service of Wayne State University. The board has two other members, DazShavon Hall and Jihan Aiyash, who were not named in the lawsuit. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective. Her leave of absence also comes at a time of turmoil in the district. This is not an environment I want to return in, said the teacher. Budget/Transparency Reporting and Title IX, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Department. Thats a significant loss to a system with only around 200 teachers and like many districts already dealing with a shortage of teachers. Decided December 22, 1986. 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. 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. Ahmed is allowed to remain on paid leave for up to 60 days. The nature of the investigation has not been made public by the district. Thus, our focus remains on providing our children with a learning environment that supports their academic, social, and emotional growth," Nabil said in a statement. According to district records, Ahmed has been collecting regular paychecks the entire time she has been off the job. The new lawsuit does provide a more detailed picture of the conflict between Ahmed and the school board, something that has been shrouded in mystery since late last year. Section 1.3: Audit. 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 March 15, 2023 1p-3p. 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. Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). At last weeks board meeting, several teachers spoke out about what it has been like with Ahmed as superintendent They were named to replace Jaleelah Hassan Ahmed at a school board meeting Wednesday. Do they deserve it? 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. 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. HPS is committed to ensuring that our educational materials and websites are accessible, equitable, and usable to everyone. Toast of the Town A Paczki Day diary: Brrrrr who invited winter to the party? Pre-K and Kindergarten Round Up Flyer. Ahmed alleges the board membersappeared at her office individually and in groups to demand the dismissal of a human resources director and other employees. Originally meant to be split between Nagi and Sherry Lynem, the Interim Superintendent position will now be completely filled by Nagi. There has been wide speculation over whether Ahmed will return in January. It is unclear if this suit relates in any way to the alleged investigation cited in the article. The district responded by stripping her of school building and communications access codes, keys and pass cards. March 3rd, 3pm-4:30pm, Hamtramck High School Auditorium Free food and drinks! Her director of human resources, Michelle Imbrunone, also took a medical leave of absence in October. She pointed to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic as the reason she needs to focus on her physical and mental health right now. width: 100% !important; [1] As of 2011 the official graduation rate is 62%. 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. Anyone in the loop? All rights reserved. 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. Previously, Felix was a Superintendent at Anderson Commun ity School Corporation. Sherry Lynem, the districts chief financial officer, and Nabil Nagi, the director of English Language Development, will share responsibilities as acting superintendents. Ahmed's gross pay was $176,750 in 2020-21; she was appointed superintendent in July 2019. 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. In an interview, Interim Superintendent Nabil Nagi spoke . 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. Hamtramck Federation of Teachers President Toni Coral says she wishes Ahmed well, but there is a lot of work to do in the district. That focus is also the primary reason I was able to identify that I needed additional support at this time. Some teachers and administrators said transfers made no sense and felt punitive against those who had raised concerns over work conditions during the pandemic. Hamtramck Public Schools did not incur a deficit during the 2020-21 Fiscal Year. Do they deserve it? Ahmed has been on the job since 2019, and recently received a contract extension. Annotate this Case 426 Mich. 678 (1986) 397 N.W.2d 770 TOMIAK v. HAMTRAMCK SCHOOL DISTRICT Docket Nos. There was a lot of teachers who were kind of dissatisfied with Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmeds leadership, Albaugh says. 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. Plunkett Cooney, a Detroit law firm, defends Ms. Ahmed and the district. HPS does not control the content or relevancy of these pages. The school district's graduation rate of 80% has increased from 72% over five school years. This website provides the option to use Google translate; HPS cannot assure accuracy of the translation. 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. Jaleelah Ahmed and the school district are defendants in a federal whistleblower lawsuit by Christina Adamczyk filed by attorney Gary Miotke that pends in federal court. display: block !important; The board met last Wednesday and accepted her request for a leave. One teacher said that, since Ahmed became superintendent, the district has been going backwards from our best years. Throughout the pandemic, I have continually reinforced that the well-being of our school community is the districts primary concern. 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. 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. This content is only available to subscribers. The City will go bankrupt or lose the vital protection of our First Responders if they do not pass their millage request. 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, MI . 2023 The Detroit News, a Digital First Media Newspaper. A poll suggested that some 50 percent of teachers considered leaving the district for other jobs. "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. Does anyone know whats going on in Hamtramck public schools? 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. 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. 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. 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. Annual Amount Spent on Lobbying -- Not Applicable ($0) Ahmed announced her leave of absence last week on the districts Facebook page. Your email address will not be published. A clue has emerged as to why Hamtramck Public Schools District Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed remains on leave. Unlike many news organizations, we made a choice to keep all of our independent, investigative reporting free and available for everyone in our community. (function($) {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. Councilmembers and the mayor want a raise. News, views and interviews from the Arab world and the Arab American community. 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.