hamtramck superintendent

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. Sherry Lynem, the district's chief financial officer, and Nabil Nagi, the director of English Language Development, will share responsibilities as acting superintendents. 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). Pre-K and Kindergarten Round Up March 15, 2023 1p-3p, Notice of Cancellation of COW Meeting 12-20-2022. 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. Jaleelah Ahmed, Superintendent of Hamtramck Public Schools, Hamtramck, Michigan. 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 decision, to temporarily step aside, was not entered into lightly. It is strange that people quitting after school year started. Section 4: Benefits and Salary of Superintendent and employees greater than $100,000. March 3rd, 3pm-4:30pm, Hamtramck High School Auditorium Free food and drinks! Menhem Aouad Director of Student Services. "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. All rights reserved. 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. This year, Niczay was rehired by the district as a consultant, performing some of Ahmeds prior duties. 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. Hamtramck Public Schools Administration; Hamtramck Public Schools Administration. 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. According to district records, Ahmed has been collecting regular paychecks the entire time she has been off the job. Hamtramck Public Schools (@hamtramckpublicschools) Instagram photos and videos. Board President Salah Hadwan replied: Well, were still in an investigation. .page .article .comments .fb-comments span, Her director of human resources, Michelle Imbrunone, also took a medical leave of absence in October. Hamtramck Public Schools will be led by two administrators while its superintendent is on a temporary leave of absence. 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 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. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. Nabil Nagi, the districts English Language Director, and Sherry Lynem, the districts Chief Financial Officer, were appointed to share the duties of superintendent. They are being sued by former school district employee Christina Adamczyk. The City will go bankrupt or lose the vital protection of our First Responders if they do not pass their millage request. The district is also facing allegations it has retaliated against outspoken staff. After questions from residents and local media, the board said it had extended her leave, but did not explain why. Trusted, up-to-date local Detroit and Michigan breaking news. 75897, 75901, (Calendar No. 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. 2023 The Detroit News, a Digital First Media Newspaper. width: 100% !important; News, views and interviews from the Arab world and the Arab American community. At last weeks board meeting, several teachers spoke out about what it has been like with Ahmed as superintendent Bridge Academy East (PreK-5th) 9600 Buffalo St. Hamtramck, MI 48212. 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. More than 20 teachers left the district last year. Section 1.3: Audit. Another falsehood claimed that the teacher resignations during the 2021-2022 school year were caused by or related to Ahmeds involuntary transfer decisions. Recently, the board voted not to renew Imbrunones contract with the district. He says divisions over the districts return to school policies heightened problems that already existed. Toast of the Town A Paczki Day diary: Brrrrr who invited winter to the party? 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. 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. [1] As of 2011 the official graduation rate is 62%. 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. It was disappointing to read the names (some familiar) of so many young teachers who left HPS recently. Ahmed notified district officials on Oct. 11, 2021, that she would stop performing her duties as superintendent until Jan. 10, 2022. It seems like it would be big news. Section 5: Miscellaneous. Terms of Use | Online Privacy Policy. Ahmed announced her leave of absence last week on the district's Facebook page. If you encounter a problem accessing materials, information, or technologies at MCAS or would like to provide feedback, contact: hmezzadri@hamtramckpublicschools.org. Mobile app for news, photos and video on the go. A poll suggested that some 50 percent of teachers considered leaving the district for other jobs. We offer Arabic education, after school programs, tutoring, and more! Did anyone press those teachers for more details? "She has a contract with Hamtramck. 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. Accessibility is a core component of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and it is referenced throughout the UDL Guidelines. Director of Student Services. Here are the top scams of 2022, totaling $8.8 billion in losses, Three Ramadan Nights activities to attract thousands of visitors to Dearborn. The Hamtramck school board voted 4-2 in favor of the suspension of superintendent Paul Stamatakis. Nabil Nagi. Ahmed announced her leave of absence last week on the districts Facebook page. In an interview, Interim Superintendent Nabil Nagi spoke . | Local. A clue has emerged as to why Hamtramck Public Schools District Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed remains on leave. width: auto !important; She claims she was terminated while she was on leave. Required fields are marked *. Pre-K and Kindergarten Round Up Flyer. Annual Amount Spent on Lobbying -- Not Applicable ($0) Your email address will not be published. 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. Mind sharing? Originally meant to be split between Nagi and Sherry Lynem, the Interim Superintendent position will now be completely filled by Nagi. Bridge Academy East is a free public charter school district serving students in grades K-5th and houses a GSRP preschool program. 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.. Nor is it easy to be openly vulnerable with you. Accessibility is a core component of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and it is referenced throughout the UDL Guidelines. 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. display: block !important; 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. 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. 1K followers 500+ connections. We're really reaching out to the community to . The Review obtained a copy of the district email directing employees not to contact Ahmed. Something must not be going right. Posted Oct. 15, 2021. Plunkett Cooney, a Detroit law firm, defends Ms. Ahmed and the district. 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. Photo: Hassan Abbas/The Arab American News. Ahmeds evaluations for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years were highly effective, the highest possible rating, the suitalleges. Please consider a gift today to help shine a light on government through independent journalism. 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. The information was contained in the districts response to a Freedom of Information Act request. 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. She was very serious about that. Hamtramcks acting superintendent Nabil Nagi did not respond to an email seeking comment on Ahmeds status. WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. Donate Thats a significant loss to a system with only around 200 teachers and like many districts already dealing with a shortage of teachers. HPS is committed to ensuring that our educational materials and websites are accessible, equitable, and usable to everyone. You could win a $20 gift card in the raffle! Jaleelah AhmedSuperintendent of SchoolsPhone: 313.591.7413Fax: 313.432.8409. By Charles Sercombe 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. 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. Why is it that nothing was reported about the teachers resigning until now? 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. 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. Director of Innovative Programming. Without more details, this word doesnt convey much. She pointed to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic as the reason she needs to focus on her physical and mental health right now. Copyright 2022 by WDET and Wayne State University. Toast of the Town A Paczki Day diary: Brrrrr who invited winter to the party? Nabil Nagi, interim superintendent, said the district wasunable to provide information or comment on legal matters. 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. 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. HPS does not control the content or relevancy of these pages. The suit also says that the previous superintendent, Thomas Niczay, had made involuntary transfers in the past, with no repercussions. 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. That focus is also the primary reason I was able to identify that I needed additional support at this time. HPS is committed to ensuring that our educational materials and websites are accessible, equitable, and usable to everyone. going backwards from our best years In what way? HPS News. Interim Superintendent & ELD Director at Hamtramck School District Hamtramck, Michigan, United States. 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. 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. max-width: none !important; Unlike many news organizations, we made a choice to keep all of our independent, investigative reporting free and available for everyone in our community. Ahmed is the first Yemeni-American to be appointed as superintendent of the Hamtramck School District. File photo, By Charles Sercombe HPS does not control the content or relevancy of these pages. Michigan Capitol Confidential is a nonprofit news service published by the Mackinac Center and funded entirely through voluntary support. Ahmed has been receiving pay during her absence, as she is still under contract with the district, which has not officially terminated that contract. At a recent school board committee meeting, board Vice President Showkat Chowdhury asked when the district would begin a search for a new superintendent. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. Previously, Felix was a Superintendent at Anderson Commun ity School Corporation. Newsletters on topics that interest you most. Hamtramck School Dist. The school district's graduation rate of 80% has increased from 72% over five school years. Simon Albaugh covers Hamtramck for the Yemeni American News. Ahmed alleges the board membersappeared at her office individually and in groups to demand the dismissal of a human resources director and other employees. The district, including interim Superintendent Nabil Nagi, has been extremely tight-lipped on the circumstances surrounding Ahmeds leave of absence. Interim Superintendent Nabil Nagi earlier told The Review that he does not discuss personnel issues. Felix received a bachelor's degree degree from Inter-American University and a master of business administration ( M. B. This is not an environment I want to return in, said the teacher. Her suit asks that she receive front-pay in case the district does successfully terminate her. Abdul Hussain, a parent, said that for two years we found unity. 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. Relations between the district and Ahmed werent always sour. 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. 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. According to district payroll records, Ahmed was still collecting paychecks as of Feb. 18, 2022. Will you support us? Join us for an Open Forum! At least 28 people have resigned since the start of the school year, including 12 teachers at Dickinson East Elementary who quit recently. 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. "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.". }. 2K followers . She told the school board that she will be on leave until Jan. 10. In the meantime, the board has authorized Nagi to lead contract negotiations with district employees, including teachers. My kids in HPS virtual academy. 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. Coral, who is a teacher, says policies that made teachers feel unwelcome exacerbated the teacher shortage and crisis that the district is facing. 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. By Nargis Rahman - YAN - Hamtramck. 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). News, analysis and scores on Detroit and Michigan sports teams. HPS Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed is under an investigation while on extended leave from her job. Come get answers to your questions about the flu and COVID-19. All Rights Reserved. Ahmed and the district also face litigation from a former middle school vice principal. Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). 2023 Mackinac Center for Public Policy The board has two other members, DazShavon Hall and Jihan Aiyash, who were not named in the lawsuit. Hamtramck Six Hamtramck schools employees are suing the interim superintendent and district, alleging the interim leader has discriminated against them, retaliated when they filed. A lot of the teachers have left HPS. Hamtramck Public Schools Jul 2019 - Present 3 years 8 months. She did not say what specific ailment she has. This content is only available to subscribers. Interim Superintendent. 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. There is little doubt the school district suffers from a bit of turmoil at this time with all the staff turnover. Your email address will not be published. She is a native Detroiter who grew up listening to news and music programming on Detroit Public Radio. In 2016, Ahmed was hired to serve as the district'sEnglish language development director. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. Required fields are marked *. There has been wide speculation over whether Ahmed will return in January. Definition of Terms 2020-2021 School . 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.