Abdul Hussain, a parent, said that for two years we found unity. The nature of the investigation has not been made public by the district. Hamtramck Public Schools Jul 2019 - Present 3 years 8 months. 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. Donate 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. 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. The district has so far not given any details on why Ahmed never returned from that leave. 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. Previously, Felix was a Superintendent at Anderson Commun ity School Corporation. Major, a school board trustee, said on Tuesday the board has not had an opportunity to meet to discuss the allegations inthe lawsuit. 2K followers . "She has a contract with Hamtramck. 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. "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. Wish there was a way to stay informed! At a recent school board committee meeting, board Vice President Showkat Chowdhury asked when the district would begin a search for a new superintendent. Bridge Academy East (PreK-5th) 9600 Buffalo St. Hamtramck, MI 48212. 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. being. Hamtramck schools embrace community initiatives, gear for Census count . .page .article .comments .fb-comments span, The eNewspaper, a digital replica of the print paper, every day. Argued May 7, 1986. Come get answers to your questions about the flu and COVID-19. 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. It was disappointing to read the names (some familiar) of so many young teachers who left HPS recently. HPS does not control the content or relevancy of these pages. At last weeks board meeting, several teachers spoke out about what it has been like with Ahmed as superintendent 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. 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. | Ahmeds evaluations for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years were highly effective, the highest possible rating, the suitalleges. She did not say what specific ailment she has. 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. Her announcement was made public on the HPS Facebook page on Tuesday. Her leave of absence also comes at a time of turmoil in the district. Required fields are marked *. Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. The information was contained in the districts response to a Freedom of Information Act request. Dr. Adnan Aabed. In the last several months, there have been mass resignations by veteran teachers and staff members. Hamtramck Public Schools will be led by two administrators while its superintendent is on a temporary leave of absence. 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. Nor is it easy to be openly vulnerable with you. This year, Niczay was rehired by the district as a consultant, performing some of Ahmeds prior duties. March 3rd, 3pm-4:30pm, Hamtramck High School Auditorium Free food and drinks! 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. One teacher said that, since Ahmed became superintendent, the district has been going backwards from our best years. Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). School district fell short retaining them. Interim Superintendent & ELD Director at Hamtramck School District Hamtramck, Michigan, United States. Here are the top scams of 2022, totaling $8.8 billion in losses, Three Ramadan Nights activities to attract thousands of visitors to Dearborn. 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 }. 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. Nabil Nagi, interim superintendent, said the district wasunable to provide information or comment on legal matters. Another falsehood claimed that the teacher resignations during the 2021-2022 school year were caused by or related to Ahmeds involuntary transfer decisions. Superintendent Jaleelah Hassan Ahmed cites the impact of the coronavirus pandemic as the reason behind her decision to take a temporary leave of absence. Your email address will not be published. Do they deserve it? Something must not be going right. She said the stresses of the pandemic has caused her to prioritize and address my own physical, mental health and well-being. 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. The decision, to temporarily step aside, was not entered into lightly. Interim Superintendent Nabil Nagi earlier told The Review that he does not discuss personnel issues. Budget/Transparency Reporting and Title IX, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Department. Posted Oct. 22, 2021. HAMTRAMCK, Mich. - Hamtramck Public Schools is now leaving the crossroads of a few changes - labor talks between administration and the teacher's collective bargaining unit are continuing, COVID-19 restrictions are relaxing, federal grant dollars are being allocated, and then some. A clue has emerged as to why Hamtramck Public Schools District Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed remains on leave. Menhem Aouad Director of Student Services. Some teachers and administrators said transfers made no sense and felt punitive against those who had raised concerns over work conditions during the pandemic. The district has the Schools of Choice program, which allows non-district students to enroll in district schools. Decided December 22, 1986. Hamtramck Public Schools (@hamtramckpublicschools) Instagram photos and videos. 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. 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. HPS does not control the content or relevancy of these pages. This content is only available to subscribers. 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". 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. Does anyone know whats going on in Hamtramck public schools? Pre-K and Kindergarten Round Up March 15, 2023 1p-3p. HAMTRAMCK, Mich. - After the sudden absence of Superintendent Ahmed, the temporary replacement Nabil Nagi will take full control of the responsibilities of the Hamtramck Public Schools Superintendent. 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. A mass exodus of teachers from the school district took place under Ahmeds term last year. Ahmed has been on the job since 2019, and recently received a contract extension. chaotic whats chaotic? Ahmed's gross pay was $176,750 in 2020-21; she was appointed superintendent in July 2019. Unlike many news organizations, we made a choice to keep all of our independent, investigative reporting free and available for everyone in our community. Exclusive podcasts from our top journalists. .page .article .comments .fb-comments iframe { They are being sued by former school district employee Christina Adamczyk. A poll suggested that some 50 percent of teachers considered leaving the district for other jobs. HPS teachers held week-long protest over superintendents return, Once again, the city has to face financial issues. Newsletters on topics that interest you most. Hamtramck, MI . 2). Join us for an Open Forum! After questions from residents and local media, the board said it had extended her leave, but did not explain why. The school district's graduation rate of 80% has increased from 72% over five school years. 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. 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. Board President Salah Hadwan replied: Well, were still in an investigation. 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. Ahmed announced her leave of absence last week on the districts Facebook page. 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). Ahmed was appointed as superintendent about two years ago, replacing longtime superintendent Tom Niczay, who retired. 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. If you encounter a problem accessing materials, information, or technologies at MCAS or would like to provide feedback, contact: hmezzadri@hamtramckpublicschools.org. Her announcement was made public on the HPS Facebook page on Tuesday. They were named to replace Jaleelah Hassan Ahmed at a school board meeting Wednesday. We offer Arabic education, after school programs, tutoring, and more! There is little doubt the school district suffers from a bit of turmoil at this time with all the staff turnover. max-width: none !important; Ahmed has been on the job since 2019, and recently received a contract extension. Hamtramck Federation of Teachers President Toni Coral says she wishes Ahmed well, but there is a lot of work to do in the district. Budget/Transparency Reporting and Title IX, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Department. 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 "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.". } 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. Relations between the district and Ahmed werent always sour. Michigan Capitol Confidential is a nonprofit news service published by the Mackinac Center and funded entirely through voluntary support. Jaleelah AhmedSuperintendent of SchoolsPhone: 313.591.7413Fax: 313.432.8409. News, analysis and scores on Detroit and Michigan sports teams. 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. Pre-K and Kindergarten Round Up March 15, 2023 1p-3p, Notice of Cancellation of COW Meeting 12-20-2022. We wish Ms. Ahmed the best during her leave of absence. |. Your email address will not be published. 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. Renowned Chef Anthony Bourdain at Polonia. 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. Copyright 2022 by WDET and Wayne State University. Why is it that nothing was reported about the teachers resigning until now? 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. 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. This web page contains links to one or more pages that are outside the HPS network. WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). Councilmembers and the mayor want a raise. The Review obtained a copy of the district email directing employees not to contact Ahmed. Posted Oct. 15, 2021. Toast of the Town A Paczki Day diary: Brrrrr who invited winter to the party? Board President Salah Hadwan replied: "Well, we're still in an investigation.". News, views and interviews from the Arab world and the Arab American community. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. About Bridge Academy East. She was promoted to superintendent in 2019-20. 08 Nov 2022 By The Yemeni American News The topic of banning explicit books in school districts has now made its way to Hamtramck. Director of Innovative Programming. Definition of Terms 2020-2021 School . By Charles Sercombe Toast of the Town A Paczki Day diary: Brrrrr who invited winter to the party? District employees shall not communicate with Superintendent Ahmed concerning any district business, district matter, district student or district subject of any kind until further notice. But there were some who spoke favorably of Ahmed. margin: 0 -8px !important; Hamtramck Public School District . If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today. She told the school board that she will be on leave until Jan. 10. 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. Come get answers to your questions about the flu and COVID-19. That desire was underlying each of the decisions she made," Lusk said. He says divisions over the districts return to school policies heightened problems that already existed. All rights reserved. It is strange that people quitting after school year started. The City will go bankrupt or lose the vital protection of our First Responders if they do not pass their millage request. A clue has emerged as to why Hamtramck Public Schools District Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed remains on leave. David Melkus for the plaintiff. Jaleelah Ahmed, Superintendent of Hamtramck Public Schools, Hamtramck, Michigan. 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. 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. There was a lot of teachers who were kind of dissatisfied with Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmeds leadership, Albaugh says. Ahmeds gross pay was $176,750 in 2020-21; she was appointed superintendent in July 2019. Felix received a bachelor's degree degree from Inter-American University and a master of business administration ( M. B. 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. 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. Her suit asks that she receive front-pay in case the district does successfully terminate her. 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. Ahmed has been superintendent since 2019. Mobile app for news, photos and video on the go. The Hamtramck High School building. HPS News. | The Hamtramck school board voted 4-2 in favor of the suspension of superintendent Paul Stamatakis. Ahmed initially took a medical leave back on October, citing the stress she endured during the Covid pandemic. You could win a $20 gift card in the raffle! Print Edition The purpose of my page is to explore educational topics and share progress about my journey as the. Support staffs seem to be quitting as well. Your email address will not be published. Felix Chow is a Superintendent at Hamtramck Public Schools based in Hamtramck, Michigan. 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. In the meantime, the board has authorized Nagi to lead contract negotiations with district employees, including teachers. 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). Neither Ahmed nor Imbrunone have spoken on the matter. That focus is also the primary reason I was able to identify that I needed additional support at this time. from . If you encounter a problem accessing materials, information, or technologies at MCAS or would like to provide feedback, contact: hmezzadri@hamtramckpublicschools.org. HPS teachers held week-long protest over superintendents return, Once again, the city has to face financial issues. In an interview, Interim Superintendent Nabil Nagi spoke . 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. 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. 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. 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. Hamtramck Public Schools did not incur a deficit during the 2020-21 Fiscal Year. Annual Amount Spent on Lobbying -- Not Applicable ($0) It said: width: 100% !important; Sherry Lynem, the districts chief financial officer, and Nabil Nagi, the director of English Language Development, will share responsibilities as acting superintendents. By Charles Sercombe | 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. Councilmembers and the mayor want a raise. Ahmed alleges the board membersappeared at her office individually and in groups to demand the dismissal of a human resources director and other employees. 775 likes. Posted Feb. 11, 2022. Your email address will not be published. This statement doesnt say much. More than 20 teachers left the district last year. 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. Jaleelah Ahmed and the school district are defendants in a federal whistleblower lawsuit by Christina Adamczyk filed by attorney Gary Miotke that pends in federal court. 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. Do they deserve it? Coral, who is a teacher, says policies that made teachers feel unwelcome exacerbated the teacher shortage and crisis that the district is facing. I must prioritize and address my own physical, mental health and well- Hamtramck Six Hamtramck schools employees are suing the interim superintendent and district, alleging the interim leader has discriminated against them, retaliated when they filed. Accessibility is a core component of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and it is referenced throughout the UDL Guidelines. Nabil Nagi. A lot of the teachers have left HPS. Both Ahmed and Imbrunone came under intense criticism from teachers and administrators after they took their leaves of absence. Obaid credited Niczay for steering the schools to a financially healthy position after the district was in deficit. This website provides the option to use Google translate; HPS cannot assure accuracy of the translation. File photo, By Charles Sercombe 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). 2023 Mackinac Center for Public Policy 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. HPS does not control the content or relevancy of these pages. She pointed to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic as the reason she needs to focus on her physical and mental health right now. 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. Join to view profile Hamtramck School District . In the last year, over 20 teachers and administrators opted to resign and take jobs with other districts in protest of the management decisions. 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.