{"id":2310,"date":"2019-08-10T01:59:17","date_gmt":"2019-08-09T22:59:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yemeniamerican.com\/en\/?p=2310"},"modified":"2019-08-10T01:59:17","modified_gmt":"2019-08-09T22:59:17","slug":"welcoming-hamtramck-families-event-introduces-families-to-new-superintendent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yemeniamerican.com\/en\/welcoming-hamtramck-families-event-introduces-families-to-new-superintendent\/","title":{"rendered":"Welcoming Hamtramck Families Event Introduces Families to New Superintendent"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Simon Albaugh – YAN<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"Hamtramck School District parents and students were invited to the Welcoming Hamtramck Families Event where they could meet school district officials, get information about the schools their child will attend, and connect with services and support before the school year begins.<\/p>\n

Programs available included health screenings, various community programs like immigration counseling and food assistance, and educational resources. The event was held on the last Wednesday of July in the Hamtramck Community Center on Charest Street.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHamtramck is a high-poverty community, so we just want everyone to know the services that are available to them through the public schools,\u201d said school and community facilitator Amra Poskovic.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

One such program is the Hamtramck School-based Health Center, which operates in Hamtramck Highschool next to the Hamtramck Community Center. They provide healthcare services to all Hamtramck students free of charge, as well as health insurance enrollment assistance.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Hamtramck Police and Fire Department also stood outside the event giving tours of their police cruisers and fire trucks to the children of Hamtramck School families. A free lunch was also provided to families who came to the event.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hamtramck Public Schools Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed attended the event, along with members of the Hamtramck Board of Education. In the last month, she and other staff of the Hamtramck Public School District have been working to prepare for the school year.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe first week we jumped right into action,\u201d Superintendent Ahmed said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Detailing her work, Ahmed focused on identifying areas of improvement in the school buildings for the first week. She met with the building and grounds directors and the finance chief executive officer to outline the priorities for the facilities.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Throughout the next few weeks of her work as Superintendent, Ahmed met with administrators to understand problems in the school system\u2019s operations. Superintendent Ahmed also worked alongside community members and leaders to gather data about improvements the school system should focus on.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ahmed began her work as Superintendent on July 1. Since then, she\u2019s worked alongside a vast amount of families to understand the direction that the school system should take under new leadership.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cFor example, for some of our parents it is important for them that the teachers are culturally responsive.\u201d Superintendent Ahmed said. \u201cNow we\u2019re implementing steps to make sure that we are culturally responsive. And all that came from the conversations.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the future, parents can expect a broader range of opportunities for their students. The school district is working on a partnership with Henry Ford Community College and Wayne State University. \u201cWe really want to go beyond the classroom while having students explore,\u201d Superintendent Ahmed said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Addressing what Superintendent Ahmed called rumors about the school districts safety, she said she met with families to present data about the safety of the public schools.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe are a very safe district,\u201d Superintendent Ahmed said. \u201cWhen they see we have facts to back up what we\u2019re saying, then there\u2019s this comfort [for the families.] It\u2019s important to dispel these rumors.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After the past month\u2019s work, Ahmed expressed her excitement about the coming school year.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re very excited to implement various programs,\u201d Superintendent Ahmed said. \u201cWe\u2019re excited to hear families\u2019 thoughts and ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II also appeared at the Welcoming Hamtramck Families Event to introduce himself to the Hamtramck Public School Board officials in attendance. He also personally met with Superintendent Ahmed before moving on to meet with other school board members.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In an interview, Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist talked about an upcoming program the State of Michigan Government is working toward. The program would bolster funding for school districts that serve a low-income majority student population. This means that funding could improve dramatically for school districts like Hamtramck\u2019s.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDifferent school districts have different needs,\u201d said Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist. \u201cIt costs more to bring a high-quality education to area\u2019s with systemic poverty, so we\u2019re looking to make a once-in-a-lifetime investment in education.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The plan under Governor Gretchen Whitmer would provide an extra $180 in funding for each student, in addition to added funds for students from low-income families.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

However, the plan didn\u2019t pass for the upcoming school year after Michigan Republican Legislators voted to continue the same uniform system of funding during its vote in June.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe, frankly, are continuing to up the pressure on legislature,\u201d said Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist. \u201cBecause they need to step up now and meet our proposal with a proposal of their own. And they have not done that.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The staff of Hamtramck Public Schools has been working throughout the summer for the upcoming school year. Their work will implement new programs and bring families closer to the schools where their child will learn.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s definitely a very positive synergy among everyone in the school district.\u201d Superintendent Ahmed said. \u201cWe\u2019re all excited. And we can\u2019t wait until the school year begins.\u201d<\/p>\n

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