Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Bridge Academy East (PreK-5th) 9600 Buffalo St. Hamtramck, MI 48212. Hamtramck Public Schools did not incur a deficit during the 2020-21 Fiscal Year. HPS teachers held week-long protest over superintendents return, Once again, the city has to face financial issues. The Hamtramck High School building. There has been wide speculation over whether Ahmed will return in January. Councilmembers and the mayor want a raise. HPS is committed to ensuring that our educational materials and websites are accessible, equitable, and usable to everyone. Thank you for your understanding and compassion, it is my honor and privilege to serve. Throughout the pandemic, I have continually reinforced that the well-being of our school community is the districts primary concern. 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 They were named to replace Jaleelah Hassan Ahmed at a school board meeting Wednesday. 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. Wish there was a way to stay informed! School district fell short retaining them. This Material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form. Some of those who left have since returned while Ahmed and Imbrunone were on leave. } The board met last Wednesday and accepted her request for a leave. Superintendent Jaleelah Hassan Ahmed cites the impact of the coronavirus pandemic as the reason behind her decision to take a temporary leave of absence. 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. 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. | Michigan is home to the top-ranked public square in the entire U.S. 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. Superintendent of Hamtramck Public Schools discusses challenges for upcoming school 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 hea.. View article WXYZ Detroit Mobile app for news, photos and video on the go. 08 Nov 2022 By The Yemeni American News The topic of banning explicit books in school districts has now made its way to Hamtramck. Does anyone know whats going on in Hamtramck public schools? After questions from residents and local media, the board said it had extended her leave, but did not explain why. "At Hamtramck Public Schools, we are committed to providing high-quality education services that our families deserve. The decision, to temporarily step aside, was not entered into lightly. 2K followers . 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. Councilmembers and the mayor want a raise. Budget/Transparency Reporting and Title IX, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Department. Accessibility is a core component of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and it is referenced throughout the UDL Guidelines. Hamtramck Federation of Teachers President Toni Coral says she wishes Ahmed well, but there is a lot of work to do in the district. Teachers have spoken out at school board meetings to criticize Ahmeds leadership. 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. They are being sued by former school district employee Christina Adamczyk. She said the stresses of the pandemic has caused her to prioritize and address my own physical, mental health and well-being. Hamtramck schools embrace community initiatives, gear for Census count . 2). In an interview, Interim Superintendent Nabil Nagi spoke . In an unexpected move, Hamtramck Public Schools Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed has taken a leave of absence. Relations between the district and Ahmed werent always sour. Annual Amount Spent on Lobbying -- Not Applicable ($0) 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. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective. Your email address will not be published. Photo: Hassan Abbas/The Arab American News. Nabil Nagi, the districts English Language Director, and Sherry Lynem, the districts Chief Financial Officer, were appointed to share the duties of superintendent. Neither Ahmed nor Imbrunone have spoken on the matter. Your email address will not be published. She was hired to do a job. Do they deserve it? HPS teachers held week-long protest over superintendents return, Once again, the city has to face financial issues. According to district payroll records, Ahmed was still collecting paychecks as of Feb. 18, 2022. 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. Your email address will not be published. File photo, By Charles Sercombe Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). You could win a $20 gift card in the raffle! Major, a school board trustee, said on Tuesday the board has not had an opportunity to meet to discuss the allegations inthe lawsuit. If you encounter a problem accessing materials, information, or technologies at MCAS or would like to provide feedback, contact: hmezzadri@hamtramckpublicschools.org. The Hamtramck school board voted 4-2 in favor of the suspension of superintendent Paul Stamatakis. In the meantime, the board has authorized Nagi to lead contract negotiations with district employees, including teachers. Do they deserve it? In the last several months, there have been mass resignations by veteran teachers and staff members. 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. Copyright 2022 by WDET and Wayne State University. March 3rd, 3pm-4:30pm, Hamtramck High School Auditorium Free food and drinks! Do they deserve it? 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. Required fields are marked *. Hamtramck Public Schools (@hamtramckpublicschools) Instagram photos and videos. Pre-K and Kindergarten Round Up March 15, 2023 1p-3p, Notice of Cancellation of COW Meeting 12-20-2022. He says divisions over the districts return to school policies heightened problems that already existed. At least 28 people have resigned since the start of the school year, including 12 teachers at Dickinson East Elementary who quit recently. 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). 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. Hamtramck School Dist. 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. 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. Pro-Israel, pro-corporate outside funds thrown at campaign opposing Talib in 12th District primary, Maker of Pillsbury products divests from Israel, after multi-year boycott campaign. The district has so far not given any details on why Ahmed never returned from that leave. Apply for A Construction Superintendent jobs that are part time, remote, internships, junior and senior level. 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 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. I have no idea about the happenings in school this year. Accessibility is a core component of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and it is referenced throughout the UDL Guidelines. Anyone in the loop? More than 20 teachers left the district last year. Definition of Terms 2020-2021 School . Hamtramck Public Schools ( HPS) is a public school district based in the city of Hamtramck, Michigan ( USA) in Greater Detroit . 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. This year, Niczay was rehired by the district as a consultant, performing some of Ahmeds prior duties. Ahmed was appointed as superintendent about two years ago, replacing longtime superintendent Tom Niczay, who retired. 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. If you encounter a problem accessing materials, information, or technologies at MCAS or would like to provide feedback, contact: hmezzadri@hamtramckpublicschools.org. Come get answers to your questions about the flu and COVID-19. At a recent school board committee meeting, board Vice President Showkat Chowdhury asked when the district would begin a search for a new superintendent. Hassan Abbas Renowned Chef Anthony Bourdain at Polonia. Interim Superintendent & ELD Director at Hamtramck School District Hamtramck, Michigan, United States. It was disappointing to read the names (some familiar) of so many young teachers who left HPS recently. | Join to view profile Hamtramck School District . Budget/Transparency Reporting and Title IX, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Department. She is a native Detroiter who grew up listening to news and music programming on Detroit Public Radio. The information was contained in the districts response to a Freedom of Information Act request. Interim Superintendent Nabil Nagi earlier told The Review that he does not discuss personnel issues. Posted Oct. 22, 2021. It also said it was running an investigation on the matter, but has not given any details on that investigation. Hadwan didnt explain the nature of the investigation. Hamtramck Public Schools will be led by two administrators while its superintendent is on a temporary leave of absence. Ahmed, like so many other school superintendents, has had added responsibilities and burdens while overseeing the district during the COVID-19 pandemic. Your email address will not be published. going backwards from our best years In what way? Ahmed initially took a medical leave back on October, citing the stress she endured during the Covid pandemic. Terms of Use | Online Privacy Policy. They complained, sometimes bitterly, of their management style, and the many job transfers they imposed on staffmembers. Ahmed is also asking for back pay, though she has been on paid leave since October. 2023 The Detroit News, a Digital First Media Newspaper. 1K followers 500+ connections. 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. David Melkus for the plaintiff. 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. .page .article .comments .fb-comments { Superintendent at Hamtramck Public Schools . Abdul Hussain, a parent, said that for two years we found unity. Exclusive podcasts from our top journalists. 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. We're really reaching out to the community to . Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). We wish Ms. Ahmed the best during her leave of absence. Ahmed notified district officials on Oct. 11, 2021, that she would stop performing her duties as superintendent until Jan. 10, 2022. 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. 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. Print Edition 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. Donate Section 1.3: Audit. Hamtramck Public Schools will be led by two administrators while its superintendent is on a temporary leave of absence. Originally meant to be split between Nagi and Sherry Lynem, the Interim Superintendent position will now be completely filled by Nagi. 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. It said: At last weeks board meeting, several teachers spoke out about what it has been like with Ahmed as superintendent }. 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). Both Ahmed and Imbrunone came under intense criticism from teachers and administrators after they took their leaves 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. Renowned Chef Anthony Bourdain at Polonia. Unlike many news organizations, we made a choice to keep all of our independent, investigative reporting free and available for everyone in our community. Posted Feb. 11, 2022. 775 likes. Supreme Court of Michigan. I must prioritize and address my own physical, mental health and well- Nabil Nagi Interim Superintendent. Join us for an Open Forum! By Charles Sercombe | Here is Ahmeds letter to the community that was posted on the districts Facebook page announcing her leave: 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. The City will go bankrupt or lose the vital protection of our First Responders if they do not pass their millage request. According to district records, Ahmed has been collecting regular paychecks the entire time she has been off the job. 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. Toast of the Town A Paczki Day diary: Brrrrr who invited winter to the party? The district is also facing allegations it has retaliated against outspoken staff. One teacher said that, since Ahmed became superintendent, the district has been going backwards from our best years. 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. 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. Newsletters on topics that interest you most. Posted Oct. 15, 2021. 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. Hamtramck Six Hamtramck schools employees are suing the interim superintendent and district, alleging the interim leader has discriminated against them, retaliated when they filed. Nor is it easy to be openly vulnerable with you. 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. This is not an environment I want to return in, said the teacher. Councilmembers and the mayor want a raise. Her announcement was made public on the HPS Facebook page on Tuesday. Audit Reports 2017-2018. . "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. Ahmed is the first Yemeni-American to be appointed as superintendent of the Hamtramck School District. This website provides the option to use Google translate; HPS cannot assure accuracy of the translation. HPS Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed is under an investigation while on extended leave from her job. There was a lot of teachers who were kind of dissatisfied with Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmeds leadership, Albaugh says. 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.