School district says superintendent is under investigation | Hamtramck (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. Hamtramck Public Schools (@hamtramckpublicschools) Instagram photos and videos. Ahmed alleges the board membersappeared at her office individually and in groups to demand the dismissal of a human resources director and other employees. Nabil Nagi. Superintendent at Hamtramck Public Schools . Jaleelah AhmedSuperintendent of SchoolsPhone: 313.591.7413Fax: 313.432.8409. The board has two other members, DazShavon Hall and Jihan Aiyash, who were not named in the lawsuit. Pre-K and Kindergarten Round Up Flyer. Her leave of absence also comes at a time of turmoil in the district. Ahmed is asking a judge to issue an injunction prohibitingtermination of her employment, back payand damages for mental anguish and emotional distress. 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. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. Superintendent Jaleelah Hassan Ahmed cites the impact of the coronavirus pandemic as the reason behind her decision to take a temporary leave of absence. 75897, 75901, (Calendar No. Interim Superintendent Nabil Nagi earlier told The Review that he does not discuss personnel issues. 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 Anyone in the loop? 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. Audit Reports 2017-2018. . 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. Hamtramck, MI . Accessibility is a core component of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and it is referenced throughout the UDL Guidelines. "She has a contract with Hamtramck. Plunkett Cooney, a Detroit law firm, defends Ms. Ahmed and the district. Councilmembers and the mayor want a raise. Director of Innovative Programming. 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. Posted Oct. 22, 2021. The lawsuit is seeking to prevent the board from continually extending Ahmeds leave and stop her from returning to work. 2023 The Detroit News, a Digital First Media Newspaper. Pre-K and Kindergarten Round Up March 15, 2023 1p-3p, Notice of Cancellation of COW Meeting 12-20-2022. 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. Sherry Lynem, the districts chief financial officer, and Nabil Nagi, the director of English Language Development, will share responsibilities as acting superintendents. Thats a significant loss to a system with only around 200 teachers and like many districts already dealing with a shortage of teachers. Board of Education / Hamtramck Public Schools Administration Hamtramck Public Schools will be led by two administrators while its superintendent is on a temporary leave of absence. 08 Nov 2022 By The Yemeni American News The topic of banning explicit books in school districts has now made its way to Hamtramck. 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. Here is Ahmeds letter to the community that was posted on the districts Facebook page announcing her leave: HPS is committed to ensuring that our educational materials and websites are accessible, equitable, and usable to everyone. Please consider a gift today to help shine a light on government through independent journalism. margin: 0 -8px !important; It is also unknown whether if the two are still on the districts payroll. Annual Amount Spent on Lobbying -- Not Applicable ($0) Why is it that nothing was reported about the teachers resigning until now? Toast of the Town A Paczki Day diary: Brrrrr who invited winter to the party? 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. 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. Felix Chow - Superintendent - Hamtramck Public Schools | ZoomInfo Hamtramck Federation of Teachers President Toni Coral says she wishes Ahmed well, but there is a lot of work to do in the district. 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. She declined further comment. Print Edition Ahmed and the school district are being represented by Michael D. Weaver of the Plunkett Cooney law firm. You could win a $20 gift card in the raffle! The City will go bankrupt or lose the vital protection of our First Responders if they do not pass their millage request. width: 100% !important; We wish Ms. Ahmed the best during her leave of absence. Your email address will not be published. Copyright 2022 by WDET and Wayne State University. Section 4: Benefits and Salary of Superintendent and employees greater than $100,000. Bridge Academy East is a free public charter school district serving students in grades K-5th and houses a GSRP preschool program. 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. I have no idea about the happenings in school this year. Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). 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. All Rights Reserved. Deadline Detroit | Hamtramck puzzle: What sent this school district Ahmed and the district also face litigation from a former middle school vice principal. 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. 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. Nabil Nagi, Ed.S. - ELD Director - Hamtramck School District - LinkedIn .page .article .comments .fb-comments { Michigan is home to the top-ranked public square in the entire U.S. HPS Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed is under an investigation while on extended leave from her job. max-width: none !important; The district responded by stripping her of school building and communications access codes, keys and pass cards. width: auto !important; Nor is it easy to be openly vulnerable with you. Do they deserve it? Ahmed notified district officials on Oct. 11, 2021, that she would stop performing her duties as superintendent until Jan. 10, 2022. Both Ahmed and Imbrunone came under intense criticism from teachers and administrators after they took their leaves of absence. 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. First Yemeni-American Superintendent of Schools in the United States Detroit Metropolitan Area. 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. Previously, Felix was a Superintendent at Anderson Commun ity School Corporation. Unlimited access to subscriber only articles on desktop, tablet and mobile web. Director of Student Services. March 3rd, 3pm-4:30pm, Hamtramck High School Auditorium Free food and drinks! Interim Superintendent & ELD Director at Hamtramck School District Hamtramck, Michigan, United States. Q&A with Hamtramck Public Schools Superintendent Jaleelah Hassan Ahmed }. How to pronounce Hamtramck | HowToPronounce.com This web page contains links to one or more pages that are outside the HPS network. 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. } Nabil Nagi, the districts English Language Director, and Sherry Lynem, the districts Chief Financial Officer, were appointed to share the duties of superintendent. News, analysis and scores on Detroit and Michigan sports teams. Mobile app for news, photos and video on the go. Instead of appointing an interim superintendent, the board of education appointed Nabil Nagi, the districts English Language Director, and Sherry Lynem, the districts Chief Financial Officer, to share the duties of superintendent. 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. This content is only available to subscribers. 2023 The Detroit News, a Digital First Media Newspaper. 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). 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. 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. 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. Newsletters on topics that interest you most. Unlike many news organizations, we made a choice to keep all of our independent, investigative reporting free and available for everyone in our community. "At Hamtramck Public Schools, we are committed to providing high-quality education services that our families deserve. Obaid credited Niczay for steering the schools to a financially healthy position after the district was in deficit. This web page contains links to one or more pages that are outside the HPS network. The decision, to temporarily step aside, was not entered into lightly. In 2016, Ahmed was hired to serve as the district'sEnglish language development director. Accessibility is a core component of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and it is referenced throughout the UDL Guidelines. Throughout the pandemic, I have continually reinforced that the well-being of our school community is the districts primary concern. That desire was underlying each of the decisions she made," Lusk said. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective. She told the school board that she will be on leave until Jan. 10. She pointed to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic as the reason she needs to focus on her physical and mental health right now. According to district records, Ahmed has been collecting regular paychecks the entire time she has been off the job. The district has so far not given any details on why Ahmed never returned from that leave. The board met last Wednesday and accepted her request for a leave. 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. Budget/Transparency Reporting and Title IX, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Department. Accessibility is a core component of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and it is referenced throughout the UDL Guidelines. 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. Dr. Adnan Aabed. A poll suggested that some 50 percent of teachers considered leaving the district for other jobs. .page .article .comments .fb-comments span, David Melkus for the plaintiff. Renowned Chef Anthony Bourdain at Polonia. Ahmed has been on the job since 2019, and recently received a contract extension. The Hamtramck school board voted 4-2 in favor of the suspension of superintendent Paul Stamatakis. from . According to district payroll records, Ahmed was still collecting paychecks as of Feb. 18, 2022. It said: She was very serious about that. Ahmed is also asking for back pay, though she has been on paid leave since October. Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. 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.. Toni Coral, president of theHamtramck Federation of Teachers, said Thursday the lawsuit had been sent to attorneys to review. Hamtramck School Board Trustee, Moortadha Obaid, said it was "really sad" that Niczay is leaving the job, he lauded the superintendent as a "great guy". Ahmed was appointed as superintendent about two years ago, replacing longtime superintendent Tom Niczay, who retired. Something must not be going right. 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 has been superintendent since 2019. Councilmembers and the mayor want a raise. Superintendent / Home 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. The purpose of my page is to explore educational topics and share progress about my journey as the. More than 20 teachers left the district last year. Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). Neither Ahmed nor Imbrunone have spoken on the matter. One teacher said that, since Ahmed became superintendent, the district has been going backwards from our best years. There was a lot of teachers who were kind of dissatisfied with Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmeds leadership, Albaugh says. I must prioritize and address my own physical, mental health and well- He says divisions over the districts return to school policies heightened problems that already existed. Posted Oct. 15, 2021. In the last year, over 20 teachers and administrators opted to resign and take jobs with other districts in protest of the management decisions. Menhem Aouad Director of Student Services. It is strange that people quitting after school year started. 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. 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). There has been wide speculation over whether Ahmed will return in January. She was hired to do a job. In the meantime, the board has authorized Nagi to lead contract negotiations with district employees, including teachers. being. The board has not said whether Imbrunone remains on leave, or is still with the district. Abdul Hussain, a parent, said that for two years we found unity. 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. Hamtramck Public Schools did not incur a deficit during the 2020-21 Fiscal Year. Does anyone know whats going on in Hamtramck public schools? School district fell short retaining them. 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. Ahmed is the first Yemeni-American to be appointed as superintendent of the Hamtramck School District. "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.". Section 1.3: Audit. Board President Salah Hadwan replied: "Well, we're still in an investigation.". Renowned Chef Anthony Bourdain at Polonia. In an unexpected move, Hamtramck Public Schools Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed has taken a leave of absence. Jaleelah Hassan Ahmed - Superintendent of Schools - Hamtramck Public There is little doubt the school district suffers from a bit of turmoil at this time with all the staff turnover. This web page contains links to one or more pages that are outside the HPS network. March 3rd, 3pm-4:30pm, Hamtramck High School Auditorium Free food and drinks! HPS teachers held week-long protest over superintendents return, Once again, the city has to face financial issues. Hamtramck Public Schools - Wikipedia The district, including interim Superintendent Nabil Nagi, has been extremely tight-lipped on the circumstances surrounding Ahmeds leave of absence. UPDATE: Detroit district's pause on in-person learning now extended Your email address will not be published. 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. Local. Support staffs seem to be quitting as well. 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. The district is also facing allegations it has retaliated against outspoken staff. Her suit asks that she receive front-pay in case the district does successfully terminate her. 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. Hamtramck, MI 48212 INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT Nabil Nagi Phone: 313.591.7400 Fax: 313.284.6094 Office Hours: 8:00am - 4:00pm. Your email address will not be published. Nabil Nagi, interim superintendent, said the district wasunable to provide information or comment on legal matters. Ahmeds gross pay was $176,750 in 2020-21; she was appointed superintendent in July 2019. In the last several months, there have been mass resignations by veteran teachers and staff members. WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. Posted: Saturday 06.04.2022 9:07 pm Revised: Friday 06.10.2022 9:07 pm Hamtramck Superintendent Hasn't Worked In Four Months But Is Still By Charles Sercombe 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. About Bridge Academy East. | Ahmed's gross pay was $176,750 in 2020-21; she was appointed superintendent in July 2019. That job included improving English language proficiency and academic performance. 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. The Hamtramck High School building. Ahmed has been on the job since 2019, and recently received a contract extension. News, views and interviews from the Arab world and the Arab American community. 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. Hamtramck Public Schools (@hamtramckpublicschools) Instagram photos and videos. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. What was better before that has gone worse in last couple of years? Hamtramck Public School District / Homepage If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today. MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST January 20, 2004 - Mackinac Center Nagi Takes Full Interim Superintendent Responsibilities Do they deserve it? Hamtramck schools embrace community initiatives, gear for Census count . We offer Arabic education, after school programs, tutoring, and more! 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. 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 Section 5: Miscellaneous. "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. Hadwan didnt explain the nature of the investigation. 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. Hamtramck Six Hamtramck schools employees are suing the interim superintendent and district, alleging the interim leader has discriminated against them, retaliated when they filed. Comments (-1) 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. 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. HPS News. The Yemeni American Outgoing Hamtramck Schools' superintendent Tom By Nargis Rahman - YAN - Hamtramck. 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. Terms of Use | Online Privacy Policy. Recently, the board voted not to renew Imbrunones contract with the district. HPS does not control the content or relevancy of these pages. 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. It is unclear if this suit relates in any way to the alleged investigation cited in the article. Thank you for your understanding and compassion, it is my honor and privilege to serve. 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 Review obtained a copy of the district email directing employees not to contact Ahmed. Ahmed, like so many other school superintendents, has had added responsibilities and burdens while overseeing the district during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her contract ran through June 30, 2024. Board President Salah Hadwan replied: Well, were still in an investigation. Here are the top scams of 2022, totaling $8.8 billion in losses, Three Ramadan Nights activities to attract thousands of visitors to Dearborn. Do they deserve it? Pre-K and Kindergarten Round Up March 15, 2023 1p-3p. The nature of the investigation has not been made public by the district. Hamtramck Public Schools ( HPS) is a public school district based in the city of Hamtramck, Michigan ( USA) in Greater Detroit . They were named to replace Jaleelah Hassan Ahmed at a school board meeting Wednesday. This website provides the option to use Google translate; HPS cannot assure accuracy of the translation. Wish there was a way to stay informed! Hassan Abbas This website provides the option to use Google translate; HPS cannot assure accuracy of the translation. 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. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. HPS teachers held week-long protest over superintendents return, Once again, the city has to face financial issues. Over 20 teachers, administrators and staff members have resigned since last June.