School district risks alienating voters

The status of Hamtramck Public Schools Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed is puzzling, to say the least.
Or, to be more specific, the explanation of her status by the district is what mystifies many.
Ahmed has been off the job, but still receiving her salary, since February. At first, the public was told that she took a medical leave, and then, when that leave was coming to an end, it was told that she would remain off the job.
In the meantime, there have been two consecutive interim superintendents in charge.
When The Review asked about whether Ahmed was returning, we were told, by current Interim Superintendent James Larson-Shidler, that Ahmed is, indeed, still superintendent. But, when it came to explaining why she was not actually on the job, Larson-Shidler said that it was the policy of the district “not to discuss confidential personnel matters with the press.”
So, that begs the question whether, if Ahmed is still superintendent, then why is there also an interim superintendent?
Why are taxpayers paying Ahmed to not come to work?
Doesn’t the public have a right to know how their tax money is being spent?
We point this out because, later this year, the plan — as far as we know — is to ask voters to renew a major school millage.
It seems to us that taxpayers might be turned off by the district’s refusal to come clean on what the heck is going on with Ahmed, and why they continue to pay her over $200,000 a year to not come to work.
Good luck trying to win a millage renewal with that attitude.
Posted May 31, 2024