The School Committee voted Wednesday night to approve up to $25,000 for an independent investigation into antisemitism accusations and counterclaims among district employees. School Committee members also decided to have incoming interim Superintendent John Robidoux select the investigator with a deadline of July 19. Robidoux starts in Marblehead on July 1.
The School Committee’s counsel has proposed three investigative firms to choose from. At an emotional public meeting on June 20 several community members asked to vet the firms before one is selected.
Wednesday night, School Committee member Brian Ota cautioned against “investigating the investigators.”
“I am very concerned about biasing the investigators,” Ota said.
Member Sarah Fox initially proposed July 10 as the date by which to hire an investigator.
“It’s very important to me that we’re getting this data back so we can start our school year fresh, and we’re able to implement the findings and make sure that our curriculum is reflective of it and all recommendations are put into place,” Fox said. “So much work happens over the summer, I just want to make sure we have this back this in a timely manner.”
Chair Jenn Schaeffner said, “What I heard last week was a community of over 200 people that had very strong concerns about the process. I do not feel that we are in a huge hurry to fast track this. What I heard was a desire by the community to have this be a more robust review of who the investigators are. What that looks like I don’t know.”
Schaeffner referenced several calls at the June 20 meeting for the district to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Association’s definition of antisemitism.
Critics, including Human Rights Watch, say two of the 11 examples of antisemitism IHRA lists can be exploited to censor criticism of Israeli policies. They are: “Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g. by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor” and “ Applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.”
Call for new task force
In addition to the investigation, Schaeffner said she will call for an antisemitism task force to “embrace members of the Jewish community and the entire community of Marblehead….”
Schaeffner said at last week’s meeting she heard “serious concerns about antisemitism in our district, issues around curriculum and other very serious concerns. I feel that there’s more work to do here besides this investigation. We have an opportunity to make change in our district, in our town, in our community and to model for other districts that are going through similar situations…
“That’s what I saw last week — a cry from our community to ask us to do that,” she added.
Select Board chair calls situation ‘heartbreaking’
At a Select Board meeting Wednesday night, Chair Erin Noonan addressed the situation in the schools.
“It was heartbreaking to learn of the divisions and allegations of anti-Jewish rhetoric,” Noonan said. “Our Jewish neighbors, friends, fellow residents are experiencing an enormous amount of fear right now just living their lives simply because of their religion.”
Noonan reported conversations with Jewish community members who described unprecedented levels of antisemitism. One resident, Noonan said, told her: “As we go about our daily lives, we are seeing things in the news that are hurtful and scary. We’re seeing things on social media that are terrifying, and we are concerned for what lies ahead.”
Noonan highlighted community efforts to combat discrimination, including Marblehead’s Task Force Against Discrimination and the police department’s recent recognition by the Anti-Defamation League.
While affirming the right to criticize Israeli policies, Noonan stressed the importance of distinguishing between political criticism and antisemitism.
“When Jews and Jewish institutions are targeted, that is just unacceptable,” she said. “Let’s be mindful of this and remind others as well. Call out antisemitism if you’ve witnessed it, speak up and correct the blanket characterization of Jewish people alongside state policies.”
School Committee retreat
The School Committee also discussed plans for its summer retreat in July, where it hopes to set goals for the new school year.
“I think we have a lot of work to do as a committee, not just team building,” Fox said. “I felt like last year we were treading water all year, being reactive rather than proactive.”
Fox said she hopes the committee will work on conflict resolution at its retreat.
Will Dowd contributed reporting to this article.
