The district, including interim Superintendent Nabil Nagi, has been extremely tight-lipped on the circumstances surrounding Ahmeds leave of absence. Ahmed has been superintendent since 2019. Do they deserve it? Sherry Lynem, the district's chief financial officer, and Nabil Nagi, the director of English Language Development, will share responsibilities as acting superintendents. | margin: 0 -8px !important; Hamtramck Public Schools (@hamtramckpublicschools) Instagram photos and videos. Definition of Terms 2020-2021 School . max-width: none !important; 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 district has the Schools of Choice program, which allows non-district students to enroll in district schools. The Review obtained a copy of the district email directing employees not to contact Ahmed. This content is only available to subscribers. 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. 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. This website provides the option to use Google translate; HPS cannot assure accuracy of the translation. Major, a school board trustee, said on Tuesday the board has not had an opportunity to meet to discuss the allegations inthe lawsuit. She is a native Detroiter who grew up listening to news and music programming on Detroit Public Radio. Join to view profile Hamtramck School District . Nabil Nagi, interim superintendent, said the district wasunable to provide information or comment on legal matters. Mind sharing? 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. 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). Section 1.3: Audit. Hamtramck, MI 48212 INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT Nabil Nagi Phone: 313.591.7400 Fax: 313.284.6094 Office Hours: 8:00am - 4:00pm. Did anyone press those teachers for more details? Annual Amount Spent on Lobbying -- Not Applicable ($0) Michigan is home to the top-ranked public square in the entire U.S. News, analysis and scores on Detroit and Michigan sports teams. Ahmed has been receiving pay during her absence, as she is still under contract with the district, which has not officially terminated that contract. Another falsehood claimed that the teacher resignations during the 2021-2022 school year were caused by or related to Ahmeds involuntary transfer decisions. Toast of the Town A Paczki Day diary: Brrrrr who invited winter to the party? Required fields are marked *. Posted Oct. 22, 2021. This year, Niczay was rehired by the district as a consultant, performing some of Ahmeds prior duties. |. She told the school board that she will be on leave until Jan. 10. Hamtramck Public Schools Administration; Hamtramck Public Schools Administration. The board met last Wednesday and accepted her request for a leave. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective. Trusted, up-to-date local Detroit and Michigan breaking news. Pre-K and Kindergarten Round Up Flyer. 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. March 3rd, 3pm-4:30pm, Hamtramck High School Auditorium Free food and drinks! 08 Nov 2022 By The Yemeni American News The topic of banning explicit books in school districts has now made its way to Hamtramck. A lot of the teachers have left HPS. Here are the top scams of 2022, totaling $8.8 billion in losses, Three Ramadan Nights activities to attract thousands of visitors to Dearborn. That desire was underlying each of the decisions she made," Lusk said. Ahmed initially took a medical leave back on October, citing the stress she endured during the Covid pandemic. Nabil Nagi, who is the interim Superintendent for Hamtramck Public Schools released a statement on Friday, November 4th addressing this matter. Print Edition 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. 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. Budget/Transparency Reporting and Title IX, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Department. Thank you for your understanding and compassion, it is my honor and privilege to serve. Plunkett Cooney, a Detroit law firm, defends Ms. Ahmed and the district. Menhem Aouad Director of Student Services. Ahmed is allowed to remain on paid leave for up to 60 days. Please consider a gift today to help shine a light on government through independent journalism. 2). 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. That focus is also the primary reason I was able to identify that I needed additional support at this time. chaotic whats chaotic? Ahmed was appointed as superintendent about two years ago, replacing longtime superintendent Tom Niczay, who retired. Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). You could win a $20 gift card in the raffle! .page .article .comments .fb-comments span, 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. 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 is little doubt the school district suffers from a bit of turmoil at this time with all the staff turnover. It is also unknown whether if the two are still on the districts payroll. "She has a contract with Hamtramck. They are being sued by former school district employee Christina Adamczyk. Sherry Lynem, the districts chief financial officer, and Nabil Nagi, the director of English Language Development, will share responsibilities as acting superintendents. Thats a significant loss to a system with only around 200 teachers and like many districts already dealing with a shortage of teachers. Local. 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. Terms of Use | Online Privacy Policy. Hamtramck Public Schools will be led by two administrators while its superintendent is on a temporary leave of absence. I must prioritize and address my own physical, mental health and well- 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. Your email address will not be published. }. Unlimited access to subscriber only articles on desktop, tablet and mobile web. Ahmed and the school district are being represented by Michael D. Weaver of the Plunkett Cooney law firm. Ahmeds gross pay was $176,750 in 2020-21; she was appointed superintendent in July 2019. | 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. According to district records, Ahmed has been collecting regular paychecks the entire time she has been off the job. School district fell short retaining them. Director of Innovative Programming. 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. 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. Unlike many news organizations, we made a choice to keep all of our independent, investigative reporting free and available for everyone in our community. 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 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. The district responded by stripping her of school building and communications access codes, keys and pass cards. About HPS does not control the content or relevancy of these pages. Hamtramcks acting superintendent Nabil Nagi did not respond to an email seeking comment on Ahmeds status. 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. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today. 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. The school district's graduation rate of 80% has increased from 72% over five school years. At least 28 people have resigned since the start of the school year, including 12 teachers at Dickinson East Elementary who quit recently. 2023 Mackinac Center for Public Policy I have no idea about the happenings in school this year. 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. She claims she was terminated while she was on leave. Director of Student Services. Pre-K and Kindergarten Round Up March 15, 2023 1p-3p. 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. At last weeks board meeting, several teachers spoke out about what it has been like with Ahmed as superintendent Join us for an Open Forum! 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. Her announcement was made public on the HPS Facebook page on Tuesday. Her director of human resources, Michelle Imbrunone, also took a medical leave of absence in October. Photo: Hassan Abbas/The Arab American News. 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. Bridge Academy East is a free public charter school district serving students in grades K-5th and houses a GSRP preschool program. 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). 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. 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. She declined further comment. Required fields are marked *. Hamtramck Federation of Teachers President Toni Coral says she wishes Ahmed well, but there is a lot of work to do in the district. Obaid credited Niczay for steering the schools to a financially healthy position after the district was in deficit. 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). 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. The purpose of my page is to explore educational topics and share progress about my journey as the. We offer Arabic education, after school programs, tutoring, and more! The eNewspaper, a digital replica of the print paper, every day. A clue has emerged as to why Hamtramck Public Schools District Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed remains on leave. .page .article .comments .fb-comments iframe { Her leave of absence also comes at a time of turmoil in the district. If you encounter a problem accessing materials, information, or technologies at MCAS or would like to provide feedback, contact: hmezzadri@hamtramckpublicschools.org. Ahmed has been on the job since 2019, and recently received a contract extension. Toni Coral, president of theHamtramck Federation of Teachers, said Thursday the lawsuit had been sent to attorneys to review. 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. Section 4: Benefits and Salary of Superintendent and employees greater than $100,000. 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. According to district payroll records, Ahmed was still collecting paychecks as of Feb. 18, 2022. A mass exodus of teachers from the school district took place under Ahmeds term last year. 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. More than 20 teachers left the district last year. First Yemeni-American Superintendent of Schools in the United States Detroit Metropolitan Area. 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. "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.". Copyright 2022 by WDET and Wayne State University. In an unexpected move, Hamtramck Public Schools Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed has taken a leave of absence. 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. All Rights Reserved. There has been wide speculation over whether Ahmed will return in January. Audit Reports 2017-2018. . Ahmed's gross pay was $176,750 in 2020-21; she was appointed superintendent in July 2019. Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). By Charles Sercombe About Bridge Academy East. 115 Construction Superintendent Jobs in Hamtramck, MI hiring now with salary from $61,000 to $123,000 hiring now. The Hamtramck High School building. Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. At a recent school board committee meeting, board Vice President Showkat Chowdhury asked when the district would begin a search for a new superintendent. 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. 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. She received the highest possible performance rating from evaluations since she became superintendent in 2019, something the lawsuit points out. 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. 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 Sascha Raiyn is Education Reporter at 101.9 WDET. Come get answers to your questions about the flu and COVID-19. 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. Hamtramck Public Schools ( HPS) is a public school district based in the city of Hamtramck, Michigan ( USA) in Greater Detroit . 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. The decision, to temporarily step aside, was not entered into lightly. If you encounter a problem accessing materials, information, or technologies at MCAS or would like to provide feedback, contact: hmezzadri@hamtramckpublicschools.org. 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. Hadwan didnt explain the nature of the investigation. Relations between the district and Ahmed werent always sour. Ahmed announced her leave of absence last week on the district's Facebook page. Accessibility is a core component of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and it is referenced throughout the UDL Guidelines. 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. Interim Superintendent & ELD Director at Hamtramck School District Hamtramck, Michigan, United States. 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. HPS News. Ahmeds evaluations for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years were highly effective, the highest possible rating, the suitalleges. 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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. Without more details, this word doesnt convey much. | Toast of the Town A Paczki Day diary: Brrrrr who invited winter to the party? Neither Ahmed nor Imbrunone have spoken on the matter. Renowned Chef Anthony Bourdain at Polonia. My kids in HPS virtual academy. "At Hamtramck Public Schools, we are committed to providing high-quality education services that our families deserve. You could win a $20 gift card in the raffle! Nabil Nagi, the districts English Language Director, and Sherry Lynem, the districts Chief Financial Officer, were appointed to share the duties of 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 Jul 2019 - Present 3 years 8 months. It is unclear if this suit relates in any way to the alleged investigation cited in the article. 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. The nature of the investigation has not been made public by the district. going backwards from our best years In what way? Interim Superintendent Nabil Nagi earlier told The Review that he does not discuss personnel issues. Annotate this Case 426 Mich. 678 (1986) 397 N.W.2d 770 TOMIAK v. HAMTRAMCK SCHOOL DISTRICT Docket Nos. Over 20 teachers, administrators and staff members have resigned since last June. We're really reaching out to the community to . Ahmed has been on the job since 2019, and recently received a contract extension. Renowned Chef Anthony Bourdain at Polonia. By Charles Sercombe Her suit asks that she receive front-pay in case the district does successfully terminate her. 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. What was better before that has gone worse in last couple of years? Hamtramck Public School District . Simon Albaugh covers Hamtramck for the Yemeni American News. Ahmeds leave took many in the district by surprise. 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. Throughout the pandemic, I have continually reinforced that the well-being of our school community is the districts primary concern. Something must not be going right. It said: It also said it was running an investigation on the matter, but has not given any details on that investigation. In an interview, Interim Superintendent Nabil Nagi spoke . Originally meant to be split between Nagi and Sherry Lynem, the Interim Superintendent position will now be completely filled by Nagi. This is not an environment I want to return in, said the teacher. Does anyone know whats going on in Hamtramck public schools? 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. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. Bridge Academy West West (6-8th) 3105 Carpenter Ave. It is strange that people quitting after school year started. Some of those who left have since returned while Ahmed and Imbrunone were on leave. The board has not said whether Imbrunone remains on leave, or is still with the district. Ahmed is also asking for back pay, though she has been on paid leave since October. Dr. Adnan Aabed. She did not say what specific ailment she has. 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. Wish there was a way to stay informed! That job included improving English language proficiency and academic performance. Ahmed alleges the board membersappeared at her office individually and in groups to demand the dismissal of a human resources director and other employees. 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.