Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Hamtramck Six Hamtramck schools employees are suing the interim superintendent and district, alleging the interim leader has discriminated against them, retaliated when they filed. According to district payroll records, Ahmed was still collecting paychecks as of Feb. 18, 2022. 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". It was disappointing to read the names (some familiar) of so many young teachers who left HPS recently. 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. Jaleelah Ahmed, Superintendent of Hamtramck Public Schools Posted: Saturday 06.04.2022 9:07 pm Revised: Friday 06.10.2022 9:07 pm Do they deserve it? 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 . There was a lot of teachers who were kind of dissatisfied with Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmeds leadership, Albaugh says. By Nargis Rahman - YAN - Hamtramck. Unlimited access to subscriber only articles on desktop, tablet and mobile web. Donate My kids in HPS virtual academy. Come get answers to your questions about the flu and COVID-19. I must prioritize and address my own physical, mental health and well- Your email address will not be published. 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). Do they deserve it? .page .article .comments .fb-comments iframe { Ahmed is the first Yemeni-American to be appointed as superintendent of the Hamtramck School District. Ahmed is asking a judge to issue an injunction prohibitingtermination of her employment, back payand damages for mental anguish and emotional distress. Originally meant to be split between Nagi and Sherry Lynem, the Interim Superintendent position will now be completely filled by Nagi. The district responded by stripping her of school building and communications access codes, keys and pass cards. In the last year, over 20 teachers and administrators opted to resign and take jobs with other districts in protest of the management decisions. About Required fields are marked *. Obaid credited Niczay for steering the schools to a financially healthy position after the district was in deficit. UPDATE: Detroit district's pause on in-person learning now extended She was expected to return in January, but did not, with no explanation from the district. 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. Superintendent at Hamtramck Public Schools . | 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. In an unexpected move, Hamtramck Public Schools Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed has taken a leave of absence. At a recent school board committee meeting, board Vice President Showkat Chowdhury asked when the district would begin a search for a new superintendent. Your email address will not be published. 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. Toast of the Town A Paczki Day diary: Brrrrr who invited winter to the party? 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. That desire was underlying each of the decisions she made," Lusk said. This content is only available to subscribers. Hamtramck Public Schools Names Acting Superintendents Amid Staff - WDET Ahmed's gross pay was $176,750 in 2020-21; she was appointed superintendent in July 2019. Ahmed also alleges school board members and the teacher's unionprovided falseinformation to local media which "ran articles impugning her professional reputation" and that false information was posted by the teachers unions on itsFacebook account impugning herprofessional reputation. The board met last Wednesday and accepted her request for a leave. 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. This Material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form. This website provides the option to use Google translate; HPS cannot assure accuracy of the translation. Her contract ran through June 30, 2024. Required fields are marked *. 75897, 75901, (Calendar No. Supreme Court of Michigan. The Hamtramck High School building. Bridge Academy East is a free public charter school district serving students in grades K-5th and houses a GSRP preschool program. 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 A. ) This website provides the option to use Google translate; HPS cannot assure accuracy of the translation. HPS is committed to ensuring that our educational materials and websites are accessible, equitable, and usable to everyone. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. 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). In an interview, Interim Superintendent Nabil Nagi spoke . Director of Innovative Programming. She declined further comment. 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. Ahmed and the district also face litigation from a former middle school vice principal. School district fell short retaining them. Definition of Terms 2020-2021 School . If you encounter a problem accessing materials, information, or technologies at MCAS or would like to provide feedback, contact: hmezzadri@hamtramckpublicschools.org. It seems like it would be big news. 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. Neither Ahmed nor Imbrunone have spoken on the matter. Hamtramck Federation of Teachers President Toni Coral says she wishes Ahmed well, but there is a lot of work to do in the district. The nature of the investigation has not been made public by the district. Board President Salah Hadwan replied: Well, were still in an investigation. 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. display: block !important; Please consider a gift today to help shine a light on government through independent journalism. Renowned Chef Anthony Bourdain at Polonia. Annual Amount Spent on Lobbying -- Not Applicable ($0) Employees shall not discuss the employment circumstances of Superintendent Ahmed with anyone unless cleared by Lynem or 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. Hamtramck Superintendent Hasn't Worked In Four Months But Is Still As of Feb. 28, the school districts website did not recognize Ahmed in any role. She was hired to do a job. Argued May 7, 1986. MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST January 20, 2004 - Mackinac Center 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. 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. Councilmembers and the mayor want a raise. Hassan Abbas Toast of the Town A Paczki Day diary: Brrrrr who invited winter to the party? 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. 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. In a letter to the Hamtramck community posted on Facebook this week by Hamtramck Public Schools, Ahmed announced she was stepping away. Exclusive podcasts from our top journalists. Hamtramck Public Schools Administration; Hamtramck Public Schools Administration. 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. Join to view profile Hamtramck School District . Newsletters on topics that interest you most. Hamtramck Schools Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed accuses board members Teachers speak out on schools superintendent | Hamtramck Review 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. Bridge Academy West West (6-8th) 3105 Carpenter Ave. Hamtramck Schools Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed talks bond proposal WDET is a community service of Wayne State University. 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. Annotate this Case 426 Mich. 678 (1986) 397 N.W.2d 770 TOMIAK v. HAMTRAMCK SCHOOL DISTRICT Docket Nos. 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. 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. 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. A poll suggested that some 50 percent of teachers considered leaving the district for other jobs. Thank you for your understanding and compassion, it is my honor and privilege to serve. Previously, Felix was a Superintendent at Anderson Commun ity School Corporation. Director of Student Services. They were named to replace Jaleelah Hassan Ahmed at a school board meeting Wednesday. Will you support us? 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. Does anyone know whats going on in Hamtramck public schools? 2023 The Detroit News, a Digital First Media Newspaper. A clue has emerged as to why Hamtramck Public Schools District Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed remains on leave. Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). She told the school board that she will be on leave until Jan. 10. Hamtramck Public Schools will be led by two administrators while its superintendent is on a temporary leave of absence. 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. Section 5: Miscellaneous. The decision, to temporarily step aside, was not entered into lightly. At a recent school board committee meeting, board Vice President Showkat Chowdhury asked when the district would begin a search for a new superintendent. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. Pre-K and Kindergarten Round Up March 15, 2023 1p-3p, Notice of Cancellation of COW Meeting 12-20-2022. The district, including interim Superintendent Nabil Nagi, has been extremely tight-lipped on the circumstances surrounding Ahmeds leave of absence. Your email address will not be published. Accessibility is a core component of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and it is referenced throughout the UDL Guidelines. Her announcement was made public on the HPS Facebook page on Tuesday. 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. 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. Wish there was a way to stay informed! March 3rd, 3pm-4:30pm, Hamtramck High School Auditorium Free food and drinks! Superintendent Jaleelah Hassan Ahmed cites the impact of the coronavirus pandemic as the reason behind her decision to take a temporary leave of absence. going backwards from our best years In what way? Interim Superintendent Nabil Nagi earlier told The Review that he does not discuss personnel issues. Budget/Transparency Reporting and Title IX / Home Nabil Nagi, Ed.S. - ELD Director - Hamtramck School District - LinkedIn HPS teachers held week-long protest over superintendents return, Once again, the city has to face financial issues. By Charles Sercombe Ahmed has been receiving pay during her absence, as she is still under contract with the district, which has not officially terminated that contract. A clue has emerged as to why Hamtramck Public Schools District Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed remains on leave. But there were some who spoke favorably of Ahmed. Print Edition Support staffs seem to be quitting as well. Dr. Adnan Aabed. Ahmed was appointed as superintendent about two years ago, replacing longtime superintendent Tom Niczay, who retired. A mass exodus of teachers from the school district took place under Ahmeds term last year. 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. 115 Construction Superintendent Jobs in Hamtramck, MI hiring now with salary from $61,000 to $123,000 hiring now. .page .article .comments .fb-comments span, Another falsehood claimed that the teacher resignations during the 2021-2022 school year were caused by or related to Ahmeds involuntary transfer decisions. 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. Hamtramcks acting superintendent Nabil Nagi did not respond to an email seeking comment on Ahmeds status. "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.". Without more details, this word doesnt convey much. Q&A with Hamtramck Public Schools Superintendent Jaleelah Hassan Ahmed Interim Superintendent of Hamtramck Public Schools sits down for an There is little doubt the school district suffers from a bit of turmoil at this time with all the staff turnover. 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. One teacher said that, since Ahmed became superintendent, the district has been going backwards from our best years. 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. Ahmed, like so many other school superintendents, has had added responsibilities and burdens while overseeing the district during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ahmed notified district officials on Oct. 11, 2021, that she would stop performing her duties as superintendent until Jan. 10, 2022. This is not an environment I want to return in, said the teacher. Here are the top scams of 2022, totaling $8.8 billion in losses, Three Ramadan Nights activities to attract thousands of visitors to Dearborn. In an unexpected move, Hamtramck Public Schools Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed has taken a leave of absence. Nor is it easy to be openly vulnerable with you. Hamtramck, MI 48212 INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT Nabil Nagi Phone: 313.591.7400 Fax: 313.284.6094 Office Hours: 8:00am - 4:00pm. Former Hamtramck schools leader alleges conspiracy to fire her 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. Nabil Nagi, interim superintendent, said the district wasunable to provide information or comment on legal matters. Join us for an Open Forum! Local. Teachers have spoken out at school board meetings to criticize Ahmeds leadership. Hamtramck Public Schools Jul 2019 - Present 3 years 8 months. Hamtramck Public Schools ( HPS) is a public school district based in the city of Hamtramck, Michigan ( USA) in Greater Detroit . Deadline Detroit | Hamtramck puzzle: What sent this school district Simon Albaugh covers Hamtramck for the Yemeni American News. chaotic whats chaotic? She said the stresses of the pandemic has caused her to prioritize and address my own physical, mental health and well-being. from . What was better before that has gone worse in last couple of years? Ahmeds leave took many in the district by surprise. Hamtramck Public School District / Homepage In 2016, Ahmed was hired to serve as the district'sEnglish language development director. The board has not said whether Imbrunone remains on leave, or is still with the district. 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. 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.