Ahmed and the school district are being represented by Michael D. Weaver of the Plunkett Cooney law firm. Toni Coral, president of theHamtramck Federation of Teachers, said Thursday the lawsuit had been sent to attorneys to review. HPS News. 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. 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. Join to view profile Hamtramck School District . A. ) Posted Oct. 22, 2021. First Yemeni-American Superintendent of Schools in the United States Detroit Metropolitan Area. Ahmed initially took a medical leave back on October, citing the stress she endured during the Covid pandemic. Renowned Chef Anthony Bourdain at Polonia. The eNewspaper, a digital replica of the print paper, every day. Required fields are marked *. 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. 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. All rights reserved. In an unexpected move, Hamtramck Public Schools Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed has taken a leave of absence. Sascha Raiyn is Education Reporter at 101.9 WDET. 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. We wish Ms. Ahmed the best during her leave of absence. 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. HPS Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed is under an investigation while on extended leave from her job. Your email address will not be published. display: block !important; Does anyone know whats going on in Hamtramck public schools? WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. Another falsehood claimed that the teacher resignations during the 2021-2022 school year were caused by or related to Ahmeds involuntary transfer decisions. This was covered in several local media outlets, with a remarkable number of teachers leaving in a short period, and the fact that it reflected national trends of teachers finding better work environments. 2023 Mackinac Center for Public Policy Renowned Chef Anthony Bourdain at Polonia. The Hamtramck school board voted 4-2 in favor of the suspension of superintendent Paul Stamatakis. Did anyone press those teachers for more details? Simon Albaugh covers Hamtramck for the Yemeni American News. Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. About In the meantime, the board has authorized Nagi to lead contract negotiations with district employees, including teachers. This website provides the option to use Google translate; HPS cannot assure accuracy of the translation. 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. 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. Plunkett Cooney, a Detroit law firm, defends Ms. Ahmed and the district. 2K followers . 775 likes. HPS teachers held week-long protest over superintendents return, Once again, the city has to face financial issues. The purpose of my page is to explore educational topics and share progress about my journey as the. Anyone in the loop? This year, Niczay was rehired by the district as a consultant, performing some of Ahmeds prior duties. 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 district has the Schools of Choice program, which allows non-district students to enroll in district schools. I have no idea about the happenings in school this year. HPS teachers held week-long protest over superintendents return, Once again, the city has to face financial issues. Her announcement was made public on the HPS Facebook page on Tuesday. This Material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form. Councilmembers and the mayor want a raise. There has been wide speculation over whether Ahmed will return in January. Previously, Felix was a Superintendent at Anderson Commun ity School Corporation. Superintendent Jaleelah Hassan Ahmed cites the impact of the coronavirus pandemic as the reason behind her decision to take a temporary leave of absence. HPS is committed to ensuring that our educational materials and websites are accessible, equitable, and usable to everyone. You could win a $20 gift card in the raffle! Ahmed was appointed as superintendent about two years ago, replacing longtime superintendent Tom Niczay, who retired. My kids in HPS virtual academy. 08 Nov 2022 By The Yemeni American News The topic of banning explicit books in school districts has now made its way to Hamtramck. Trusted, up-to-date local Detroit and Michigan breaking news. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. David Melkus for the plaintiff. Michigan Capitol Confidential is a nonprofit news service published by the Mackinac Center and funded entirely through voluntary support. A poll suggested that some 50 percent of teachers considered leaving the district for other jobs. Here are the top scams of 2022, totaling $8.8 billion in losses, Three Ramadan Nights activities to attract thousands of visitors to Dearborn. We offer Arabic education, after school programs, tutoring, and more! 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. chaotic whats chaotic? 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. Ahmed announced her leave of absence last week on the districts Facebook page. This web page contains links to one or more pages that are outside the HPS network. Ahmed alleges the board membersappeared at her office individually and in groups to demand the dismissal of a human resources director and other employees. Comments (-1) 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 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. Posted Feb. 11, 2022. 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. "At Hamtramck Public Schools, we are committed to providing high-quality education services that our families deserve. Nabil Nagi, the districts English Language Director, and Sherry Lynem, the districts Chief Financial Officer, were appointed to share the duties of superintendent. Ahmed has been on the job since 2019, and recently received a contract extension. 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 . Pre-K and Kindergarten Round Up Flyer. 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. Her attorney, Robert Lusk, said in early August 2021, Hamtramck schools notified three teachers they had been transferred at their request and anothernine teachers they would be involuntarily transferred. Come get answers to your questions about the flu and COVID-19. Copyright 2022 by WDET and Wayne State University. Sherry Lynem, the districts chief financial officer, and Nabil Nagi, the director of English Language Development, will share responsibilities as acting superintendents. A lot of the teachers have left HPS. By Nargis Rahman - YAN - Hamtramck. Coral, who is a teacher, says policies that made teachers feel unwelcome exacerbated the teacher shortage and crisis that the district is facing. Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). March 3rd, 3pm-4:30pm, Hamtramck High School Auditorium Free food and drinks! Director of Innovative Programming. Her director of human resources, Michelle Imbrunone, also took a medical leave of absence in October. "We attempted unsuccessfully to pass a bond in 1997. Sherry Lynem, the district's chief financial officer, and Nabil Nagi, the director of English Language Development, will share responsibilities as acting superintendents. 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. 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. Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). A mass exodus of teachers from the school district took place under Ahmeds term last year. According to district payroll records, Ahmed was still collecting paychecks as of Feb. 18, 2022. Print Edition HPS does not control the content or relevancy of these pages. Join us for an Open Forum! Interim Superintendent. Hamtramck Public Schools ( HPS) is a public school district based in the city of Hamtramck, Michigan ( USA) in Greater Detroit . 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. 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. Accessibility is a core component of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and it is referenced throughout the UDL Guidelines. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. Toast of the Town A Paczki Day diary: Brrrrr who invited winter to the party? It is also unknown whether if the two are still on the districts payroll. HPS is committed to ensuring that our educational materials and websites are accessible, equitable, and usable to everyone. Come get answers to your questions about the flu and COVID-19. At a recent school board committee meeting, board Vice President Showkat Chowdhury asked when the district would begin a search for a new superintendent. 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. The nature of the investigation has not been made public by the district. 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. Here is Ahmeds letter to the community that was posted on the districts Facebook page announcing her leave: She is a native Detroiter who grew up listening to news and music programming on Detroit Public Radio. Menhem Aouad Director of Student Services. What was better before that has gone worse in last couple of years? Board members like Major supported Ahmeds efforts in 2020 to promote a millage to construct a new elementary school, a proposal later defeated by voters. Toast of the Town A Paczki Day diary: Brrrrr who invited winter to the party? 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. Section 1.3: Audit. |. | According to district records, Ahmed has been collecting regular paychecks the entire time she has been off the job. 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. 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. Unlike many news organizations, we made a choice to keep all of our independent, investigative reporting free and available for everyone in our community. Thank you for your understanding and compassion, it is my honor and privilege to serve. Posted: Saturday 06.04.2022 9:07 pm Revised: Friday 06.10.2022 9:07 pm Superintendent at Hamtramck Public Schools . The most highly paid employee in the Hamtramck Public Schools district has been collecting a paycheck for about four months while staying home and claiming a COVID-19 leave of absence. The board has not said whether Imbrunone remains on leave, or is still with the district. Hamtramck Public School District . If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today. All Rights Reserved. width: 100% !important; Relations between the district and Ahmed werent always sour. 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. Pre-K and Kindergarten Round Up March 15, 2023 1p-3p. 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. 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. Ahmed and the district also face litigation from a former middle school vice principal. School district fell short retaining them. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Unlimited access to subscriber only articles on desktop, tablet and mobile web. Your email address will not be published. Her contract ran through June 30, 2024. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. .page .article .comments .fb-comments span, 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. Do they deserve it? They were named to replace Jaleelah Hassan Ahmed at a school board meeting Wednesday. Councilmembers and the mayor want a raise. Jaleelah Ahmed, Superintendent of Hamtramck Public Schools, Hamtramck, Michigan. If you encounter a problem accessing materials, information, or technologies at MCAS or would like to provide feedback, contact: hmezzadri@hamtramckpublicschools.org. Ahmed has been on the job since 2019, and recently received a contract extension. Felix received a bachelor's degree degree from Inter-American University and a master of business administration ( M. B. 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. Budget/Transparency Reporting and Title IX, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Department. Michigan is home to the top-ranked public square in the entire U.S. Ahmed's gross pay was $176,750 in 2020-21; she was appointed superintendent in July 2019. Ahmeds leave took many in the district by surprise. Interim Superintendent Nabil Nagi earlier told The Review that he does not discuss personnel issues. After questions from residents and local media, the board said it had extended her leave, but did not explain why. Argued May 7, 1986. 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. In the last year, over 20 teachers and administrators opted to resign and take jobs with other districts in protest of the management decisions. Photo: Hassan Abbas/The Arab American News. At last weeks board meeting, several teachers spoke out about what it has been like with Ahmed as superintendent That focus is also the primary reason I was able to identify that I needed additional support at this time. Required fields are marked *. Hamtramck Public Schools Administration; Hamtramck Public Schools Administration. }. 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. .page .article .comments .fb-comments iframe { 2). Budget/Transparency Reporting and Title IX, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Department. This statement doesnt say much. The board met last Wednesday and accepted her request for a leave. "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. Bridge Academy West West (6-8th) 3105 Carpenter Ave. That desire was underlying each of the decisions she made," Lusk said. The lawsuit is seeking to prevent the board from continually extending Ahmeds leave and stop her from returning to work. Annotate this Case 426 Mich. 678 (1986) 397 N.W.2d 770 TOMIAK v. HAMTRAMCK SCHOOL DISTRICT Docket Nos. Hamtramck schools embrace community initiatives, gear for Census count . Accessibility is a core component of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and it is referenced throughout the UDL Guidelines. She told the school board that she will be on leave until Jan. 10. But there were some who spoke favorably of Ahmed. Something must not be going right. She did not say what specific ailment she has. The suit also says that the previous superintendent, Thomas Niczay, had made involuntary transfers in the past, with no repercussions. The district responded by stripping her of school building and communications access codes, keys and pass cards. Mind sharing? 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. Ahmed notified district officials on Oct. 11, 2021, that she would stop performing her duties as superintendent until Jan. 10, 2022. Some teachers and administrators said transfers made no sense and felt punitive against those who had raised concerns over work conditions during the pandemic. She said the stresses of the pandemic has caused her to prioritize and address my own physical, mental health and well-being. Nabil Nagi Interim Superintendent. It was disappointing to read the names (some familiar) of so many young teachers who left HPS recently. Bridge Academy East (PreK-5th) 9600 Buffalo St. Hamtramck, MI 48212. 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. Throughout the pandemic, I have continually reinforced that the well-being of our school community is the districts primary concern. Terms of Use | Online Privacy Policy. 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). By Charles Sercombe Employees shall not discuss the employment circumstances of Superintendent Ahmed with anyone unless cleared by Lynem or Nagi. Ahmed announced her leave of absence last week on the district's Facebook page. If you encounter a problem accessing materials, information, or technologies at MCAS or would like to provide feedback, contact: hmezzadri@hamtramckpublicschools.org. 1K followers 500+ connections. Obaid credited Niczay for steering the schools to a financially healthy position after the district was in deficit. Hamtramck Public Schools (@hamtramckpublicschools) Instagram photos and videos. The former superintendent of Hamtramck Public Schools is suing the school district, five members of its school board andits teacher's union, alleging a conspiracy to oust her,defamation and violations offederal discrimination laws. HPS does not control the content or relevancy of these pages. Hamtramck Public Schools (@hamtramckpublicschools) Instagram photos and videos. Teachers have spoken out at school board meetings to criticize Ahmeds leadership. Thats a significant loss to a system with only around 200 teachers and like many districts already dealing with a shortage of teachers. Ahmed has been superintendent since 2019. Ahmed, like so many other school superintendents, has had added responsibilities and burdens while overseeing the district during the COVID-19 pandemic. 75897, 75901, (Calendar No. Local. Councilmembers and the mayor want a raise. 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. margin: 0 -8px !important; HPS is committed to ensuring that our educational materials and websites are accessible, equitable, and usable to everyone. 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. 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. 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. She declined further comment. HAMTRAMCK PUBLIC SCHOOLS 3201 Roosevelt Street Hamtramck, MI 48212 SUPERINTENDENT Jaleelah Ahmed Phone: 313.591.7400 Fax: 313.284.6094 Office Hours: 8:00am - 4:00pm HPS News Pre-K and Kindergarten Round Up March 15, 2023 1p-3p Pre-K and Kindergarten Round Up Flyer Notice of Cancellation of COW Meeting 12-20-2022 Ahmed has been receiving pay during her absence, as she is still under contract with the district, which has not officially terminated that contract. She received the highest possible performance rating from evaluations since she became superintendent in 2019, something the lawsuit points out. She was hired to do a job. Please consider a gift today to help shine a light on government through independent journalism. Ahmeds evaluations for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years were highly effective, the highest possible rating, the suitalleges. Pre-K and Kindergarten Round Up March 15, 2023 1p-3p, Notice of Cancellation of COW Meeting 12-20-2022. Supreme Court of Michigan. Your email address will not be published. Both Ahmed and Imbrunone came under intense criticism from teachers and administrators after they took their leaves of absence.

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