FEBRUARY 1 • 2024 | 7
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engaged in this symbolic
project. It does not, in any
way, serve the students of
AAPS and their families. In
fact, it may harm the dis-
trict’s efforts to hire a strong
superintendent.
Unlike the Ann
Arbor City Council
and Washtenaw County
Commission, there was no
attempt to garner communi-
ty input to craft a document
that would be inclusive
rather than divisive. Several
trustees engaged mean-
ingfully with community
members for and against
the resolution. However,
their input was not brought
forth until the resolution
was being discussed in
advance of the vote, rather
than through a collaborative
process prior to the board
meeting.
We are grateful to
Trustees Susan Baskett,
Torchio Feaster and Susan
Schmidt who voted no or
abstained for understand-
ing their role and scope of
authority. We understand
their vote is not an indica-
tion of their personal posi-
tion regarding a ceasefire —
for it or against it. It is sim-
ply about standing up for
good governance, concern
for the school community,
and the need for the school
board to focus on the cru-
cial issues facing the district
and the children it serves.
As disappointing as the
outcome of the vote was,
this experience has engaged
our community and fos-
tered positive relationships
with many members of the
school board, including new
board President Torchio
Feaster and Vice President
Krystle Dupree. Together
with local families, we will
be watching closely for how
the AAPS will handle inci-
dents of antisemitism, rac-
ism and other forms of hate.
We will continue to work
cooperatively with school
administration to address
the educational needs of
Jewish families and to con-
tinue to build a more inclu-
sive school community.
Signed:
Eileen Freed, Executive
Director, Board of Directors
of the Jewish Federation of
Greater Ann Arbor (JFGAA)
Jessica “Decky” Alexander,
Board President (JFGAA)
Rabbi Nadav Caine, Beth
Israel Congregation
Rabbi Josh Whinston,
Temple Beth Emeth
Cantor Regina Hayut,
Temple Beth Emeth
David Stone, Executive
Director, Jewish Community
Center of Greater Ann Arbor
Joshua J. Chinsky, Board
President, Jewish Community
Center of Greater Ann Arbor
Rabbi Will Keller, Head of
School, Hebrew Day School of
Ann Arbor
Monica Woll, Board
President, Hebrew Day
School of Ann Arbor
Shmuel Solovyev, Board
President, Chabad of Ann
Arbor
Rabbi Ari Blech, Visiting
Rabbi, Ann Arbor Orthodox
Minyan
Robert Savit, Board
President, Ann Arbor
Orthodox Minyan
Ariel Zoldan, Vice
President, Ann Arbor
Orthodox Minyan
Rachel Wall, Treasurer,
Ann Arbor Orthodox Minyan
Tali Amidror, Board
Member, Ann Arbor
Orthodox Minyan
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