A failed leadership and the cost to taxpayers

Taxpayers are going to be paying for the leadership failures of Hamtramck Public School District Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed.
A federal court recently ruled that the district must pay a former assistant principal about $600,000, and her attorney $350,000, because of Ahmed’s treatment of her during the covid pandemic.
We wrote about the lawsuit in last week’s issue.
Out of that financial award, the school district’s insurance company will cover over $360,000 of the total cost – meaning you, Hamtramck property owners, are paying for the balance.
Ahmed has since been placed on some kind of paid suspension, which the district refuses to explain other than to say she is still the superintendent. Meanwhile, an interim superintendent is managing the district.
All we know is that this district doesn’t want to tell the public what’s going on.
Worse, you have a school board that brought back Ahmed from an earlier suspension, which also was unexplained, and gave her not only a hefty salary increase, but also lengthened her employment contract.
In addition, the school board did not require Ahmed to withdraw her lawsuits against the district and teachers’ union in order to get that pay raise and contract extension. A federal judge recently threw out her lawsuit.
It gets worse, and stranger: not long after that generous welcome back, Ahmed took her second medical leave, and was then placed on suspension.
What in the world was going on there? First you bring her back, then give her a raise, then suspend her – again?
What kind of leadership is this?
One of the board members responsible for this mess is none other than Board President Jihan Aiyash, who is seeking re-election.
On top of all this, the district is seeking a tax millage renewal.
Talk about bad timing.
Voters would be wise to consider all this when filling out their ballots.
Posted Oct. 25, 2024

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