School district says superintendent is under investigation

HPS Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed is under an investigation while on extended leave from her job. The nature of the investigation has not been made public by the district. File photo

By Charles Sercombe
A clue has emerged as to why Hamtramck Public Schools District Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed remains on 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.
Board President Salah Hadwan replied: “Well, we’re still in an investigation.”
Hadwan didn’t explain the nature of the investigation.
Ahmed initially took a medical leave back on October, citing the stress she endured during the Covid pandemic.
She was scheduled to return on Jan. 10 but it was announced, at last month’s regular board meeting, that she remains on leave — apparently at the board’s insistence.
Her director of human resources, Michelle Imbrunone, also took a medical leave of absence in October.
The board has not said whether Imbrunone remains on leave, or is still with the district.
It is also unknown whether if the two are still on the district’s payroll.
Interim Superintendent Nabil Nagi earlier told The Review that he does not discuss personnel issues.
Ahmed was appointed as superintendent about two years ago, replacing longtime superintendent Tom Niczay, who retired.
Both Ahmed and Imbrunone came under intense criticism from teachers and administrators after they took their leaves of absence. They complained, sometimes bitterly, of their management style, and the many job transfers they imposed on staffmembers.
In the last year, over 20 teachers and administrators opted to resign and take jobs with other districts in protest of the management decisions.
Some of those who left have since returned while Ahmed and Imbrunone were on leave.
Neither Ahmed nor Imbrunone have spoken on the matter.
In the meantime, the board has authorized Nagi to lead contract negotiations with district employees, including teachers.
Posted Feb. 11, 2022