School Boardmember Mohammed Huda
By Charles Sercombe
Hamtramck School Boardmember Mohammad Huda’s residency status is being investigated by the public school district.
On Wednesday evening, the School Board voted 4-2 to authorize Superintendent Tom Niczay to gather evidence that might prove Huda is not a resident and present it to the board for further review.
The board agreed to the investigation following a closed session with its attorney during the regular board meeting.
The board unanimously agreed to the closed session, but before that closed session took place the board took a short break. During that break Huda left the administration building without telling anyone.
He was not present during the vote to authorize the investigation.
Those voting in favor of the investigation were Boardmembers Jackie Starr, Dennis Lukas, Evan Major and Board President Maggie Srodek.
Those voting against it were Boardmembers Hedy Shulgon and Ataur Khan.
Huda did not return calls for comment at the time The Review went to press Thursday afternoon.
Superintendent Niczay has no time limit to gather and present his evidence, but he told The Review after the meeting it won’t take long.
“I will do this as quickly and efficiently as possible,” Niczay said.
Niczay will also ask Huda to present proof that he is a resident, such as utility bills for the address he claims to live at, 11813 Fleming.
If the board agrees there is compelling evidence showing Huda is not a resident, Huda will be sent a letter asking for his voluntary resignation within seven days.
If he does not agree to that, the district will ask state and county election officials to consider criminal prosecution for perjury.
When candidates file to run for office they sign off saying they are residents of the community they wish to serve.
This isn’t the first time Huda’s residency has come in question.
During the school board election last year, The Review discovered that Huda owned a house in Warren where he claimed a 100-percent Homestead tax exemption.
To qualify for this exemption the homeowner swears that the home is where he or she lives.
Warren property records now show Huda rescinded that exemption.
Niczay said The Review’s investigation prompted his own.
“The ongoing and persistent rumors both within the school district and the community at large fueled by the October 31 and November 14 issues of The Hamtramck Review,” Niczay said.
The Review also discovered, according to Huda’s voter registration record, he made more than one move from Hamtramck to Warren and back again since registering to vote in Hamtramck in 2010 when he said he lived on Norwalk.
That record shows he later moved to Warren, then moved back again to Hamtramck, then back to Warren at the house he claimed a Homestead tax exemption, and then one more time a year ago in April back to Hamtramck to the Fleming address.
Huda was also connected with a group of investors who started up Caniff Liberty Academy, a charter school, located in the former St. Lad’s school on Caniff.
Huda is serving his first term on the school board.