20 | SEPTEMBER 26 • 2024
supported by then-Board President
Rima Mohammad and Trustee
Jeff Gaynor, sparked hours of
heated public comment and has
since been a source of distrust
within the Jewish community. A
number of the Jewish community
members contacted reported they
were motivated to become more
active in advocating for new district
leadership after the resolution
was introduced and subsequently
passed, with Trustee Krystle
DuPree ultimately supporting it.
Other Jewish stakeholders,
including teachers and parents,
expressed that they didn’t have
any concerns about the ceasefire
resolution or supported it. The
resolution language was edited to
include a “bilateral ceasefire” and
encouraged teachers to discuss the
Israel-Hamas war in classes.
INCREASED TOXICITY
FOR JEWISH FAMILIES
Beyond the ceasefire resolution,
some Jewish parents are troubled
by the district’s delay in recognizing
a Jewish parents’ affinity group,
a step that would give Jewish
parents a formal platform to voice
their concerns and collaborate on
educational initiatives. The Jewish
Community Advisory Group
(JCAG) filed for recognition in late
October 2023 and has yet to receive
approval.
Existing approved groups
include Ann Arbor Parent Advisory
Committee for Special Education
(AAPAC); District Wide Black
Parents Student Support Group
(BPSSG); Asian, Pacific Islander,
South Asian/American (APISA/A);
and Arab-American Advisory
Group (AAAG). Approval would
allow JCAG to have a permanent
place on the agenda at board
meetings and bring up concerns
and collaborate with the district.
For example, other advisory
groups routinely partner with the
district to bring cultural awareness,
educational materials and events to
teachers and students.
A December letter to the board
from the Jewish Community
Relations Council asked the board
to “promptly grant recognition
to parent groups, including the
Jewish Parents Advisory Council,
that have asked to be recognized
by the board. This is necessary to
ensure equal access and inclusion.
We ask that any discussions at the
school board level impacting these
populations be held only when all
involved have representation and a
voice at the table.”
AAPS was asked to provide an
update, but did not do so by the
time of publication.
However, Superintendent Parks
responded in an email to questions
about the district’s approach to
addressing antisemitism. “We are
committed to creating a safe and
inclusive environment for our
entire AAPS community.”
She added that “AAPS does not
tolerate any form of antisemitism,
racism or hate speech. Such
behavior goes against the values
of respect, empathy and belonging
that we strive to instill in our
students and school communities.
We continue to be engaged in
supporting all of our students,
staff and families in the AAPS
community united against hate,
intolerance or violence of any kind.”
JEWISH FAMILIES
AFRAID TO SPEAK OUT
When reaching out to families to
understand their concerns, most
parents declined to go on record.
There has been a notable chilling
effect on the Jewish community
from speaking out in part because
parents who have spoken out have
faced harassment and intimidation
as a result.
“Jewish community members
feel afraid to speak out,” wrote
one parent, who is very involved
in volunteering in the schools and
thought about running for the
school board.
“Things are just so
inflamed and toxic
right now, I’m honestly
scared to attach my
name to anything,”
expressed another
parent. “Bottom line,
I’m just so angry that
our school board was politicized.”
Beth Israel Congregation Rabbi
Nadav Caine wrote in an email,
“My anecdotal conversations with
students indicate that the prevailing
mood is Jews are expected to keep
their heads down.”
In addition to the parent who
removed her sons after unanswered
antisemitism, others reported
that they moved their children to
private schools, charter schools or
to neighboring districts.
Parents disclosed a number of
issues within the district, including:
• The potential that anti-Jewish
and anti-Israel lessons are being
taught
• Online harassment for speaking
publicly against the ceasefire
resolution or on behalf of Jewish
community interests
• Additional scrutiny for routine
requests, such as reading a book
or presenting on a
Jewish topic in a child’s
classroom
• Downplaying or
dismissing reports of
antisemitic bullying and
harassment
• Jewish students
being treated differ-
ently by teachers or directly
discriminated against because of
their Jewish identity.
Rabbi Asher Lopatin, director
of Community Relations at the
Jewish Federation of Greater Ann
Arbor, has been actively working to
address these issues.
“We’re putting them on notice
that we are watching — we
are monitoring this,” Lopatin
said, emphasizing the need for
accountability in how the district
handles issues of antisemitism and
supports its Jewish students and
families. Lopatin added that he has
already met with several school
board members and will meet soon
with Superintendent Parks.
The Jewish Community Relations
Council is hosting a candidate
forum on Sept. 29 at 6:30 p.m. at
the Jewish Federation site in Ann
Arbor, where Rabbi Lopatin and
others plan to “ask tough questions”
to ensure that the candidates
are prepared to address these
multifaceted challenges.
“The outcome of this election
could significantly influence how
well the board addresses both the
financial crisis and the specific
needs of Jewish families in the years
to come,” Lopatin said.
Rabbi
Nadav
Caine
Rabbi
Asher
Lopatin
continued from page 18
OUR COMMUNITY