Promised funding to school district suddenly withdrawn

Kosciuszko Middle School had its windows replaced thanks to a past federal covid pandemic relief grant. A number of other district buildings underwent repairs as well from the funding. But now, the federal government is clawing back a promised $7.2 million in that funding. File photo

By Charles Sercombe
Hamtramck Public Schools have been dealt a huge financial setback.
This week, it was announced by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) that President Trump’s administration is pulling back $42 million promised to over two dozen Michigan school districts – Hamtramck included – for pre-approved improvement projects.
The districts had previously been given a year extension to seek the reimbursement.
According to the MDE, Hamtramck will have to absorb $7.2 million in promised funding no longer coming. That award had been, by far, the second largest for a district in the state, behind only Flint’s $15.6 million.
It’s not clear if the district has already performed the improvement projects, and Trump’s administration has said the districts involved can appeal the decisions.
However, in an interview with WXYZ-Channel 7, Toni Coral, the president of the Hamtramck teachers’ union, said that work had been performed, and that work is continuing.
Coral told The Review that the financial cut will impact students, and questioned whether the Trump administration can claim to be “pro-life.”
“You can’t call yourself pro-life and take away funding that is meant for improving air quality in schools. That type of behavior is the opposite of pro-life.”
That funding, initially arranged under President Biden’s administration, went to districts to do infrastructure repairs in respond to the covid pandemic.
Trump’s administration abruptly reduced the one-year extension for the program, giving districts mere days’ notice.
The Review reached out to Hamtramck Interim Superintendent James Larson-Shidler for comment, and for explanation on how the $7.2 million was spent, but he did not respond.
It is likely, however, that the district spent the money on improving heating and cooling systems and installing new windows in one or more school buildings.
The district had been planning on renovating the bathrooms in the high school this summer, but now it’s unclear if that project will be affected by the financial cut.
The Review also reached out to Board of Education President Abdulmalik Algahaim and Vice President Moortadha Obaid, via their district emails, for comment, but they also did not respond, and have not responded to past inquiries for comment from The Review.
Both of them supported Trump for president.
However, on Wednesday evening, Board President Algahaim posted a comment on his Facebook page disputing how much the district is owed in reimbursement, saying it’s roughly half the $7.2 million the federal government is claiming.
(His press release is included in this issue.)
Algahaim also told WXYZ-Channel 7 that if the district does not receive a reimbursement, the work will be paid from the district’s general budget.
Also, according to the MDE, per a letter sent by the U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon, the 27 districts’ requests for money “were not justified,” and that there was no need for any extensions, as districts had “ample time” to submit their requests for the money.
It is not known why the HPS district waited to seek the reimbursement, although there has been continuous upheaval in the district, with various interim superintendents coming and going all the while Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed has spent most of her tenure here on paid medical leave or unexplained paid suspension.
The Board of Education has continuously refused to explain why Ahmed continues to collect her yearly $224,000 salary while not performing work for the district. Her contract runs through 2027.
The MDE’s Superintendent, Michael Rice issued a press release on the matter, saying: “Walking back a federal commitment to pandemic relief funds…is unacceptable.”
He continued: “Twenty-seven districts across the state have preapproved financial obligations that met criteria set by the U.S. Department of Education for extending the districts’ deadlines to request reimbursement of these funds. Instead, Secretary McMahon and the Trump Administration abruptly withdrew approval.”
The following Michigan school districts that are affected by the financial withdrawal include:
• Battle Creek Public Schools – $3,389,571
• Benton Harbor Area Schools -$4,579,396
• Bridgeport-Spaulding Schools – $543,527
• Brighton Area Schools – $1,190,714
• Chandler Park Academy – $1,017,396
• Flint City School District – $15,603,029
• Hamtramck School District – $7,248,920
• Lincoln Park School District – $1,394,178
• Pontiac School District – $3,294,052
• Port Huron Area Schools – $497,205
• Reed City Area Schools – $58,469
• Woodhaven-Brownstown Schools – $1,253,299
• Adrian Public Schools – $7,281
• Carman-Ainsworth Comm. Schools – $234,818
• Grandville Public Schools – $24,545
• Greenville Public Schools – $24,022
• Insight School of Michigan – $33,363
• Marquette Area Public Schools – $9,912
• Marysville Public Schools – $367,159
• Michigan Great Lakes Virtual Academy – $79,928
• Northville Public Schools – $62,650
• River Rouge, City School District – $28,772
• Royal Oak Schools – $44,398
• Van Buren Public Schools – $90,000
• Wayland Union Schools – $66,135
• West Bloomfield School District – $734,015
• Whiteford Agricultural School District – $98,143

Posted April 4, 2025