We Built This School. We Will Save It. Remove the Pleasant View Board Now
The Issue
Filled by: The community of Pleasant View School and the broader Muslim community of Memphis, Tennessee
Who are we?
Pleasant View School has stood for over 25 years as one of the most important institutions the Muslim community of Memphis has ever built. It was not built by a board. It was built by families who sacrificed, donors who gave generously, teachers who poured themselves into their students, and a community that believed in something lasting. That school is now at serious risk, and many members of the community believe the current board has failed to provide the leadership and accountability necessary to protect its future.
Why are we here?
We have tried petitions. We have attended town halls. We have sent emails and raised concerns in good faith again and again. We were dismissed every time.
We petition that the current Board of Directors, led by Saira Salahuddin, has overseen a series of decisions that have raised significant concerns regarding transparency, community input, and accountability. Yasmin Knefati, Dr. Ibrahim Qaddoumi, Halirou Osse, Abdul Haseeb Zaid, and Mahmoud Salhab joined in carrying out this pattern. We are calling on all six members to step down and not seek re-election or any future board role. This community deserves genuinely new leadership, not a reshuffling of the same people who presided over this crisis.
The elections were conducted without transparency or community oversight. Long-serving, dedicated leadership was removed overnight with no explanation and no transition plan, leaving students and staff in chaos. A former board member continued to access school systems after his role had ended. Financial decisions were made without transparency or community oversight. Over 500 families signed petitions asking for answers. They received none.
When the community sought greater accountability and transparency, a town hall was held. Board members stood before hundreds of families and made promises to do better. Those promises were broken. Many community members believe that meaningful reform did not follow and that longstanding concerns remain unresolved.
An independent accreditation body has since officially documented the same concerns our community has raised for years. The school's governing documents have not been updated in over two decades. Every internal avenue available to us has been exhausted.
What ties these concerns together is a growing belief among many stakeholders that the board's actions have not aligned with the expectations, priorities, and trust of the community it serves. This community placed its confidence in its leadership. For many families and stakeholders, that confidence has been significantly diminished.
What do we demand?
1. A full reset of board leadership.
All six board members mentioned above must step down and not seek re-election or any future board role. The board as a body has failed this community, and a full reset is the only path forward. The upcoming election must bring genuinely new leadership. Anyone who has served on this board during this period should not be on the ballot.
2. A fair, community-wide election with independent oversight.
The election must take place on time or earlier. Candidate vetting, voter eligibility, and the full election process must be overseen by an independent third party with no connection to the current board or anyone tied to current leadership.
3. Reform from the ground up under new leadership.
Once a legitimate board is in place, an independent review of financial decisions and governance conduct, a community-led revision of the school's outdated bylaws, and a structured role for parents and community members going forward. None of this is possible without Demand 1 being met first.
Closing
The Muslim community of Memphis has invested generations of effort, money, and faith into Pleasant View School. It is one of the few full K–12 Islamic institutions in this region. Hence, losing it is not just a loss for current families. It is a loss for every Muslim family that will come to Memphis in the years ahead.
We are not petitioning against Pleasant View School. We are petitioning for it. Sign this petition and share it widely. This school belongs to all of us, and we will not stand by while concerns about its governance, stability, and future remain unaddressed.
WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW
• Sign. Share. Stand up for our school.
• You can share Anonymously
Share this petition in your WhatsApp groups, family chats, community pages, and masjid networks. Your signature matters. Your share reaches someone who cares.
June 2026
606
The Issue
Filled by: The community of Pleasant View School and the broader Muslim community of Memphis, Tennessee
Who are we?
Pleasant View School has stood for over 25 years as one of the most important institutions the Muslim community of Memphis has ever built. It was not built by a board. It was built by families who sacrificed, donors who gave generously, teachers who poured themselves into their students, and a community that believed in something lasting. That school is now at serious risk, and many members of the community believe the current board has failed to provide the leadership and accountability necessary to protect its future.
Why are we here?
We have tried petitions. We have attended town halls. We have sent emails and raised concerns in good faith again and again. We were dismissed every time.
We petition that the current Board of Directors, led by Saira Salahuddin, has overseen a series of decisions that have raised significant concerns regarding transparency, community input, and accountability. Yasmin Knefati, Dr. Ibrahim Qaddoumi, Halirou Osse, Abdul Haseeb Zaid, and Mahmoud Salhab joined in carrying out this pattern. We are calling on all six members to step down and not seek re-election or any future board role. This community deserves genuinely new leadership, not a reshuffling of the same people who presided over this crisis.
The elections were conducted without transparency or community oversight. Long-serving, dedicated leadership was removed overnight with no explanation and no transition plan, leaving students and staff in chaos. A former board member continued to access school systems after his role had ended. Financial decisions were made without transparency or community oversight. Over 500 families signed petitions asking for answers. They received none.
When the community sought greater accountability and transparency, a town hall was held. Board members stood before hundreds of families and made promises to do better. Those promises were broken. Many community members believe that meaningful reform did not follow and that longstanding concerns remain unresolved.
An independent accreditation body has since officially documented the same concerns our community has raised for years. The school's governing documents have not been updated in over two decades. Every internal avenue available to us has been exhausted.
What ties these concerns together is a growing belief among many stakeholders that the board's actions have not aligned with the expectations, priorities, and trust of the community it serves. This community placed its confidence in its leadership. For many families and stakeholders, that confidence has been significantly diminished.
What do we demand?
1. A full reset of board leadership.
All six board members mentioned above must step down and not seek re-election or any future board role. The board as a body has failed this community, and a full reset is the only path forward. The upcoming election must bring genuinely new leadership. Anyone who has served on this board during this period should not be on the ballot.
2. A fair, community-wide election with independent oversight.
The election must take place on time or earlier. Candidate vetting, voter eligibility, and the full election process must be overseen by an independent third party with no connection to the current board or anyone tied to current leadership.
3. Reform from the ground up under new leadership.
Once a legitimate board is in place, an independent review of financial decisions and governance conduct, a community-led revision of the school's outdated bylaws, and a structured role for parents and community members going forward. None of this is possible without Demand 1 being met first.
Closing
The Muslim community of Memphis has invested generations of effort, money, and faith into Pleasant View School. It is one of the few full K–12 Islamic institutions in this region. Hence, losing it is not just a loss for current families. It is a loss for every Muslim family that will come to Memphis in the years ahead.
We are not petitioning against Pleasant View School. We are petitioning for it. Sign this petition and share it widely. This school belongs to all of us, and we will not stand by while concerns about its governance, stability, and future remain unaddressed.
WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW
• Sign. Share. Stand up for our school.
• You can share Anonymously
Share this petition in your WhatsApp groups, family chats, community pages, and masjid networks. Your signature matters. Your share reaches someone who cares.
June 2026
The Decision Makers
Supporter Voices
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Petition created on 9 June 2026