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(RICHARDSON, TX) The community or the parent body was not taken into consideration and confidence when the board at Islamic Association of North Texas (IANT) decided to make major cut backs at their recently accredited school, IQA. Ahsan Mohammed, the president of Peace Academy currently serving as the Interim Chairman of IQA’s Management Committee (IQAMC) said that “we specifically did not inform the parents and people involved before making the decision because they have emotional attachment to the school.”
Ahsan Mohammed and the board insist that dramatic actions such elimination of satellite campus, employee layoffs, reduction in pay and benefits were desperately needed and was done based on research of a committee. However, the board did not submit any study or documentation to the community and The Lone Star Crescent upon request.
According to few slides shown in meetings after the decision, similar to all other non-profits, IQA has two major sources of revenue; tuition and donations. IANT board had argued that donations should not be considered as a source of income for IQA. IQAMCs who had a different opinion resigned in response to the new board’s policy.
“I can raise money for buildings, but do not ask me to raise money for operations”, told Monzer Talib from IANT’s BOT in a heated meeting with the parents. However, he could not provide an answer on how to run the buildings without any finances. IQA managed an estimated 35% of its expenses through community donations. According to Arshad Syed, chairman of IANT’s BOT, the masjid covers about 98% of its operational expenses via donations.
Board members assured the parents that cutbacks will not effect the quality of education and alim program at the school. IQA's principal Mathew Moes, was asked by parents whether he agrees with the board's assurances; he declined to comment and took the 5th amendment.
IANT’s board’s action has raised some serious concerns on running schools and Islamic centers. It seems like there was complete failure in terms of internal and external communication. Parents who are the major stakeholders, were not informed at all about the board’s research and plan. Public and private schools inform the parents and get them involved before any drastic changes are made. Does the board of a non-profit has the authority to conceal information and only show parts of it, or make major decisions without consulting the stakeholders and donors?
The timing of the decision also raises eyebrows. All the major changes were announced during summer break when most of the staff and students were away on vacation.
Questions were raised about conflict of interest. Ahsan Mohammed founded and runs another Islamic school in the same neighborhood. At least two other board members, Nabil Sadoun and Mumtaz Khan are from Brighter Horizons Academy (BHA), which is the largest Islamic school in the area. Parents had asked if Is it appropriate to share internal employee and school information with members of competing schools?
IANT’s board with their action introduced a philosophy where non-profits can raise funds only for buildings and infrastructure. With this approach, should the community shut down its masajid, United Way, Red Cross, Churches, and other non-profits?
The entire incident points to the need of open and clear communication within the community. In case of a community funded non-profit and its school, it is of utmost importance that all the relevant information be shared.
When asked about facts and figures regarding school majority of the responses by the board members to echoed past Attorney General’s hearings with comments like “I don’t remember” or “I don’t have it here”.
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IQA MC Interim chairman did not respond to The Lone Star Crescent’s request of providing adhoc committees report. Updates and townhall meeting report and video coming soon. After strong reaction from parents some changes were scaled back.
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