At last weeks board meeting, several teachers spoke out about what it has been like with Ahmed as superintendent Sherry Lynem, the districts chief financial officer, and Nabil Nagi, the director of English Language Development, will share responsibilities as acting superintendents. "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.". Board President Salah Hadwan replied: Well, were still in an investigation. A clue has emerged as to why Hamtramck Public Schools District Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed remains on leave. In a letter to the Hamtramck community posted on Facebook this week by Hamtramck Public Schools, Ahmed announced she was stepping away. 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.. 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. Some of those who left have since returned while Ahmed and Imbrunone were on leave. Required fields are marked *. One teacher said that, since Ahmed became superintendent, the district has been going backwards from our best years. At a recent school board committee meeting, board Vice President Showkat Chowdhury asked when the district would begin a search for a new superintendent. Ahmed is also asking for back pay, though she has been on paid leave since October. By Charles Sercombe She was hired to do a job. going backwards from our best years In what way? UPDATE: Detroit district's pause on in-person learning now extended 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. 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. 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. Board of Education / Hamtramck Public Schools Administration 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. Over 20 teachers, administrators and staff members have resigned since last June. 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. Ahmed announced her leave of absence last week on the districts Facebook page. Felix Chow is a Superintendent at Hamtramck Public Schools based in Hamtramck, Michigan. If you encounter a problem accessing materials, information, or technologies at MCAS or would like to provide feedback, contact: hmezzadri@hamtramckpublicschools.org. Decided December 22, 1986. Budget/Transparency Reporting and Title IX, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Department. This website provides the option to use Google translate; HPS cannot assure accuracy of the translation. 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. Hamtramck Public School District . 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. 115 Construction Superintendent Jobs in Hamtramck, MI - Zippia Dr. Adnan Aabed. HPS Superintendent Releases Statement on Controversial Book Ban Issue Hamtramck School Dist. 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. Sascha Raiyn is Education Reporter at 101.9 WDET. Hamtramck Six Hamtramck schools employees are suing the interim superintendent and district, alleging the interim leader has discriminated against them, retaliated when they filed. They are being sued by former school district employee Christina Adamczyk. Felix Chow - Superintendent - Hamtramck Public Schools | ZoomInfo Hamtramck Public School District / Homepage That job included improving English language proficiency and academic performance. Councilmembers and the mayor want a raise. 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. Do they deserve it? If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today. Print Edition Accessibility is a core component of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and it is referenced throughout the UDL Guidelines. Your email address will not be published. Your email address will not be published. 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. Required fields are marked *. She said the stresses of the pandemic has caused her to prioritize and address my own physical, mental health and well-being. 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. Section 1.3: Audit. Posted Feb. 11, 2022. But there were some who spoke favorably of Ahmed. This website provides the option to use Google translate; HPS cannot assure accuracy of the translation. 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. There has been wide speculation over whether Ahmed will return in January. 75897, 75901, (Calendar No. Nor is it easy to be openly vulnerable with you. 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. Something must not be going right. 2023 Mackinac Center for Public Policy 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. About Bridge Academy East. Comments (-1) margin: 0 -8px !important; Ahmed, like so many other school superintendents, has had added responsibilities and burdens while overseeing the district during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ahmeds gross pay was $176,750 in 2020-21; she was appointed superintendent in July 2019. A mass exodus of teachers from the school district took place under Ahmeds term last year. 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. By Nargis Rahman - YAN - Hamtramck. 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. 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. 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 WDET is a community service of Wayne State University. The decision, to temporarily step aside, was not entered into lightly. Her suit asks that she receive front-pay in case the district does successfully terminate her. 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. 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. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. Tomiak v. Hamtramck School Dist. :: 1986 - Justia Law You could win a $20 gift card in the raffle! 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 is the first Yemeni-American to be appointed as superintendent of the Hamtramck School District. The district, including interim Superintendent Nabil Nagi, has been extremely tight-lipped on the circumstances surrounding Ahmeds leave of absence. Required fields are marked *. I have no idea about the happenings in school this year. 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 . [1] As of 2011 the official graduation rate is 62%. HPS teachers held week-long protest over superintendents return, Once again, the city has to face financial issues. She did not say what specific ailment she has. | 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. The board has two other members, DazShavon Hall and Jihan Aiyash, who were not named in the lawsuit. 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. 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. 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. 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. It said: In 2016, Ahmed was hired to serve as the district'sEnglish language development director. "At Hamtramck Public Schools, we are committed to providing high-quality education services that our families deserve. Relations between the district and Ahmed werent always sour. Your email address will not be published. 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. Director of Student Services. Hadwan didnt explain the nature of the investigation. Your email address will not be published. Does anyone know whats going on in Hamtramck public schools? Hamtramck Superintendent Hasn't Worked In Four Months But Is Still Felix received a bachelor's degree degree from Inter-American University and a master of business administration ( M. B. After questions from residents and local media, the board said it had extended her leave, but did not explain why. 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". There was a lot of teachers who were kind of dissatisfied with Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmeds leadership, Albaugh says. The district has so far not given any details on why Ahmed never returned from that leave. This statement doesnt say much. Local. Her announcement was made public on the HPS Facebook page on Tuesday. Ahmed alleges the board membersappeared at her office individually and in groups to demand the dismissal of a human resources director and other employees. Posted Oct. 22, 2021. Your email address will not be published. At least 28 people have resigned since the start of the school year, including 12 teachers at Dickinson East Elementary who quit recently. 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. The district is also facing allegations it has retaliated against outspoken staff. We offer Arabic education, after school programs, tutoring, and more! Throughout the pandemic, I have continually reinforced that the well-being of our school community is the districts primary concern. Her announcement was made public on the HPS Facebook page on Tuesday. Hamtramck school leader sued for discrimination against older women This content is only available to subscribers. If you encounter a problem accessing materials, information, or technologies at MCAS or would like to provide feedback, contact: hmezzadri@hamtramckpublicschools.org. 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. Jaleelah Ahmed, Superintendent of Hamtramck Public Schools Argued May 7, 1986. Coral, who is a teacher, says policies that made teachers feel unwelcome exacerbated the teacher shortage and crisis that the district is facing. Photo: Hassan Abbas/The Arab American News. Here is Ahmeds letter to the community that was posted on the districts Facebook page announcing her leave: Jaleelah Hassan Ahmed - Superintendent of Schools - Hamtramck Public 2023 The Detroit News, a Digital First Media Newspaper. Ahmeds leave took many in the district by surprise. Ahmed has been on the job since 2019, and recently received a contract extension. Nabil Nagi. 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. Ahmed is asking a judge to issue an injunction prohibitingtermination of her employment, back payand damages for mental anguish and emotional distress. 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. Toni Coral, president of theHamtramck Federation of Teachers, said Thursday the lawsuit had been sent to attorneys to review. 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. Obaid credited Niczay for steering the schools to a financially healthy position after the district was in deficit. Hamtramck Public Schools (@hamtramckpublicschools) Instagram photos and videos. Here are the top scams of 2022, totaling $8.8 billion in losses, Three Ramadan Nights activities to attract thousands of visitors to Dearborn.
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