HPS shows no effort to support its millage

The Nov. 7 General Election is just a few weeks away, and so far, we are seeing little school district support for the district’s own millage renewal.
The renewal is modest, seeking just 3 mills for the next 10 years –which will produce almost $800,000 a year.
That money is strictly earmarked for the upkeep of the district’s buildings. This is the second attempt to sway voters to continue the millage. It was soundly defeated in the August primary.
The district failed to attract – or even encourage — grassroots support, and has once again been oddly hands-off in this election. While the district can’t legally spend money asking voters to vote yes, it can encourage parents and staff to go out and drum up public support.
The district’s leadership has so far failed spectacularly in whipping up public interest.
In fact, the district appears to be in deep dysfunction, with a school board flailing around without direction.
We don’t even know where to start, but consider there are over a dozen lawsuits facing the district, including one filed by their own current superintendent, Jaleelah Ahmed.
That is simply unbelievable.
However, beyond that, not only does Ahmed have a lawsuit against the district, earlier in the year she was given a huge raise and a contract extension without being required to drop her lawsuit.
Unbelievable.
And she was given that raise despite being on paid suspension for 2022. Moreover, the school board, which had a few different boardmembers at the time, never explained why she was suspended.
Ahmed isn’t the only one to enjoy a year off with pay. There are currently three staff members also on paid suspension who also have filed lawsuits against the district.
As if this isn’t bizarre enough, you have a current school board that gave itself a raise at the beginning of the year, from about $700 each a year to $6,000.
We can understand why the public may have little confidence in this school board and superintendent to spend their tax money wisely.
And what a shame because, in the end, it’s the kids who are hurt the most.
Posted Oct. 13, 2023