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. It is also unknown whether if the two are still on the districts payroll. Her leave of absence also comes at a time of turmoil in the district. Ahmed's gross pay was $176,750 in 2020-21; she was appointed superintendent in July 2019. Her announcement was made public on the HPS Facebook page on Tuesday. The board has two other members, DazShavon Hall and Jihan Aiyash, who were not named in the lawsuit. Ahmed announced her leave of absence last week on the districts Facebook page. She is a native Detroiter who grew up listening to news and music programming on Detroit Public Radio. Ahmed has been receiving pay during her absence, as she is still under contract with the district, which has not officially terminated that contract. She said the stresses of the pandemic has caused her to prioritize and address my own physical, mental health and well-being. 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. Interim Superintendent Nabil Nagi earlier told The Review that he does not discuss personnel issues. He says divisions over the districts return to school policies heightened problems that already existed. In the meantime, the board has authorized Nagi to lead contract negotiations with district employees, including teachers. In the last year, over 20 teachers and administrators opted to resign and take jobs with other districts in protest of the management decisions. HPS teachers held week-long protest over superintendents return, Once again, the city has to face financial issues. Toast of the Town A Paczki Day diary: Brrrrr who invited winter to the party? 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. Both Ahmed and Imbrunone came under intense criticism from teachers and administrators after they took their leaves of absence. Budget/Transparency Reporting and Title IX, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Department. 1K followers 500+ connections. Ahmed is also asking for back pay, though she has been on paid leave since October. Felix received a bachelor's degree degree from Inter-American University and a master of business administration ( M. B. 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. Hamtramcks acting superintendent Nabil Nagi did not respond to an email seeking comment on Ahmeds status. Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). Sascha Raiyn is Education Reporter at 101.9 WDET. Section 1.3: Audit. 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. News, analysis and scores on Detroit and Michigan sports teams. Will you support us? Why is it that nothing was reported about the teachers resigning until now? Board President Salah Hadwan replied: "Well, we're still in an investigation.". Over 20 teachers, administrators and staff members have resigned since last June. She pointed to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic as the reason she needs to focus on her physical and mental health right now. 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. She was promoted to superintendent in 2019-20. max-width: none !important; 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. Accessibility is a core component of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and it is referenced throughout the UDL Guidelines. Ahmed alleges the board membersappeared at her office individually and in groups to demand the dismissal of a human resources director and other employees. There has been wide speculation over whether Ahmed will return in January. Her announcement was made public on the HPS Facebook page on Tuesday. 75897, 75901, (Calendar No. If you encounter a problem accessing materials, information, or technologies at MCAS or would like to provide feedback, contact: hmezzadri@hamtramckpublicschools.org. She remains on the districts payroll as of Feb. 18, more than a month after a Jan. 10, 2022, self-declared back-to-work deadline. Hamtramck Public Schools ( HPS) is a public school district based in the city of Hamtramck, Michigan ( USA) in Greater Detroit . She did not say what specific ailment she has. It said: She told the school board that she will be on leave until Jan. 10. 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. Ahmeds leave took many in the district by surprise. This web page contains links to one or more pages that are outside the HPS network. Supreme Court of Michigan. 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. (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';fnames[1]='FNAME';ftypes[1]='text';fnames[2]='LNAME';ftypes[2]='text';fnames[4]='MMERGE4';ftypes[4]='date';fnames[6]='MMERGE6';ftypes[6]='text';fnames[5]='MMERGE5';ftypes[5]='date';fnames[3]='MMERGE3';ftypes[3]='date';fnames[7]='MMERGE7';ftypes[7]='date';fnames[8]='MMERGE8';ftypes[8]='zip';fnames[9]='MMERGE9';ftypes[9]='radio';fnames[10]='MMERGE10';ftypes[10]='text';fnames[11]='MMERGE11';ftypes[11]='text';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Your connection to news, music, conversation. HPS teachers held week-long protest over superintendents return, Once again, the city has to face financial issues. Hamtramck Public School District . HPS Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed is under an investigation while on extended leave from her job. In 2016, Ahmed was hired to serve as the district'sEnglish language development director. Jaleelah AhmedSuperintendent of SchoolsPhone: 313.591.7413Fax: 313.432.8409. This website provides the option to use Google translate; HPS cannot assure accuracy of the translation. HPS teachers held week-long protest over superintendents return, Once again, the city has to face financial issues. The district is also facing allegations it has retaliated against outspoken staff. The Hamtramck High School building. Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). [1] As of 2011 the official graduation rate is 62%. Join us for an Open Forum! "We attempted unsuccessfully to pass a bond in 1997. Her director of human resources, Michelle Imbrunone, also took a medical leave of absence in October. Hamtramck Public Schools (@hamtramckpublicschools) Instagram photos and videos. Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). 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. 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. 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. It seems like it would be big news. Join us for an Open Forum! A lot of the teachers have left HPS. WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. 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! Decided December 22, 1986. Comments (-1) Toni Coral, president of theHamtramck Federation of Teachers, said Thursday the lawsuit had been sent to attorneys to review. Exclusive podcasts from our top journalists. Unlike many news organizations, we made a choice to keep all of our independent, investigative reporting free and available for everyone in our community. If you encounter a problem accessing materials, information, or technologies at MCAS or would like to provide feedback, contact: hmezzadri@hamtramckpublicschools.org. File photo, By Charles Sercombe The district responded by stripping her of school building and communications access codes, keys and pass cards. 2021 Salaries and Benefits over $100k. 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. More than 20 teachers left the district last year. 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. Hamtramck Federation of Teachers President Toni Coral says she wishes Ahmed well, but there is a lot of work to do in the district. 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. They complained, sometimes bitterly, of their management style, and the many job transfers they imposed on staffmembers. Renowned Chef Anthony Bourdain at Polonia. Argued May 7, 1986. 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. Dr. Adnan Aabed. 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 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. Neither Ahmed nor Imbrunone have spoken on the matter. Nabil Nagi, the districts English Language Director, and Sherry Lynem, the districts Chief Financial Officer, were appointed to share the duties of superintendent. Councilmembers and the mayor want a raise. Another falsehood claimed that the teacher resignations during the 2021-2022 school year were caused by or related to Ahmeds involuntary transfer decisions. display: block !important; Board President Salah Hadwan replied: Well, were still in an investigation. Her contract ran through June 30, 2024. Bridge Academy East (PreK-5th) 9600 Buffalo St. Hamtramck, MI 48212. Nabil Nagi. Come get answers to your questions about the flu and COVID-19. She claims she was terminated while she was on leave. 775 likes. The district will continue to address and support emotional well-being and mental health for those in our entire school community as that has been an element of critical focus. Do they deserve it? Superintendent at Hamtramck Public Schools . In an unexpected move, Hamtramck Public Schools Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed has taken a leave of absence. 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. This Material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form. 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. Definition of Terms 2020-2021 School . WDET is a community service of Wayne State University. Ahmed notified district officials on Oct. 11, 2021, that she would stop performing her duties as superintendent until Jan. 10, 2022. .page .article .comments .fb-comments span, Accessibility is a core component of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and it is referenced throughout the UDL Guidelines. Relations between the district and Ahmed werent always sour. Nabil Nagi, who is the interim Superintendent for Hamtramck Public Schools released a statement on Friday, November 4th addressing this matter. Do they deserve it? Ahmed and the district also face litigation from a former middle school vice principal. 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. Director of Student Services. In an interview, Interim Superintendent Nabil Nagi spoke . 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. Hamtramck Public Schools (@hamtramckpublicschools) Instagram photos and videos. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective. About Bridge Academy East. Posted Oct. 22, 2021. Ahmeds evaluations for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years were highly effective, the highest possible rating, the suitalleges. We wish Ms. Ahmed the best during her leave of absence. Hamtramck Public Schools will be led by two administrators while its superintendent is on a temporary leave of absence. Menhem Aouad. Pre-K and Kindergarten Round Up Flyer. Ahmed has been superintendent since 2019. Unlimited access to subscriber only articles on desktop, tablet and mobile web. Ahmed initially took a medical leave back on October, citing the stress she endured during the Covid pandemic. I have no idea about the happenings in school this year. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. 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. 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). 2). 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 . Hamtramck Public Schools did not incur a deficit during the 2020-21 Fiscal Year. Ahmed has been on the job since 2019, and recently received a contract extension. Your email address will not be published. |. chaotic whats chaotic? 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. Posted Oct. 15, 2021. 2023 The Detroit News, a Digital First Media Newspaper. 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. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. margin: 0 -8px !important; HPS is committed to ensuring that our educational materials and websites are accessible, equitable, and usable to everyone. 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. .page .article .comments .fb-comments { Some teachers and administrators said transfers made no sense and felt punitive against those who had raised concerns over work conditions during the pandemic. 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 5: Miscellaneous. Apply for A Construction Superintendent jobs that are part time, remote, internships, junior and senior level. If you encounter a problem accessing materials, information, or technologies at MCAS or would like to provide feedback, contact: hmezzadri@hamtramckpublicschools.org. Something must not be going right. 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. .page .article .comments .fb-comments iframe { Accessibility is a core component of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and it is referenced throughout the UDL Guidelines. 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. The Hamtramck school board voted 4-2 in favor of the suspension of superintendent Paul Stamatakis. 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. Posted: Saturday 06.04.2022 9:07 pm Revised: Friday 06.10.2022 9:07 pm By Charles Sercombe Director of Innovative Programming. Wish there was a way to stay informed! Interim Superintendent & ELD Director at Hamtramck School District Hamtramck, Michigan, United States. Recently, the board voted not to renew Imbrunones contract with the district. Toast of the Town A Paczki Day diary: Brrrrr who invited winter to the party? All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2022 by WDET and Wayne State University. This website provides the option to use Google translate; HPS cannot assure accuracy of the translation. Terms of Use | Online Privacy Policy. This web page contains links to one or more pages that are outside the HPS network. "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.". 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. Ahmed is asking a judge to issue an injunction prohibitingtermination of her employment, back payand damages for mental anguish and emotional distress. }. School district fell short retaining them. It was disappointing to read the names (some familiar) of so many young teachers who left HPS recently. Budget/Transparency Reporting and Title IX, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Department. Obaid credited Niczay for steering the schools to a financially healthy position after the district was in deficit. 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. That focus is also the primary reason I was able to identify that I needed additional support at this time.
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