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. width: 100% !important;
March 3rd, 3pm-4:30pm, Hamtramck High School Auditorium Free food and drinks! Jaleelah AhmedSuperintendent of SchoolsPhone: 313.591.7413Fax: 313.432.8409. 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. About Bridge Academy East. Hassan Abbas One teacher said that, since Ahmed became superintendent, the district has been going backwards from our best years. Nabil Nagi, who is the interim Superintendent for Hamtramck Public Schools released a statement on Friday, November 4th addressing this matter. He says divisions over the districts return to school policies heightened problems that already existed. "We attempted unsuccessfully to pass a bond in 1997. Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Ahmed is also asking for back pay, though she has been on paid leave since October. In the last year, over 20 teachers and administrators opted to resign and take jobs with other districts in protest of the management decisions. WDET is a community service of Wayne State University. Ahmeds evaluations for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years were highly effective, the highest possible rating, the suitalleges. In an unexpected move, Hamtramck Public Schools Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed has taken a leave of absence. 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 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. 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. Section 4: Benefits and Salary of Superintendent and employees greater than $100,000. This is not an environment I want to return in, said the teacher. Her director of human resources, Michelle Imbrunone, also took a medical leave of absence in October. That focus is also the primary reason I was able to identify that I needed additional support at this time. Hamtramck Public Schools Administration; Hamtramck Public Schools Administration. 775 likes. She said the stresses of the pandemic has caused her to prioritize and address my own physical, mental health and well-being. Join to view profile Hamtramck School District . Toni Coral, president of theHamtramck Federation of Teachers, said Thursday the lawsuit had been sent to attorneys to review. Do they deserve it? Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. |
You could win a $20 gift card in the raffle! The district has the Schools of Choice program, which allows non-district students to enroll in district schools. If you encounter a problem accessing materials, information, or technologies at MCAS or would like to provide feedback, contact: hmezzadri@hamtramckpublicschools.org. "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. The lawsuit is seeking to prevent the board from continually extending Ahmeds leave and stop her from returning to work. from . "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.". .page .article .comments .fb-comments span,
Come get answers to your questions about the flu and COVID-19. HPS does not control the content or relevancy of these pages. By Charles Sercombe This web page contains links to one or more pages that are outside the HPS network. Ahmed is asking a judge to issue an injunction prohibitingtermination of her employment, back payand damages for mental anguish and emotional distress. News, analysis and scores on Detroit and Michigan sports teams. Her leave of absence also comes at a time of turmoil in the district. 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 . School district fell short retaining them. Accessibility is a core component of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and it is referenced throughout the UDL Guidelines. File photo, By Charles Sercombe Your email address will not be published. Plunkett Cooney, a Detroit law firm, defends Ms. Ahmed and the district. Copyright 2022 by WDET and Wayne State University. We strive to follow best practices based on federal requirements outlined in Section 508the "Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards," authorized by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Boardas well as recommendations of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). "She has a contract with Hamtramck. Accessibility is a core component of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and it is referenced throughout the UDL Guidelines. The nature of the investigation has not been made public by the district. She did not say what specific ailment she has. 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. Comments (-1) Required fields are marked *. It is also unknown whether if the two are still on the districts payroll. 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. Relations between the district and Ahmed werent always sour. The board met last Wednesday and accepted her request for a leave. 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 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. Thank you for your understanding and compassion, it is my honor and privilege to serve. Sascha Raiyn is Education Reporter at 101.9 WDET. Unlike many news organizations, we made a choice to keep all of our independent, investigative reporting free and available for everyone in our community. The City will go bankrupt or lose the vital protection of our First Responders if they do not pass their millage request. Required fields are marked *. The decision, to temporarily step aside, was not entered into lightly. A clue has emerged as to why Hamtramck Public Schools District Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed remains on leave. 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. Some of those who left have since returned while Ahmed and Imbrunone were on leave. 75897, 75901, (Calendar No. 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. Budget/Transparency Reporting and Title IX, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Department. Posted Oct. 22, 2021. Newsletters on topics that interest you most. Councilmembers and the mayor want a raise. All Rights Reserved. Toast of the Town A Paczki Day diary: Brrrrr who invited winter to the party? Nor is it easy to be openly vulnerable with you. being. She was hired to do a job. Ahmed was appointed as superintendent about two years ago, replacing longtime superintendent Tom Niczay, who retired. The information was contained in the districts response to a Freedom of Information Act request. Ahmed's gross pay was $176,750 in 2020-21; she was appointed superintendent in July 2019. Decided December 22, 1986. The district responded by stripping her of school building and communications access codes, keys and pass cards. Pre-K and Kindergarten Round Up March 15, 2023 1p-3p, Notice of Cancellation of COW Meeting 12-20-2022. More than 20 teachers left the district last year. Director of Student Services. 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. 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. 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. As of Feb. 28, the school districts website did not recognize Ahmed in any role. 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. Toni Coral, the president of the teachers union, characterized the working conditions in the district as chaotic a description that was repeated over and over. Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). Major, a school board trustee, said on Tuesday the board has not had an opportunity to meet to discuss the allegations inthe lawsuit. Mobile app for news, photos and video on the go. Hamtramck Six Hamtramck schools employees are suing the interim superintendent and district, alleging the interim leader has discriminated against them, retaliated when they filed. Ahmed and the district also face litigation from a former middle school vice principal. 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. Support staffs seem to be quitting as well. At last weeks board meeting, several teachers spoke out about what it has been like with Ahmed as superintendent 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. Audit Reports 2017-2018. . This web page contains links to one or more pages that are outside the HPS network. 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. Neither Ahmed nor Imbrunone have spoken on the matter. max-width: none !important;
This content is only available to subscribers. Does anyone know whats going on in Hamtramck public schools? By Nargis Rahman - YAN - Hamtramck. 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. Why is it that nothing was reported about the teachers resigning until now? Menhem Aouad Director of Student Services. Your email address will not be published. Supreme Court of Michigan. "At Hamtramck Public Schools, we are committed to providing high-quality education services that our families deserve. A mass exodus of teachers from the school district took place under Ahmeds term last year. Sherry Lynem, the districts chief financial officer, and Nabil Nagi, the director of English Language Development, will share responsibilities as acting superintendents. 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. Her announcement was made public on the HPS Facebook page on Tuesday. Terms of Use | Online Privacy Policy. Ahmed initially took a medical leave back on October, citing the stress she endured during the Covid pandemic. Over 20 teachers, administrators and staff members have resigned since last June. That job included improving English language proficiency and academic performance. We wish Ms. Ahmed the best during her leave of absence. Bridge Academy West West (6-8th) 3105 Carpenter Ave. 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). This year, Niczay was rehired by the district as a consultant, performing some of Ahmeds prior duties. 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. Also on the boards agenda were the hirings of nine new teachers and staff employees, including one for the filling of the high schools vacant principal position. The purpose of my page is to explore educational topics and share progress about my journey as the. Abdul Hussain, a parent, said that for two years we found unity. 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. All rights reserved. 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. Dr. Adnan Aabed. Come get answers to your questions about the flu and COVID-19.
The board has not said whether Imbrunone remains on leave, or is still with the district. She declined further comment. Interim Superintendent & ELD Director at Hamtramck School District Hamtramck, Michigan, United States. Join us for an Open Forum!
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. 115 Construction Superintendent Jobs in Hamtramck, MI hiring now with salary from $61,000 to $123,000 hiring now. Pre-K and Kindergarten Round Up March 15, 2023 1p-3p, Notice of Cancellation of COW Meeting 12-20-2022. We're really reaching out to the community to . It said: 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. Ahmed notified district officials on Oct. 11, 2021, that she would stop performing her duties as superintendent until Jan. 10, 2022. Ahmed has been superintendent since 2019. Interim Superintendent. 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". Photo: Hassan Abbas/The Arab American News. Exclusive podcasts from our top journalists. Michigan is home to the top-ranked public square in the entire U.S. HPS teachers held week-long protest over superintendents return, Once again, the city has to face financial issues. This Material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form. 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. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today. HPS is committed to ensuring that our educational materials and websites are accessible, equitable, and usable to everyone. In a letter to the Hamtramck community posted on Facebook this week by Hamtramck Public Schools, Ahmed announced she was stepping away. 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. 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.
According to district payroll records, Ahmed was still collecting paychecks as of Feb. 18, 2022. Hadwan didnt explain the nature of the investigation. 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. |
Pre-K and Kindergarten Round Up Flyer. 2023 Mackinac Center for Public Policy
This web page contains links to one or more pages that are outside the HPS network. Menhem Aouad. Board President Salah Hadwan replied: "Well, we're still in an investigation.". display: block !important;
Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. Pre-K and Kindergarten Round Up March 15, 2023 1p-3p. HPS is committed to ensuring that our educational materials and websites are accessible, equitable, and usable to everyone. 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. 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. The Hamtramck High School building. In the meantime, the board has authorized Nagi to lead contract negotiations with district employees, including teachers. HPS does not control the content or relevancy of these pages. Her announcement was made public on the HPS Facebook page on Tuesday. Required fields are marked *. going backwards from our best years In what way? Unlimited access to subscriber only articles on desktop, tablet and mobile web. 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. 1K followers 500+ connections. Hamtramcks acting superintendent Nabil Nagi did not respond to an email seeking comment on Ahmeds status. 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. 2021 Salaries and Benefits over $100k. Posted Feb. 11, 2022. Obaid credited Niczay for steering the schools to a financially healthy position after the district was in deficit. Her suit asks that she receive front-pay in case the district does successfully terminate her. Hamtramck Public School 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. HPS is committed to ensuring that our educational materials and websites are accessible, equitable, and usable to everyone. 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 statement doesnt say much. It seems like it would be big news. A lot of the teachers have left HPS. 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. Budget/Transparency Reporting and Title IX, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Department. Sherry Lynem, the district's chief financial officer, and Nabil Nagi, the director of English Language Development, will share responsibilities as acting superintendents. There is little doubt the school district suffers from a bit of turmoil at this time with all the staff turnover. She told the school board that she will be on leave until Jan. 10. Nabil Nagi Interim Superintendent. Annual Amount Spent on Lobbying -- Not Applicable ($0) Felix received a bachelor's degree degree from Inter-American University and a master of business administration ( M. B. 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. }. She pointed to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic as the reason she needs to focus on her physical and mental health right now. 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, including interim Superintendent Nabil Nagi, has been extremely tight-lipped on the circumstances surrounding Ahmeds leave of absence. 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. Hamtramck Federation of Teachers President Toni Coral says she wishes Ahmed well, but there is a lot of work to do in the district. Ahmed, like so many other school superintendents, has had added responsibilities and burdens while overseeing the district during the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. 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. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective. Trusted, up-to-date local Detroit and Michigan breaking news. Renowned Chef Anthony Bourdain at Polonia. Nabil Nagi, interim superintendent, said the district wasunable to provide information or comment on legal matters. At least 28 people have resigned since the start of the school year, including 12 teachers at Dickinson East Elementary who quit recently. [1] As of 2011 the official graduation rate is 62%. It is unclear if this suit relates in any way to the alleged investigation cited in the article. After questions from residents and local media, the board said it had extended her leave, but did not explain why. I have no idea about the happenings in school this year. There was a lot of teachers who were kind of dissatisfied with Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmeds leadership, Albaugh says. 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. Hamtramck School Dist. Renowned Chef Anthony Bourdain at Polonia. Section 5: Miscellaneous. 2K followers . Nabil Nagi. Ahmed alleges the board membersappeared at her office individually and in groups to demand the dismissal of a human resources director and other employees. 08 Nov 2022 By The Yemeni American News The topic of banning explicit books in school districts has now made its way to Hamtramck. 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. Something must not be going right. What was better before that has gone worse in last couple of years? A poll suggested that some 50 percent of teachers considered leaving the district for other jobs. 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. If you encounter a problem accessing materials, information, or technologies at MCAS or would like to provide feedback, contact: hmezzadri@hamtramckpublicschools.org. This website provides the option to use Google translate; HPS cannot assure accuracy of the translation. Both Ahmed and Imbrunone came under intense criticism from teachers and administrators after they took their leaves of absence. 2023 The Detroit News, a Digital First Media Newspaper. |. Apply for A Construction Superintendent jobs that are part time, remote, internships, junior and senior level. 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.