} Renowned Chef Anthony Bourdain at Polonia. Felix Chow - Superintendent - Hamtramck Public Schools | ZoomInfo 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. The Hamtramck school board voted 4-2 in favor of the suspension of superintendent Paul Stamatakis. .page .article .comments .fb-comments { 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. 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. Ahmeds evaluations for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years were highly effective, the highest possible rating, the suitalleges. It said: First Yemeni-American Superintendent of Schools in the United States Detroit Metropolitan Area. 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 Public School District / Homepage 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. Her suit asks that she receive front-pay in case the district does successfully terminate her. Hadwan didnt explain the nature of the investigation. 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. That job included improving English language proficiency and academic performance. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. Here is Ahmeds letter to the community that was posted on the districts Facebook page announcing her leave: 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 and the district also face litigation from a former middle school vice principal. "We attempted unsuccessfully to pass a bond in 1997. Coral, who is a teacher, says policies that made teachers feel unwelcome exacerbated the teacher shortage and crisis that the district is facing. 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. We offer Arabic education, after school programs, tutoring, and more! Hamtramck Schools Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed accuses board members Simon Albaugh covers Hamtramck for the Yemeni American News. 75897, 75901, (Calendar No. Hamtramck Public Schools will be led by two administrators while its superintendent is on a temporary leave of absence. She was hired to do a job. Her announcement was made public on the HPS Facebook page on Tuesday. Her announcement was made public on the HPS Facebook page on Tuesday. 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. Supreme Court of Michigan. 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. Previously, Felix was a Superintendent at Anderson Commun ity School Corporation. Councilmembers and the mayor want a raise. She was promoted to superintendent in 2019-20. Former Hamtramck schools leader alleges conspiracy to fire her Hamtramck Public Schools did not incur a deficit during the 2020-21 Fiscal Year. According to district payroll records, Ahmed was still collecting paychecks as of Feb. 18, 2022. Interim Superintendent of Hamtramck Public Schools sits down for an Toast of the Town A Paczki Day diary: Brrrrr who invited winter to the party? The district responded by stripping her of school building and communications access codes, keys and pass cards. 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. Having our students return to learning in our schools these past two months has been wonderful both for our students and our faculty and staff members. Do they deserve it? Local. In the last several months, there have been mass resignations by veteran teachers and staff members. 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. 2023 The Detroit News, a Digital First Media Newspaper. 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. Sherry Lynem, the districts chief financial officer, and Nabil Nagi, the director of English Language Development, will share responsibilities as acting superintendents. 2023 Mackinac Center for Public Policy They were named to replace Jaleelah Hassan Ahmed at a school board meeting Wednesday. Hamtramcks acting superintendent Nabil Nagi did not respond to an email seeking comment on Ahmeds status. 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. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. The Review obtained a copy of the district email directing employees not to contact Ahmed. 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. At last weeks board meeting, several teachers spoke out about what it has been like with Ahmed as superintendent HPS News. 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. 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". Unlimited access to subscriber only articles on desktop, tablet and mobile web. 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. They are being sued by former school district employee Christina Adamczyk. Budget/Transparency Reporting and Title IX, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Department. 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 Schools Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed talks bond proposal 1K followers 500+ connections. This content is only available to subscribers. After questions from residents and local media, the board said it had extended her leave, but did not explain why. He says divisions over the districts return to school policies heightened problems that already existed. Please consider a gift today to help shine a light on government through independent journalism. More than 20 teachers left the district last year. Hamtramck, MI 48212 INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT Nabil Nagi Phone: 313.591.7400 Fax: 313.284.6094 Office Hours: 8:00am - 4:00pm. Hamtramck Public Schools (@hamtramckpublicschools) Instagram photos and videos. She is a native Detroiter who grew up listening to news and music programming on Detroit Public Radio. This year, Niczay was rehired by the district as a consultant, performing some of Ahmeds prior duties. Will you support us? The Yemeni American Outgoing Hamtramck Schools' superintendent Tom Your email address will not be published. Section 4: Benefits and Salary of Superintendent and employees greater than $100,000. In an unexpected move, Hamtramck Public Schools Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed has taken a leave of absence. width: 100% !important; 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). display: block !important; 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. HPS is committed to ensuring that our educational materials and websites are accessible, equitable, and usable to everyone. Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). Something must not be going right. Throughout the pandemic, I have continually reinforced that the well-being of our school community is the districts primary concern. About Teachers speak out on schools superintendent | Hamtramck Review She pointed to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic as the reason she needs to focus on her physical and mental health right now. Superintendent Jaleelah Hassan Ahmed cites the impact of the coronavirus pandemic as the reason behind her decision to take a temporary leave of absence. Hamtramck Superintendent Hasn't Worked In Four Months But Is Still Definition of Terms 2020-2021 School . The purpose of my page is to explore educational topics and share progress about my journey as the. Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). HPS Superintendent Releases Statement on Controversial Book Ban Issue Comments (-1) Hamtramck Public Schools will be led by two administrators while its superintendent is on a temporary leave of absence. 2023 The Detroit News, a Digital First Media Newspaper. We're really reaching out to the community to . Ahmed is asking a judge to issue an injunction prohibitingtermination of her employment, back payand damages for mental anguish and emotional distress. Posted Feb. 11, 2022. 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. Renowned Chef Anthony Bourdain at Polonia. Why is it that nothing was reported about the teachers resigning until now? Deadline Detroit | Hamtramck puzzle: What sent this school district Q&A with Hamtramck Public Schools Superintendent Jaleelah Hassan Ahmed Nabil Nagi, Ed.S. - ELD Director - Hamtramck School District - LinkedIn This website provides the option to use Google translate; HPS cannot assure accuracy of the translation. This statement doesnt say much. By Charles Sercombe Argued May 7, 1986. .page .article .comments .fb-comments iframe { 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.