MEETING: Finance Committee Meeting 6/8/2021 7:30 PM
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Subject: M uslim Students needs Support To: D219 Board, Superintendent, Administration I Amjad Husain am a parent/community member of District 219. I am concerned about the district recognizing our diverse student body and taking the steps necessary to ensure a ll students are adequately supported and made to feel accepted in school. It’s imperative that our district take action to engage a ll our diverse communities and address the concerns of a ll our students. They are deeply affected by dire social justice issues occurring locally, nationally, and internationally. Rather than incorrectly deem these concerns as too “political,” our district must understand the impact on student learning and embrace the social-emotional learning standards that must be implemented daily to allow a ll s tudents to succeed in school. Let’s be clear, all our students want to feel safe, accepted, and have a positive learning environment. They are not the cause of the conflict in the world—they are trying to escape or fix it. Hearing stories and experiences from our African American, Latino, BIOPAC, Palestinian and Muslim students and staff, our district obviously hasn't been doing enough to support them as they have been told they can leave if they don’t like it here. When will this change? In schools, students and staff should have safe places for dialogue, differences, and friendship without the interference of outside groups with alternative agendas dictating our district on what to do. Many of our students come from countries where there is much conflict and still have family/loved ones there. Their narratives and trauma they live daily is real. Our schools, where they spend many hours, must be safe places to share their identities, stories, and their lived experience without being silenced or made to feel bad about it. Teachers/administration must be adequately trained and supported to help students feel supported. Our Palestinian and Muslim communities, in particular, have suffered a lot in our district especially in terms of daily macro/microaggressions from peers and staff. Even our own government has perpetuated Islamophobia due to things like the Muslim ban. Some Palestinian students cannot even share their identity in school without being made to feel uncomfortable. Some Palestinian teachers have left the district due to a lack of support. Some students who are Muslim, Palestinian, Arab-Israelis, even with ethnically Jewish roots feel they cannot mention Palestine without being shunned/silenced in their lived experiences and are ironically falsely labeled “anti-semetic” if their lived narratives include the trauma they face due to the human rights violations and aggressions committed by the government of Israel towards them or their loved ones. Many Jewish students and staff who recognize the human rights violations of the Israeli government feel they don’t have a voice are being labeled self-hating Jews. How is that not anti-semetism and unacceptable? Some Pro-Israeli people/groups who labeling anything that criticizes the government of Israel as violent and anti-Jewish is unacceptable in our schools. The documented racism of the Israeli government especially against Palestinians and Ethopian/black Jews is undeniable. As Americans, all students have the freedom of speech and the right to criticize any government, including the government of Israel without being intimidated, harassed/bullied in person or online, or incorrectly labeled “anti-semetic” or falsely accused of being violent, hateful or perpetuating anti-Jewish sentiment. Anti-semitism has increased again recently. Anti-Muslim, anti-Arab sentiment, and Islamophobia has increased even more despite being at very high rates consistently for several years. Our Jewish, Muslim, Arab and Israeli students must be made to feel safe, accepted, and respected. As taxpayers, we request the district and administration to invest the time, money, and resources in creating/modeling schools where a ll students and staff feel comfortable, respected, supported, can build good relationships with people of different backgrounds, and thrive in education. Thank you for listening. Amjad Husain Subject: C omments for Board Meeting
As a community member I am in solidarity with our Muslim students and wish to know how D219 will address their needs? With recent events they are hurting. They need help. What’s concerning is that they are being excluded from the D219 community due to external pressure as are the teachers who are supporting them. This is unjust and unacceptable. If our Muslim students are a part of the equity equation when it’s being offered to other students why is this not being offered to them? Respectfully Amjad Husain
Subject: C omment for Board meeting As a parent of a NN/NW HS student I am interested in how my student is able to voice their concerns over the current situation affecting Palestine and Israel. In reference to a recent email from NW MSA the response from teachers was dismal at best. I understand this is a contentious topic for adults to talk about even so imagine how our children feel, on both sides. Where can they go to in D219 for help? While some are upset over this just by seeing or hearing about it, our Muslim students are living this reality daily. If D219 is vested in equity for all students, as past months have shown in Black Lives Matter and other community issues, I ask the same regard to be extended to Muslim students. They have a right to voice their concerns and critique governments, without censorship, but that allows dialogue. They are taught in classes to use their rights as citizens to challenge and change the world. This cannot be achieved if they are not allowed to voice their own narratives. The world as it is is challenging but our students should feel welcomed and accepted in the D219 community. Respectfully Shahidunissa Shaheen Subject: P ublic Comment Dear District 219 Board Members, Hope you are well. I wanted to reach out to re-emphasize the need to remove SROs from District 219. I also ask that you delay the SRO vote until a new board member is seated. I have previously sent you a number of letters sharing the story below, but I'm reiterating it because it feels important to share the real-life impacts that these policies have on people's lives. In the early 2000s, my sister Keeley attended Niles West, followed by OCLC (now Niles Central). She was arrested while at school. This arrest led her down a path toward probation, then house arrest, then juvenile detention, then drug addiction. This was followed by many years of jail and prison--all for extremely minor drug and theft crimes. Last year, Keeley died of an overdose while still entrapped in the criminal punishment system -- a system that prevented her from truly getting help for her addiction. In fact, this system continually contributed to the underlying trauma that drove her addiction. I want you to understand that police at Niles West initiated the cycle that led to Keeley's death. Policing in schools has been shown to inevitably lead to police violence, including the violence of arrest. This violence is particularly targets Black students and other students of color. It also disproportionately impacts students who are disabled and students living with addiction and mental illness, like my sister. I'm coming at this issue from a personal perspective, but also a professional one. I've written and edited books that address the violence of school policing. Again and again my research has shown that police have no place in institutions of learning; they are antithetical to safety. Please, please, please consider the way in which the SRO policy is brutally harming people and families. Please, please, please consider ending the district's partnership with the Skokie Police Department, through the School Resource Officer (SRO) program. And as you make these decisions, I urge you to center the voices of Black community members, students, faculty and staff, and listen to the experiences of students who have experienced violence and harassment at the hands of SROs. I'm a mom now myself. I am dreaming of schools where students truly feel safe, secure, and able to learn and grow and heal. And in schools like that -- the schools that, I think, we probably a ll w ant for our children -- there is absolutely no room for police. Moreover, there is no room for white supremacy in the schools we should be building and fostering. I applaud Principal James Edwards for showing courage in calling out local parent groups that regularly push the agenda of right-wing white supremacists. Moreover, I urge that Superintendent Isoye share his plan to support and retain BIPOC teachers and administrators, and to empower BIPOC equity leaders in the schools. Hiring and retaining Black and Brown staff must become a priority for the district, and also must be part of a larger vision of racial equity and racial justice. Sincerely, Maya Schenwar Niles West, Class of 2001
Subject: P ublic Comment for Board Meeting June 8, 2021 To the District 219 Board and Superintendent, I am incredibly saddened to hear of the resignation of Board President James Specker and Chief Technology Officer Oyindamola Idowu. Why do we continue to lose Black staff and leaders in this district? This has been a pattern for such a long time. It’s a pattern that tells a story, along with all the data on how we are failing our Black and Brown students. You can choose to ignore this story or you can hear it and do better. We must remember that the fight for justice for Black and Brown students, teachers, administrators, and families does NOT threaten the rights of other groups that experience oppression. All oppression is connected and to believe otherwise is to allow oppressive forces to divide us against each other. When our data clearly tells us that Black and Brown students are being punished more and educated less, it’s up to all of us to fix this. When our data shows us that we have a problem hiring and retaining Black and Brown staff, it’s up to all of us to fix this. Elie Wiesel said: “There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.” Today we are outside of the D219 Administrative Building protesting the ways we are failing our Black and Brown students. We protest SROs. We protest anti-Blackness. We protest the racism that drives Black staff and leaders out of this district. We protest the under-education and over-discipline of Black and Brown students. We are also here to celebrate the incredible work of teachers, administrators, students, alumni, parents, and community members who have been fighting for equity and anti-racism over this past year, despite great obstacles. Thank you to the teachers and administrators working to implement equitable grading practices and de-tracking. Thank you to the Abolition Coalition for naming the racist practices in this district and working to address them. Thank you to Dr. Sandra Arreguin and Dr. LaWanna Wells and the entire Cabinet for addressing anti-Blackness in this incredibly difficult year. Thank you to the facilitators of the SRO Task Force and those task force members who pushed for justice in their recommendations. Thank you to Dr. Jim Edwards for having the courage to push back publicly against a parent group that regularly pushes the right-wing agenda of white supremacists. Thank you to the students and alumni who have spoken up in letters, podcasts and meetings to tell their stories and demand better from us. And thank you to Jill Manrique who has borne constant attacks from both board members and community members who find her support of Black and Brown families and staff threatening. Thank you for your bravery -- we are here in solidarity with you. Sincerely, Maggie Vandermeer
Subject: V ery concerning social media posts/emails from Jill Manrique As a regular substitute teacher in district 219, a parent of two children who both graduated and attend school in District 219 I find it totally despicable that a board member of our district would speak badly about the Jewish people, Israel and my family and friends. As a representative of the district there should not be social media posts and emails which are "anti-Semitic" and very concerning about the safety of our community, especially our children. It is not the place of teachers, district representatives or anyone working with the schools to TAKE SIDES and promote hate and anti-Semitism in our community. I am asking that Jill Manrique be removed from her position immediately and have a neutral person who can see both sides of a situation replace her. It is totally unacceptable to spread "hateful" speech to the community and our students. We want to ensure ALL OUR STUDENTS feel safe regardless of their race, religion, sexual preference, etc. Thank you for your consideration
Danna Brim
Subject: P ublic Comment to be read during 6/8/21 BOE meeting To Whom it May Concern, I was very dismayed to see an organized protest by Board of Education member, Jill Manrique, advertised via her Twitter and other social media outlets. Specifically, my discouragement is related to the statement on the flyer saying that former 219's BOE member and president, James Specker's departure was due to the district driving him away due to his skin color. Mr.Specker's resignation letter cited "personal health reasons", and it is completely inappropriate for Ms. Manrique to publicly announce any alternative reason for resignation. It is clear that she is leveraging his personal situation for her own gain in an effort to drive the narrative of the Abolition Coalition, which she co-founded, per her resume. When elected to our board, Ms. Manrique took an oath where she committed to "seek changes through ethical and constructive channels". While I respect her efforts to perpetuate change through the creation of this coalition, spreading lies about Mr. Specker is both unethical and deconstructive. Additionally, as a member of the board, she is expected to adhere to the code of conduct, of which she has blatantly ignored. Specifically:
● Principle 1: I will represent all School District constituents HONESTLY and EQUALLY and refuse to surrender my responsibilities to special interest or partisan political groups- ● Principle 2: I will not use my Board membership for personal gain or publicity ● Principle 4- I will take no private action that might compromise the Board and will respect the confidentiality of privileged information
Her twitter account profile description cites her BOE membership,and she has consistently indicated her board membership in her tweets, which clearly are guided by special interest and partisan politics. By facilitating a protest herself and advertising it by @mentioning various Niles Township trustees, she is clearly garnering publicity and striving for personal gain. And by stating mistruths about a fellow board member, she is compromising your Board. Based on the code of ethics, and her blatant disregard of the oath she took when elected, I respectfully request that the BOE seek to remove Ms. Manrique from the Board, as she is not serving our community in a bi-partisan manner, and has become a liability via her divisive and accusatory rhetoric. Further, as you seek to replace Mr. Specker on the Board, I strongly suggest that if any candidate has any affiliation with any Board Member that could result in a conflict of interest, that the Board Member recuse themselves from the vote. Thank you, Emily McCall Subject: P ublic comments Good Evening. My husband and I chose to live in Skokie 24 years ago based on the safety of the community, the excellent public schools, the excellent park district and a village that was full of public services supported by tax dollars. It was additionally easy for us to settle in Skokie as my grandparents were here as one of the 3000 Jewish families that sought refuge in the village post World War 2. In my tenure living here, I have never been more discouraged or concerned. The School recently put up signs "Hate has no home here", but I don't believe either the school, the administration, or members of the school board or some community members are living by this tenant. From observation, hate has no home here unless: 1. You are a police officer. If you have chosen law enforcement as a career, we will disparage you, create false narratives about and use social media to call for your demise. 2. You are a Jew. Anti-Semitic rhetoric has a home here and is generated and tolerated by staff as well as BOE members 3. You are a republican. 4. You have an dissenting opinion. 5. You care about public safety and the security of the students in our buildings. Freedom of speech has been squashed. People are simply afraid to disagree and productive conversations with open dialog are not encouraged. I can't even imagine what it is like to be a member of the BIPOC community and disagree with the vocal minority. The BOE and administration is here for the students. Your job is to prepare the students of D219 to be productive adults, as they define it. Your job is not political. Please remember why you are here and please focus on the kids. Additionally, please encourage education and constructive dialog. Let’s be kind to each other. This community can do some much better. Please stop the hate and vitriol. Hate has no home here. If you put it up, live by it. Respectfully Submitted, Elline Eliasoff
Subject: Israel agenda Dear Board and Staff, As a child of a Holocaust survivor and a concentration camp Liberator ( member of the 82ND Airborne), it is incumbent on the members of District 219 to keep an open mind regarding recent in events in the middle east and to present clear and unbiased viewpoints. This would include the factual history of the Middle East. Skokie, a community that invited Jews to settle when others shut their doors, must never let anti Semitism rear its ugly head in this wonderful community, the truly exemplifies the "melting pot' of America. The history of Israel must be taught and not smeared to fit any particular agenda. One can be against a particular government and pro the state in which the government exists. Please do not conflate the two when it comes to the Israel/Gaza situation. Respectfully submitted, Jill Cunniff
Subject: p ublic comment 6/8/2021 We must protect human beings from tragedy! CNN)They both fidget while they talk, like any teenager would when being questioned in front of multiple cameras. One jokes about her imperfect manicure. The other adjusts her necklace that says "Misery." "Prom is on my birthday," Lauren Hogg says. "I think it's going to be great. On my 18th birthday -- how much fun!" Again -- as any teenager would act. But then, when asked to recount what should be the hardest thing for them to talk about, their fidgeting stops. "I was in the 1200 building, which is where the shooting happened," Brooke Harrison says. "And Alaina, Alyssa and Alex all died in my classroom and eight people total were shot in my classroom. Everyone that was around me where I decided to try to hide was either shot or killed." That is the moment their lives changed forever. The day they became among the youngest survivors of one of the worst school shootings in American history.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School graduating seniors Lauren Hogg and Brooke Harrison speak with CNN's Kate Bolduan. Hogg and Harrison were freshmen at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in February 2018 when a former student carried out the massacre that left 17 people dead. That was three years ago. Now these youngest survivors are graduating. Source of article CNN.com You cannot possibly ignore this - when tragedy strikes like when mass shootings occur in schools by either a person from the outside or within, society becomes shocked! How is it there is a chance that Niles Township HS can be without any SRO protections? How is this - how can you not protect our children ? How will you live your life knowing that if something did happen (death as a result of such tragedies) that you could have prevented by simply giving the human beings within the building the protections they should have... Ticia Doughty
Subject: T o be read aloud at June 8 BOE Meeting Dear Mr. Kim and the District 219 Board of Education, I am the parent of a student at Niles North High School. Please have this letter read in public comments at the June 8th BOE meeting. In the past few weeks, I have seen an increase in the level of hatred aimed at those of the Jewish faith, here is Skokie, and specifically in District 219. There are Instagram and Snapchat posts with vile anti-Semitic content from students. Our community is also reeling from anti-Semitic vandalization of the Persian Hebrew synagogue - a synagogue founded by Jews from Iran. I am aware of the many letters from Muslim parents read at the last board meeting and we agree on many points, specifically that our children are hurting, need a voice and need assurance from D219 that they can feel safe and accepted. ALL of our children deserve a learning environment where they can feel safe and accepted. The email sent from the Niles West Muslim Student Association sponsor on May 13, 2021, regardless of intent, caused harm as it included biased sources and a single-story lens to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, which is a very complicated hot topic. This letter is not a statement on the politics surrounding the Israeli/Palestinian conflict; however this conflict half a world away has led to direct acts of hate toward Jews in our community. The Israeli/Palestinian conflict is addressed in a safe environment with approved sources in the freshman graduation-required class on Modern World History. It is already covered in the curriculum. We believe that this subject should stay in this safe and controlled environment, with teachers who have the knowledge and the skills to address this sensitive topic. Ethically, public schools and its employees are expected to stay politically neutral in the classroom. This is especially important in a school district as diverse as 219. Please let me know how the district intends to make sure my child feels safe at school and how anti-Semitic actions from students will be handled by the district. Sincerely, Bruce Fogel, Skokie
Subject: P lease read in public comments at June 8 Board Meeting Dear Mr. Kim and the District 219 Board of Education, I am the parent of a student at Niles North High School. Please have this letter read in public comments at the June 8th BOE meeting. We recently moved to the Chicago area from New Jersey. We chose to live in the D219 boundaries precisely because we wanted our children to be raised not only in a diverse community, but in a community that takes a respectful stance toward all forms of diversity. We examined several other districts with better school ratings, and rejected each for its relative homogeneity in identity-based factors, both visible and invisible. Diversity is about more than demographics – it is about perspective taking. We wanted our children immersed in diversity as a core value. We have taught our children this value because we have been personally, deeply, and irrevocably affected by the Holocaust, a primary goal of which was to eradicate diversity by sanitizing the world of Jews. My father was a survivor. My maternal grandmother, who escaped Poland, never saw her 12 siblings or her parents again. They were murdered in concentration camp gas chambers. Antisemitism is not a historical artifact. I have been asked to show people my “Jew horns.” My husband returned to his dorm in college to find the door painted with a swastika and his room flooded. A group of people in a car shouted Jewish slurs at my family recently and then drove away. In the past few weeks, I have seen an increase in the level of hatred aimed at those of the Jewish faith, here is Skokie, and specifically in District 219. There are Instagram and Snapchat posts with vile anti-Semitic content from students. Our community is also reeling from anti-Semitic vandalization of the Persian Hebrew synagogue - a synagogue founded by Jews from Iran. I am aware of the many letters from Muslim parents read at the last board meeting and we agree on many points, specifically that our children are hurting, need a voice and need assurance from D219 that they can feel safe and accepted. ALL of our children deserve a learning environment where they can feel safe and accepted. The email sent from the Niles West Muslim Student Association sponsor on May 13, 2021, regardless of intent, caused harm as it included biased sources and a single-story lens to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, which is a very complicated hot topic. This letter is not a statement on the politics surrounding the Israeli/Palestinian conflict; however this conflict half a world away has led to direct acts of hate toward Jews in our community. The Israeli/Palestinian conflict is addressed in a safe environment with approved sources in the freshman graduation-required class on Modern World History. It is already covered in the curriculum. We believe that this subject should stay in this safe and controlled environment, with teachers who have the knowledge and the skills to address this sensitive topic. Ethically, public schools and its employees are expected to stay politically neutral in the classroom. This is especially important in a school district as diverse as 219. Please let me know how the district intends to make sure my child feels safe at school and how anti-Semitic actions from students will be handled by the district. Sincerely, Katharine L. Loeb Skokie, IL
Subject: 6 /8 Public Comment - Thank you, James Specker Dear Board of Education, Dr. Isoye, Cabinet, Staff and Community of District 219. I wanted to express my deepest gratitude to James Specker for his service to District 219. It was a honor and a privilege to have served as his colleague on the Board of Education. I know I was a better Board member for having served with him, and I am better person for knowing him. I wish him all the best in his post-board endeavors. Warmest regards, Richard Evonitz Skokie, IL
Subject: F ollow-up to my previous email to Niles West. This email is in regards to the previous concern of the situation in which the MSA students were turned down by teachers and staff when the Humanitarian crisis of Palestine was brought up. I would like to know what is being done by Niles West to ensure that in the future the students are heard and are encouraged to voice their opinions instead of shutting them down for doing so? Our children feel traumatized and isolated when such atrocities are being ignored by the institution which is a second home to them. They look forward to see and feel empathy from their teachers and when it doesn't happen then it badly affects their mental health. We have much trust in Niles West leadership that these requests from us parents would not be turned down and some solid policies would be shared with us in writing so that our children don't go through it again in future. Much Thanks, Fariha and Shakeel.
Subject: L etter from a concerned parent Dear District 219 Board of Education and administration, Please have this letter read in public comments at the June 8th BOE meeting. I am the parent of a current student at Niles North High School as well as an incoming Freshman. I am also a naturalized citizen who was born and raised in Israel. Twelve years ago, my husband and I chose to live in the D219 boundaries precisely because I wanted my children to be raised in a diverse community. For the most part, this has been very beneficial. However, recent events have led to some serious safety concerns. The recent events in Israel have impacted our family in many ways. On my maternal side, my Israeli roots date back to 1882. My great grandmother, my grandmother, my grandfather and both my parents were all born in what became the State of Israel in 1948. As were my brother and I. My aging parents, aunts, uncles, sibling, nieces, and cousins all still live there. There are many people we love and care about whom live there. This includes my parents Arab-Christian next-door neighbors of over 50 years. This includes the Muslim owner of our favorite Shawarma restaurant in Kfar Yassif and many more. Listening to the live stream of radio from Israel with sirens going off sometimes every 30 seconds a couple of weeks ago– was very emotional and difficult. I have sadly lived through this before. I grew up this way living on the border with Lebanon. My children experienced rockets over their heads when they visited their grandparents in 2014. They have slept in their grandparents’ bomb shelter before. This is not the first time we have been filled with worry for everyone whom we care for in the Middle East. We all yearn for the day when no one has to experience this ever again. What I have never experienced before is fear for my children’s well-being and safety here in the United States. Where Persian Jews were attacked in LA for being Jewish. Here in Skokie. Where our Persian-Hebrew Synagogue (founded by Jews from Iran) was vandalized in an anti-Semitic hate crime. Here in Skokie – where we see social media spreading vile anti-Semitic content from other students, colleagues, and neighbors. Here in Skokie – where an 8th grade math teacher decided to discuss the Israeli/Palestinian conflict through a one-sided lens. He decided to (in his words) “stand on the side of humanity”. My child was brave enough to share her real fear for the lives of her elderly grandparents in Israel. Not taking a stand. Not voicing a political opinion. Just stating the facts. Sharing her human fear for the lives of family members she loves dearly. Her teacher did not acknowledge her feelings. He did not acknowledge her real fear. After she spoke, he simply resumed math class. He basically rendered my child “not on the side of humanity” by shutting down the conversation at that point. I am aware that he is not a D219 teacher. And I believe the administration at the D219 feeder school did a great job in addressing the issue. I am actually more fearful of what will happen in D219. D219 is not offering my children and I any sense that you will keep them safe. The district CAN and SHOULD ensure that ALL our children feel safe and accepted. The district shared out this message of acceptance and safety last year after the George Floyd events. The district shared out this message earlier this year, speaking up against anti-Asian hate. My kids were proud to be part of a district that values diversity. That seeks to provide a safe space for what they thought was everyone. And yet …. We see the rise of anti-Semitism, and we hear not one word from the district. Not one email of support. Not one email that condemns anti-Semitism, and anti-Semitic speech at the schools or on social media.. Not one email that sends a message to my children that their diversity matters. That they will be kept safe at D219. And while I understand that the district cannot police the social media posts of students. I am concerned about social media posts I see from board members as well as D219 administrators. These posts set the tone for everyone else. These posts make it “OK” for students to target my children. Ethically, public schools and its employees are expected to stay politically neutral in the classroom. I would expect that this would apply to any social media or email communications that are done using district email address or district social media handles. This is especially important in a school district as diverse as D219. Please let me know how the district intends to make sure my children feel safe at school and how anti-Semitic actions from students will be handled by the district. Sincerely, Menucha Levy
Subject: F ollow up by a community member concerning Muslims students at 219 district! Hello everyone, This is with reference to this email chain that was sent to voice our concerns for the Muslim students attending District 219. The MSA email that was sent to educate the staff about the Eid and how the global violent events affected the kids. I would like to follow up regarding such situations where in the kids feel left out, cornered and are left to deal on their own. They have to endure the pain and trauma after seeing such atrocities around the world. Recent one being the attacks in Palestine and loss of innocent civilians including children. I need to know what has the board decided to cater to our genuine concerns. What will be the action plan to express empathy to the kids who need such support irrespective of religion or any race. As a community member and a resident of Morton Grove, the well being of kids is my concern and priority. They should feel safe and connected and cared when they are in the school. I am looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks, Ruheena Mohammed
Subject: J ewish Students Need Support Dear Mr. Kim and the District 219 Board of Education,
I am the parent of a student at Niles North High School. Please have this letter read in public comments at the June 8th BOE meeting.
I am incredibly leery of a public school district, whether District 219 or otherwise, being adequately prepared to facilitate a politically balanced discussion around the topic of Israel and Palestine. For instance, a necessary precondition to host such a discussion is the confidence that these types of activities - either in intention or effect – will not lead to physical or emotional harm or otherwise compromise the wellbeing among the primary stakeholders: the student body as a whole, and, in this case, particularly the Jewish and Muslim students.
Families of every background have the expectation that they are sending their children to a high school where they will be afforded the freedom and security to grow, to explore, and to come into their own as emerging young adults. Sadly, that has not been the experience of all members of the student community. Antisemitic acts and expressions are all too common in our country and in our world, and examples of that intolerance have occurred at Niles North as well. For example, my daughter has been subjected to a steady stream of blatant and disgusting antisemitic harassment through social media by a significant contingent of students at Niles North, which, she reports, has been consistent with the experiences of many if not all of her Jewish classmates. In addition, about three weeks ago a male classmate who recognized my daughter walking near our home shouted “Kike” at her as he was walking past on the other side of the street. Do these incidents concern the district? If yes, how will we know?
As you are likely aware, across the nation and around the world Jewish people and institutions have experienced a precipitous increase in antisemitic violence, especially during the past couple of months. With this in mind, I think it is fair to ask who in the District 219 community has requested a conversation about Israel and Palestine (?) It surely has not been the Jewish stakeholders because we have been mostly preoccupied with the chilling increase in antisemitic violence throughout the world, including in Chicago and Skokie. Without incredibly careful oversight and planning, these types of discussions predictably devolve into a place for students to come and try to convince others what is right and wrong, and will serve to amplify conflict rather than facilitate any type of healing or meaningful empathy. At worst, it will lend credibility to a space for antisemitism to flourish, as we have seen countless times in the past, under the guise of having ‘difficult conversations’ about Palestinian rights.
Polarizing students based on their religious and/or political positions seems almost incendiary in intent. For example, has the district done this before with any success with other global political conflicts? Pakistani and Indian students? Yemeni and Saudi students? Kurdish and Turkish students? Russian and Ukrainian students? If yes, then I am eager to learn the outcomes of such discussions.
The bottom line is that there is good reason for me to be concerned for the safety of my child in school. As I reviewed the letters from Muslim parents that were read at the last board meeting, I certainly understand their frustration with a school district that has not been doing enough to ensure that every student feels safe and accepted. I personally know numerous Jewish families who have transferred-out as a direct response to the administration failing to take campus antisemitism seriously, and so I urge you to do better.
It also must be acknowledged that for many Jewish students, Zionism is an integral part of their identity and their ethnic, religious, and ancestral heritage. These students have the right to openly express identification and support with Israel without fear of antisemitic reactions, whether institutional or situational in style, whether coming from students or members of the faculty, and whether it be rhetorical or physical in nature. These students must feel confident that they attend a school that takes hateful actions against them seriously.
Efforts by the district to encourage, promote, or enable the demonization of the Jewish state of Israel and frame it as the entitlement of those who care about social justice should be aware that this strategy effectively leads to the mainstreaming of antisemitic attitudes and beliefs into the academic culture and general curriculum of District 219 schools. To this end, the district has a responsibility to take campus antisemitism seriously, which means appreciating the distinctive expressions of this style of hate and trusting those who experience it to be best positioned to identify it. It also means staying above the political fray and recognizing that often enough expressions of antizionism are made in bad faith – just ask your Jewish students who have recently experienced an unprecedented social media pogrom. Please – ask them.
As an institution underwritten by the public's trust and funded by our tax dollars, I will appreciate the District 219 board letting me, my daughter, and the district 219 community know what specific plans the school administration/D219 have to more capably prevent, identify, and respond to campus antisemitism.
Sincerely,
Paul Cantz
Subject: B oard Meeting Comment As a D219 parent I am concerned for our Muslim students during these contentious times. Our community reached out to you last month and we have yet to hear back as to what the district will be doing to help our Muslim/Arab students. I would like to know how D219 will stand with them? What is being done to make our Muslim student population feel understood and assisted? We have a wide variety of students from all over the world where they have come from prosecution and injustices. What is being done for them? Are they a part of your equity program? Do our Muslim/Arab students have a voice at D219? Moreso, do they have the right to use it? Lack of response from the district is disheartening and concerning. I am hopeful you will not marginalize our students. Mrs. Shabnam Mahmood
Subject: P ublic Comment for the June 8 BOE Meeting I am the proud parent of a student at Niles North High School. I recognize that Skoie and the areas within the D219 boundaries include a diverse community and people of many backgrounds. For the most part, I believe this has been very beneficial. However, recent events have led to some serious safety concerns.
I am concerned for the safety of my child in school. In the past few weeks, I have seen an increase in the level of hatred aimed at those of the Jewish faith. This letter is not a statement on the politics surrounding the Israeli/Palestinian conflict; rather it is an objective stament of reality. This longstanding conflict half a world away has unfortunately led to direct acts of hate toward Jews in our community. I have seen vile anti-Semitic online posts from D219 students and others. The Jewsih community itself endured yet more attacks and experienced anti-Semitic vandalization of the Persian Hebrew synagogue - a synagogue founded by Jews from Iran.
I am aware of the many letters from Muslim parents read at the last board meeting and we agree on cetain points, specifically that our children are hurting, need a voice and need assurance from D219 that they can feel safe and accepted. ALL of our children deserve a learning environment where they can feel safe and accepted.
The email sent from the Niles West Muslim Student Association sponsor on May 13, 2021, regardless of intent, caused harm as it included biased sources and a single-story lens to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, which is a very complicated topic. Anti -semitism is prevalent in society and I would hope and EXPECT that a school district, in particular one with a diverse and relatively significant Jewish population, would be aware of this historic fact and take steps to control biased, dangerous and inflammatory actions.
The Israeli/Palestinian conflict should be, if at all, addressed in a safe environment with approved sources such as the graduation-required class on Modern World History. My understanding is that it is already covered in the curriculum. I believe that this subject should stay in that safe and controlled environment, with teachers who have the knowledge and the skills to address this sensitive topic. Ethically, public schools and their employees are expected to stay politically neutral in the classroom. This is especially important in a school district as diverse as 219. Again, informed politically neutral teachers with adequate training should be the one's teaching this content and monitoring student association online activities.
Please let me know how the district intends to make sure my child feels safe at school and how anti-Semitic actions from students will be handled by the district.
Sincerely,
Andrew N. Levine
Subject: C oncern about safety and neutrality of school space Dear Mr. Kim and the District 219 Board of Education,
I am the parent of a student at Niles North High School. Please have this letter read in public comments at the June 8th BOE meeting.
Even before latest unrest in Israel and Gaza, many Jewish students felt unsafe at school. There were quite a few aggression incidents towards them that were completely ignored by adults in school hallways. Unfortunately, I was not surprised. The web resourse that D219 students are required to use for their school projects research is heavily biased against Israel. Recent conflict has led to direct acts of hate toward Jews in our community.
I chose to live in the D219 boundaries precisely because I wanted my children to be raised in a diverse community. For the most part, this has been very beneficial. However, recent events have led to some serious safety concerns.
My child has shown me Instagram and Snapchat posts with vile anti-Semitic content from other students, but is afraid to take screen shots due to safety concerns. Our community is also reeling from anti-Semitic vandalization of the Persian Hebrew synagogue - a synagogue founded by Jews from Iran.
I am aware of the many letters from Muslim parents read at the last board meeting and we agree on many points, specifically that our children are hurting, need a voice and need assurance from D219 that they can feel safe and accepted. ALL of our children deserve a learning environment where they can feel safe and accepted.
The email sent from the Niles West Muslim Student Association sponsor on May 13, 2021, regardless of intent, caused harm as it included biased sources and a single-story lens to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, which is a very complicated hot topic. My child was already talking about experiencing discomfort and fear of being Jewish on campus, and this email has led to an increase in my child being afraid of attend school and show that he is Jewish.
The Israeli/Palestinian conflict is addressed in a safe environment with approved sources in the freshman graduation-required class on Modern World History. It is already covered in the curriculum. We believe that this subject should stay in this safe and controlled environment, with teachers who have the knowledge and the skills to address this sensitive topic. Ethically, public schools and its employees are expected to stay politically neutral in the classroom. This is especially important in a school district as diverse as 219.
Please let me know how the district intends to make sure my child feels safe at school and how anti-Semitic actions from students will be handled by the district.
Sincerely,
Irina Pechenik
Subject: P ublic Comment for Board Meeting I am a ‘92 graduate of Niles West, as well as a parent of current and future students of West. My family consists of a diverse Latino-Jewish Black background and I chose to raise our children here because of the diverse community. Within the past two weeks, there have been 200+ anti-Semitic attacks in the US against the Jewish people, synagogues, and businesses. It has left many of us feeling isolated and unsafe. To be Jewish and encounter anti-Semitism is often an incredibly lonely experience. I expected D219 to reach out to our Jewish students with emotional support and solidarity as they did for the Asian, Black and Brown students when there were hate crimes being committed against them, but they did not. I wrote 2 emails and both were not addressed. The vandalism of the Persian Hebrew Synagogue in Skokie is within our D219 borders. What is the excuse as to why D219 did not address this hate crime and was instead met with silence? I am concerned for the safety of my child in school. D219 needs to be a safe place for ALL students. They need to feel accepted. Recently, the Israel-Palestinian conflict has become a hot topic with d219 students on social media. Many of the tweets, memes, Snapchats that I have seen are of anti-Semitic content. There is a difference between promoting peace and inciting hate. I have also seen the Twitter feed of school board member Jill Manrique’s statements “to join her to condemn Israel’s war crimes in Jerusalem and Gaza” and that “Silence is also Violence.” Which she signs “your elected school board member” I believe her comments are very one sided and are also not only inciting hate but also violence. Freedom of Speech is very important and encouraged, but school officials should not be using their positions or platforms to voice their personal political views, especially on social media where it’s seen by the masses including students of D219. The way Ms. Manrique articulates her ideologue supersedes the aims. Perpetuating problematic ideas even with critical examination can still lead to increased hate and fear. I also didn’t appreciate Mr. Edwards rant on the Niles North Twitter page. These officials are silencing voices with their narrative. Ethically, public schools and its employees should stay publicly politically neutral. This is especially important in a school district as diverse as 219. I would like to know how the district intends to make sure my child feels safe at school and how anti-Semitic actions from students will be handled by the district. Sincerely, Dr. Kathy Knobel
Subject: J une 8, 2021 Board Meeting - public comment - please read this letter
Dear Mr. Kim and the District 219 Board of Education,
I am a concerned parent of an incoming high student and citizen of D219. I am writing with regards to the latest rise in antisemitism across the country and the lack of outreach from our school district. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) says reporting of antisemitic incidents has jumped 63 percent since the start of an 11-day war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip that received heavy media coverage in the United States and around the world.
Last summer, the school district reached out to address HATE and bring comfort to our Black and Brown students. Then in the past months again reached out to address HATE towards our Asian students. But the silence towards our Jewish students is deafening. The recent vandalization of the synagogue in Skokie shows how close all of this is to home and our children.
I have been informed a whole slew of letters reflecting an anti Israel point of view were read at the last Dist 219 Board meeting last month, that a teacher sent out anti Israel content using the school email system, and that a D219 board member has been tweeting anti-Israeli commentary. This is in addition to what our students are also dealing with on social media in connection with the recent war in Israel. The war is a long standing conflict in the region if discussed should be discussed from a historical perspective taking into account both sides and a neutral stand from the school.
My friend’s son shows me the Snapchats with absolute hatred towards Jews being spread. Yes, the school does not control what our kids do outside of school, but shouldn’t all students be treated fairly and equally? Are we not trying to promote equity for all?
If our other minority students received the courtesy email that hatred would not be tolerated on campus or outside, should our Jewish students not equally be the beneficiaries of this type of email going to the student body to look out for them?
Another issue I need to bring up. Politics from our administration should not be infiltrating the school. This includes teachers, principals, superintendents, PTA. Like religion, politics is something that must be left to the parents.
A recent Twitter exchange between the Niles North principal and the NTAC board member regarding wearing school masks resulted in some heavy insults toward parents who are of a different political party affiliation to the principal. First I would like to point out, at least half of the population is of the other political affiliation, but secondly, the conversation had no reason to go in that direction at all. It was regarding the kids wearing face masks and the only direction it needs to go in is in the direction of science. As a principal of a place of education, it is his job to stay on top of the research and science regarding face masks and kids being vectors of transmission in the first place. I certainly hope the school makes decisions based on the science with papers to back them up. But additionally, his insults should at a minimum censor him and his public social media presence. This should apply to all school administrators – including the very vocal PTA members. Their political views should not be on their social media accounts.
Please respond to me email and let me know what the school will do to reassure me that the Jewish kids have the same courtesy the other minority students received AND reassure me that you will get politics OUT OF SCHOOL!
Sincerely a concerned parent, Allison Berger
Subject: P ublic Comments Dear Mr. Kim and the District 219 Board of Education, I am the parent of a new graduate of Niles North High School. Please have this letter read in public comments at the June 8th BOE meeting. I chose to live in the D219 boundaries precisely because I wanted my children to be raised in a diverse community. For the most part, this has been very beneficial. However, recent events have led to some serious safety concerns. I am concerned for the safety of my child and other students in our district. In the past few weeks, I have seen an increase in the level of hatred aimed at those of the Jewish faith. This letter is not a statement on the politics surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; however, this conflict half a world away has led to direct acts of hate toward Jewish individuals in our community. My child has seen an increase in antisemitic posts and attitudes on social media. Our community is also reeling from antisemitic vandalization of the Persian Hebrew synagogue - a synagogue founded by Jews from Iran. I am aware of the many letters from Muslim parents read at the last board meeting and we agree on many points, specifically that our children are hurting, need a voice and need assurance from D219 that they can feel safe and accepted. ALL of our children deserve a learning environment where they can feel safe and accepted. The email sent from the Niles West Muslim Student Association sponsor on May 13, 2021, regardless of intent, caused harm as it included biased sources and a single-story lens to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, which is a very complicated hot topic. Over the last several weeks, my child has increasingly faced antisemitic comments from those inherently conflating their Jewishness with support for the actions of the Israeli government in the aforementioned conflict. I would like to see all students feel safe to voice their concerns and discuss their feelings in a sensitive and neutral school environment. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict should not be ignored by our schools, but rather should be covered in a safe and controlled environment with teachers who have the knowledge and the skills to address each aspect of this sensitive topic. In a school district as diverse as D219, it is important that we make every student feel safe even when discussing such critical topics. Please let me know how the district intends to make sure that every child feels safe at school and how antisemitic actions from students will be handled by the district. Sincerely, Dr. Elena Batman Levin and Lee Levin
Subject: P lease respond Dear Mr. Kim and the District 219 Board of Education, I’m the parent of students at Niles North High School. Please have this letter read in public at the June 8 BOE meeting. You have historically spoken out against all kinds of hate speech except that regarding Anti-Semitism. My children feel unsafe within the confines of their school and the community at large. There are anti-Semitic IG and Snapchat posts circulating which are allegedly connected to students in D219, and you’ve chosen to say nothing. You’ve chosen to say nothing regarding the defilement of local synagogues. You’ve chosen to say nothing regarding the violence against those in the Jewish community recently across the nation. My wife and I are disappointed and frustrated by the administration at D219. My hope is that you’ll finally be moved by an outcry to make a statement, albeit late, to indicate to my children that they will be protected. Please let me know how the district intends to make sure my child feels safe at school and how anti-Semitic actions from students will be handled by the administration. Scott Richter
Subject: P ublic Comments for June 8th BOE meeting Dear Mr. Kim and the District 219 Board of Education,
I am the parent of a former student at Niles North High School. Please have this letter read in public comments at the June 8th BOE meeting. I chose to live in the D219 boundaries precisely because I wanted my children to be raised in a diverse community. For the most part, this has been very beneficial. However, recent events have led to some serious safety concerns.
I am concerned for the safety of my child in school. In the past few weeks, I have seen an increase in the level of hatred aimed at those of the Jewish faith. This letter is not a statement on the politics surrounding the Israeli/Palestinian conflict; however this conflict half a world away has led to direct acts of hate toward Jews in our community. We have seen Instagram and Snapchat posts with vile anti-Semitic content from other students, who are afraid to take screen shots due to safety concerns. Our community is also reeling from anti-Semitic vandalization of the Persian Hebrew synagogue - a synagogue founded by Jews from Iran.
I am aware of the many letters from Muslim parents read at the last board meeting and we agree on many points, specifically that our children are hurting, need a voice and need assurance from D219 that they can feel safe and accepted. ALL of our children deserve a learning environment where they can feel safe and accepted.
The email sent from the Niles West Muslim Student Association sponsor on May 13, 2021, regardless of intent, caused harm as it included biased sources and a single-story lens to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, which is a very complicated hot topic. Children in our community are already talking about experiencing discomfort and fear of being Jewish on campus. This email led to an increase in the anxiety among the Jewish student at school.
The Israeli/Palestinian conflict is addressed in a safe environment with approved sources in the freshman graduation-required class on Modern World History. It is already covered in the curriculum. We believe that this subject should stay in this safe and controlled environment, with teachers who have the knowledge and the skills to address this sensitive topic. Ethically, public schools and its employees are expected to stay politically neutral in the classroom. This is especially important in a school district as diverse as 219.
Please let me know how the district intends to make sure my child feels safe at school and how anti-Semitic actions from students will be handled by the district.
Sincerely,
David Lowenthal
Subject: K indly respond I am the parent of students at Niles North High School. I am concerned for the safety of my children. In the past few weeks, we have seen an uptick anti-Semitic rhetoric. My children have shown me both Instagram and Snapchat posts with anti-Semitic content from other students in district. My children have not been reassured by the adults at school that they will be protected. Where are you? Ethically, public schools and employees therein are expected to stay politically neutral in the classroom. This is especially important in a school district as diverse as 219: Nonetheless, this has been a mighty struggle and an epic fail at every turn and at nearly every level in D219. Please let me know if and how the district intends to make sure my children feel safe at school and how anti-Semitic actions from students will be handled by the adult powers that be. We’re looking for you. Sincerely, Susan Richter
Subject: S afety Concern for My Children Dear Dr. Kim and the District 219 Board of Education, I am the parent of students at Niles North High School. We have two graduates, two currently enrolled, and one more child in 7th grade in a feeder school. Please have this letter read in public comments at the June 8th BOE meeting. I chose to live in the D219 boundaries precisely because I wanted to raise my family in a diverse community. For the most part, this has been very beneficial. However, recent events have led to some serious physical and emotional safety concerns that are inconsistent with the policies and culture cultivated by this Board.
In the past few weeks, I have seen an increase in the level of hatred aimed at those of the Jewish faith. This letter is not a statement on the politics surrounding the very complex geopolitical aspects of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict; however this conflict half a world away has led to direct acts of physical, verbal, and emotional hate toward Jews in our local community. D istrict 219 students a re sharing Instagram and Snapchat posts with vile anti-Semitic content. Our community is also reeling from anti-Semitic vandalization of the Persian Hebrew synagogue in Skokie immediately following an anti-Jewish rally held in the vicinity of four synagogues on Dempster Street calling for violence against Jews.
I am aware of the many letters from Muslim parents read at the last board meeting, and we agree on many points, specifically that our children are hurting, need a voice and need assurance from D219 that they can feel safe and accepted. ALL of our children deserve a learning environment where they can feel safe and accepted.
The email sent from the Niles West Muslim Student Association sponsor on May 13, 2021, regardless of intent, caused harm as it included biased sources and a single-story lens to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, a very complicated hot topic. My child was already talking about experiencing discomfort and fear of being Jewish on campus, and this email has led to an increase in my children being afraid of attending school and showing that they are Jewish.
The Israeli/Palestinian conflict is addressed in a safe environment with approved sources in the freshman graduation-required class on Modern World History. We believe that this subject should stay in this safe and controlled environment, with teachers who have the knowledge and the skills to address this sensitive topic. Ethically, public schools and their employees are expected to stay politically neutral in the classroom. This is especially important in a school district as diverse as 219.
Please let me know how the district intends to make sure my child feels safe at school and how anti-Jewish actions from students and staff will be handled by the district.
Respectfully,
Brian Gold and Michelle Alt
Subject: p ublic comment To whom it may concern: I am a K-12 Alum, 2004 graduate of Niles West, and a woman of color. There is an enduring problem with anti-Black racism that is present throughout the D219 institution, including on the school board where many members openly oppose ending institutionalized racism. Joe Nowik is an example of a board member who opposes the struggle to end institutionalized racism, which disqualifies him from public service. This continued racism manifests itself in the districts lack of ability to retain Black staff, which causes scientifically proven harm to students that carries out throughout their lives. Superintendent Isoye must share his plan to support and retain BIPOC teachers and administrators and empower BIPOC leaders working in the district. Police are a militarized violent armed force that have no place in a place of learning and growth for students. A recent case in Florida had a SRO deputy slamming a 16 year old student into the concrete floor head first with tremendous neurological problems now that will follow her for the rest of her life. SROs in D219 have also had violent and harmful incidents with students causing life long harm. It is criminal to spend money on an armed presence in schools when our students are starving for resource investment in their care - mental health care, social workers for example. Remove SROs and end the IGA. Thank you to Principal James Edwards for denouncing this institutionalized racism in our district. Former students of color like me thank you. Adults like you fighting for our humanity when we were kids gave us hope in a district that still has stubbornly not fully embraced justice for the entire student body. Sincerely, Loreen Targos
Subject: S upporting Muslim students, Arab Students, and All Students Good Afternoon! I am writing as a Niles West class of 99 alum and current D219 resident who hopes to see the first of my 3 children attend Niles West in 4 years. I can't tell you how much it saddens me that in a school where I felt so comfortable practicing my faith as a young Muslim in the late 90s, I now hear that Muslim students feel alienated and swept under the rug. To hear that discussions of admittedly sensitive political current events are quashed is surprising when I remember discussing so many sensitive issues in AP US History, AP European History, or even in the old West Word. If our school can't tolerate a calm discussion (especially with facilitation by faculty), then how are we preparing our young adults to face the responsibility of being informed voters and the task of consuming information to create well thought out opinions? Personally, I think this is the responsibility of every high school but the fact that this is happening in one of the most diverse high schools in America is astounding to me. If Muslim students were complaining about this kind of atmosphere being created by students, I would feel sad but understand. That they feel that this atmosphere is being created by staff and administration is saddening on a deeper level. In an amazingly diverse community like the one we are blessed with in D219, our teachers and administration need to be sensitive to the needs and concerns of all of our students of every race, religion, orientation, or identity. I know that the district has done a lot to promote diversity, understanding, and inclusivity and I hope to see more of it as it is clearly needed. As the son and brother of educators, I thank you for taking on this difficult task of shaping young minds and encourage you to keep improving for their sake. Thank you! Mohammed Hussain Subject: c omments for board meeting I am writing as a Niles West class of 99 alum and current D219 resident who hopes to see the first of my 3 children attend Niles West in 4 years. I can't tell you how much it saddens me that in a school where I felt so comfortable practicing my faith as a young Muslim in the late 90s, I now hear that Muslim students feel alienated and swept under the rug. To hear that discussions of admittedly sensitive political current events are quashed is surprising when I remember discussing so many sensitive issues in AP US History, AP European History, or even in the old West Word. If our school can't tolerate a calm discussion (especially with facilitation by faculty), then how are we preparing our young adults to face the responsibility of being informed voters and the task of consuming information to create well thought out opinions? Personally, I think this is the responsibility of every high school but the fact that this is happening in one of the most diverse high schools in America is astounding to me. If Muslim students were complaining about this kind of atmosphere being created by students, I would feel sad but understand. That they feel that this atmosphere is being created by staff and administration is saddening on a deeper level. In an amazingly diverse community like the one we are blessed with in D219, our teachers and administration need to be sensitive to the needs and concerns of all of our students of every race, religion, orientation, or identity. I know that the district has done a lot to promote diversity, understanding, and inclusivity and I hope to see more of it as it is clearly needed. As the son and brother of educators, I thank you for taking on this difficult task of shaping young minds and encourage you to keep improving for their sake. Thank you! Mohammed Hussain
Subject: P alestinian Mom & NW Alumni
To: D219 Board, Superintendent, Administration
I am a parent/community member of District 219. I am concerned about the district recognizing our diverse student body and taking the steps necessary to ensure a ll s tudents are adequately supported and made to feel accepted in school. It’s imperative that our district take action to engage a ll o ur diverse communities and address the concerns of a ll our students. They are deeply affected by dire social justice issues occurring locally, nationally, and internationally. Rather than incorrectly deem these concerns as too “political,” our district must understand the impact on student learning and embrace the social-emotional learning standards that must be implemented daily to allow a ll s tudents to succeed in school. L et’s be clear, all our students want to feel safe, accepted, and have a positive learning environment. They are not the cause of the conflict in the world—they are trying to escape or fix it. H earing stories and experiences from our African American, Latino, BIOPAC, Palestinian and Muslim students and staff, our district obviously hasn't been doing enough to support them as they have been told they can leave if they don’t like it here. When will this change? In schools, students and staff should have safe places for dialogue, differences, and friendship without the interference of outside groups with alternative agendas dictating our district on what to do.
Many of our students come from countries where there is much conflict and still have family/loved ones there. Their narratives and trauma they live daily is real. Our schools, where they spend many hours, must be safe places to share their identities, stories, and their lived experience without being silenced or made to feel bad about it. Teachers/administration must be adequately trained and supported to help students feel supported. Our Palestinian and Muslim communities, in particular, have suffered a lot in our district especially in terms of daily macro/microaggressions from peers and staff. Even our own government has perpetuated Islamophobia due to things like the Muslim ban. Some Palestinian students cannot even share their identity in school without being made to feel uncomfortable. Some Palestinian teachers have left the district due to a lack of support. Some students who are Muslim, Palestinian, Arab-Israelis, even with ethnically Jewish roots feel they cannot mention Palestine without being shunned/silenced in their lived experiences and are ironically falsely labeled “anti-semetic” if their lived narratives include the trauma they face due to the human rights violations and aggressions committed by the government of Israel towards them or their loved ones. This is islamphobic and anti-Arab/Muslim. Many Jewish students and staff who recognize the human rights violations of the Israeli government feel they don’t have a voice and labeled as self-hating Jews. How is that not anti-semetism and unacceptable? Some Pro-Israeli people/groups falsely label any criticism of the government of Israel as violent and anti-Jewish and that is unacceptable in our schools. The documented racism of the Israeli government especially against Palestinians and Ethopian/black Jews is undeniable. As Americans, all students have unalienable rights to speech and to criticize any government, including the government of Israel without being intimidated, harassed/bullied in person or online, or incorrectly labeled “anti-semetic” or falsely accused of being violent, hateful or perpetuating anti-Jewish sentiment.
Anti-semitism has increased again recently. Anti-Muslim, anti-Arab sentiment, and Islamophobia has increased further too despite being at very high rates consistently for several years. Our Jewish, Muslim, Arab and Israeli students must be made to feel safe, accepted, and respected. As taxpayers, we request the district and administration to invest the time, money, and resources in creating/modeling schools where a ll students and staff feel comfortable, respected, supported, can build good relationships with people of different backgrounds, and thrive in education. Thank you for your time.
Deema Suleiman Subject: c omments for board meeting
To: D219 Board, Superintendent, Administration
I am a parent of a District 219 student. I am concerned about the district recognizing our diverse student body and taking the steps necessary to ensure a ll s tudents are adequately supported and made to feel accepted in school. It’s imperative that our district take action to engage a ll o ur diverse communities and address the concerns of a ll our students. They are deeply affected by dire social justice issues occurring locally, nationally, and internationally. Rather than incorrectly deem these concerns as too “political,” our district must understand the impact on student learning and embrace the social-emotional learning standards that must be implemented daily to allow a ll s tudents to succeed in school. L et’s be clear, all our students want to feel safe, accepted, and have a positive learning environment. They are not the cause of the conflict in the world—they are trying to escape or fix it. H earing stories and experiences from our African American, Latino, BIOPAC, Palestinian and Muslim students and staff, our district obviously hasn't been doing enough to support them as they have been told they can leave if they don’t like it here. When will this change? In schools, students and staff should have safe places for dialogue, differences, and friendship without the interference of outside groups with alternative agendas dictating our district on what to do.
Many of our students come from countries where there is much conflict and still have family/loved ones there. Their narratives and trauma they live daily is real. Our schools, where they spend many hours, must be safe places to share their identities, stories, and their lived experience without being silenced or made to feel bad about it. Teachers/administration must be adequately trained and supported to help students feel supported. Our Palestinian and Muslim communities, in particular, have suffered a lot in our district especially in terms of daily macro/microaggressions from peers and staff. Even our own government has perpetuated Islamophobia due to things like the Muslim ban. Some Palestinian students cannot even share their identity in school without being made to feel uncomfortable. Some Palestinian teachers have left the district due to a lack of support. Some students who are Muslim, Palestinian, Arab-Israelis, even with ethnically Jewish roots feel they cannot mention Palestine without being shunned/silenced in their lived experiences and are ironically falsely labeled “anti-semetic” if their lived narratives include the trauma they face due to the human rights violations and aggressions committed by the government of Israel towards them or their loved ones. This is islamphobic and anti-Arab/Muslim. Many Jewish students and staff who recognize the human rights violations of the Israeli government feel they don’t have a voice and are labeled as self-hating Jews. How is that not anti-semetism and unacceptable? Some Pro-Israeli people/groups falsely label any criticism of the government of Israel as violent and anti-Jewish and that is unacceptable in our schools. The documented racism of the Israeli government especially against Palestinians and Ethopian/black Jews is undeniable. As Americans, all students have unalienable rights to speech and to criticize any government, including the government of Israel without being intimidated, harassed/bullied in person or online, or incorrectly labeled “anti-semetic” or falsely accused of being violent, hateful or perpetuating anti-Jewish sentiment.
Anti-semitism has increased again recently. Anti-Muslim, anti-Arab sentiment, and Islamophobia has increased further too despite being at very high rates consistently for several years. Our Jewish, Muslim, Arab and Israeli students must be made to feel safe, accepted, and respected. As taxpayers, we request the district and administration to invest the time, money, and resources in creating/modeling schools where a ll students and staff feel comfortable, respected, supported, can build good relationships with people of different backgrounds, and thrive in education.
Thank you for your time,
Melida Skenderi Subject: P ublic comment for Board meeting 6.8.21
Dear Dr. Isoye, District 219 Administration, and Board of Education, It’s been a year since students and alumni in D219 flooded the board and administration with stories of the trauma endured at the hands of police in D219. Parents, community members, teachers, and administrators have added their voices to demand the removal of SROs. The recommendations of the task force, appointed by the superintendent, were received at the last board meeting and the message was clear: remove the SROs and end D219’s Intergovernmental Agreement with the Skokie Police! The community, expecting a vote at this June 8 board meeting, is now absorbing the news that Board President James Specker -- the board’s only Black member -- has just resigned. Another high level Black administrator, Chief Technology Officer Oyindamola Idowu has also announced her departure. With the recent return of Superintendent Isoye and the ongoing attempts by certain parent groups to push back against equity and anti-racist efforts, the D219 community now faces the loss of two more Black education leaders. In recent months, teachers and administrators have unequivocally declared an anti-blackness crisis in D219, supported by data showing racism in student discipline, student achievement, and the district’s inability to retain Black and Brown leaders and teachers. White nationalist groups are targeting young children with their messaging vividly and blatantly in our Niles Township and north shore communities. Recently, an Anti-Asian hate sign was approved by an administrator and plastered on the walls of Glenbrook South High School. We can’t ignore the violent rise of white supremacy or signs that white nationalists have organized to recruit our children. Do you remember what happened at the State Capitol, a symbol of our nation’s democracy, on January 6th? All of the signs that the State Capitol was going to be stormed and that people's lives, our elected officials and officers, were in danger were ignored. We must share that we remain deeply concerned about the future of the District 219 schools. With the removal of SROs, District 219 will be able to reach its goal of dismantling racist, systemic barriers for academic excellence and success for our BIPOC children in your schools. What supports are in place for Black leadership in your district? We have seen what historically happens when the needs of the Black community are ignored by educational institutions. What are you doing to create the culture necessary for Black people in your district in all levels to flourish? Our focus has always been on students and staff, but with special emphasis on Black and Latinx students and staff as the District’s data concerning these groups exposes racist systemic practices that are preventable. Please remove SROs now in District 219 schools so that the district can continue to dismantle racist, systemic barriers in order to create a safe, welcoming academic institution for academic excellence and success for our BIPOC children and staff in your schools. We know what can happen when we lean into what we know to be true: that with love and justice, we can create a beloved community where we all are respected and realize our full humanity. We must work together to create a safe place for Black and Brown students and staff to thrive in D219. Sincerely, Monique Cooley-Hicks Natasha LaVallias Roxann Salgado Angela Sangha-Gadsden Jasmine Sebaggala Abolition Coalition Jasmine Sebaggala Maggie Vandermeer Skokie Schools Equity Collaborative Subject: F or public comment june8 I am a ‘92 graduate of Niles West, as well as a parent of current and future students of West. My family consists of a diverse Latino-Jewish Black background and we chose to raise our children here because of the diverse community. Within the past two weeks, there have been over 200 anti-Semitic attacks in the US against the Jewish people, synagogues, and businesses. It has left many of us feeling isolated and unsafe. To be Jewish and encounter anti-Semitism is often an incredibly lonely experience. I expected D219 to reach out to our Jewish students with emotional support and solidarity as they did for the Asian, Black and Brown students when there were hate crimes being committed against them, but they did not. I wrote 2 emails and both were not addressed. The vandalism of the Persian Hebrew Synagogue in Skokie is within our D219 borders. I would like to understand why D219 finds it reasonable not address this hate crime and was instead met with silence? This lack of response leaves me concerned for the safety of my child in school. D219 needs to be a safe place for ALL students. They need to feel accepted. Recently, the Israel-Palestinian conflict has become a hot topic with d219 students on social media. Many of the tweets, memes, Snapchats that I have seen are of anti-Semitic content. There is a difference between promoting peace and inciting hate. I have also seen the Twitter feed of school board member Jill Manrique’s statements asking others “to join her to condemn Israel’s war crimes in Jerusalem and Gaza” and that “Silence is also Violence.” Which she signs “your elected school board member” I believe her comments are very one sided and are also not only inciting hate but also violence. Freedom of Speech is very important and encouraged, but school officials should not be using their positions or platforms to voice their personal political views, especially on social media where it’s seen by the masses including students of D219. The way Ms. Manrique articulates her ideologue supersedes the aims. Perpetuating problematic ideas even with critical examination can still lead to increased hate and fear. I also didn’t appreciate Mr. Edwards rant on the Niles North Twitter page. These officials are silencing voices with their narrative. Ethically, public schools and its employees should stay publicly politically neutral. This is especially important in a school district as diverse as 219. I would like to know how the district intends to make sure my child feels safe at school and how anti-Semitic actions from students will be handled by the district. Sincerely, Dr. Kathy Knobel
Subject: J une 8 BOE meeting I am the parent of a student at Niles North High School, who is just graduating. His sibling also graduated Niles North and decided to stay close to this area and attends Northwestern due to having loved Skokie and its diverse community. I chose to live in the D219 boundaries because I wanted my children to be raised in a community accepting of diversity. How ironic that we live near the Evanston Golf Course, that did not accept my parents as they were Jewish when I was young, yet I see Skokie as different. I remember The Nazi Demonstrations sought to occur in our town that Skokie fought trying to protect the Holocaust survivors that made this town their home. This should be remembered so history does not repeat as our town accepts all races, immigrants and religions and Skokie should continue to defend its residents. My children and I have never escaped anti-Semitism but had felt safer here in the past. I immigrated from Israel and the missile attacks on my relatives and friends in Israel was frightening, and after the retaliation to stop the bombing began I have seen an increase in the level of hatred aimed at those of the Jewish faith locally including in Skokie. This conflict half a world away has led to direct acts of hate toward Jews in our community. My children have seen Instagram and Snapchat anti-Semitic posts from other students, and our community is also recovering from anti-Semitic vandalization of the Persian Hebrew synagogue - a synagogue founded by Jews from Iran fleeing persecution. I am aware of the many letters from Muslim parents read at the last board meeting and we agree on many points, specifically that our children are hurting, need a voice and need assurance from D219 that they can feel safe and accepted. ALL of our children deserve a learning environment where they can feel safe and accepted. Coming to the US as my parents believed in the acceptance of all people living together, not judged on background, religion, or race. My father’s ancestors had been living side by side with Arabs for 300 years in what is Safed Israel, until territory conflicts erupted, and I have hundreds of cousins throughout the land, starkly opposite to my mother’s lack of having relatives there or anywhere, as her parents fled to Israel when not even the US would take them as survivors of the Holocaust. I was born on the Fourth of July and felt this country was meant to be my country with its promise of acceptance. I wish Palestinians accepted their own state when it was offered by the Peel or White Papers, and would now be a neighbor with Israel, but that did not occur. As Hamas and other terrorist groups do not see the land as anything that can be shared there is not peace for either side yet. Extremism on either side perpetuates hate, so please do not be part of the extremists. Even if many Israelis abroad and I here in Skokie support a two state solution, terrorists bombing civilians non discriminatorily in Israel by sending thousands of missiles out of anger and hate instead of diplomacy is as wrong as targeting Jewish buildings here in Skokie out of anger and hate. Protecting our residents against attacks here is what we can control though. Diplomacy and acceptance of others are the routes to keep a diverse community here. My heart goes out to those in Gaza being trapped by a terrorist organization preventing true negotiations, or solutions as they having no say or elected government system as in the West Bank. We can pray for a peaceful solution there but we need to work on our issues here. Destroying places in Skokie and perpetuating hate online mimics the ongoing conflicts abroad. All Skokie residents should condemn anti-Semitism, racism and hate here. Modeling starts here with Muslims and Jews continuing to live together and protecting each other. We can pray and support a Middle East peace movement, not violence or hate and educate on democracy and diplomacy. The email sent from the Niles West Muslim Student Association sponsor on May 13, 2021 had the opposite effect of peace and solution based discussions. The Israeli/Palestinian conflict is addressed in a safe environment with approved sources in the freshman graduation-required class on Modern World History. It is already covered in the curriculum and well described in Wikipedia, in Britannica under The Creation of Israel. We believe that this subject should stay in this safe and controlled environment, with teachers who have the knowledge and the skills to address this sensitive topic. Ethically, public schools and its employees are expected to stay politically neutral in the classroom. This is especially important in a school district as diverse as 219. Please let me know how the district intends to make sure my child feels safe at school and how anti-Semitic actions from students will be handled by the district. Sincerely, Noga Askenazi MD
Subject: S tudent support / comments for board meeting I am an alumni and community member of District 219. I am concerned about the district recognizing our diverse student body and taking the steps necessary to ensure all students are adequately supported and made to feel accepted in school. It’s imperative that our district take action to engage all our diverse communities and address the concerns of all our students. They are deeply affected by dire social justice issues occurring locally, nationally, and internationally. Rather than incorrectly deem these concerns as too “political,” our district must understand the impact on student learning and embrace the social-emotional learning standards that must be implemented daily to allow all students to succeed in school. Let’s be clear, all our students want to feel safe, accepted, and have a positive learning environment. They are not the cause of the conflict in the world—they are trying to escape or fix it. Hearing stories and experiences from our African American, Latino, BIOPAC, Palestinian and Muslim students and staff, our district obviously hasn't been doing enough to support them as they have been told they can leave if they don’t like it here. When will this change? In schools, students and staff should have safe places for dialogue, differences, and friendship without the interference of outside groups with alternative agendas dictating our district on what to do. Many of our students come from countries where there is much conflict and still have family/loved ones there. Their narratives and the trauma they live daily is real. Our schools, where they spend many hours, must be safe places to share their identities, stories, and their lived experience without being silenced or made to feel bad about it. Teachers/administration must be adequately trained and supported to help students feel supported. Our Palestinian and Muslim communities, in particular, have suffered a lot in our district especially in terms of daily macro/microaggressions from peers and staff. Even our own government has perpetuated Islamophobia due to things like the Muslim ban. Some Palestinian students cannot even share their identity in school without being made to feel uncomfortable. Some Palestinian teachers have left the district due to a lack of support. Some students who are Muslim, Palestinian, Arab-Israelis, even with ethnically Jewish roots, feel they cannot mention Palestine without being shunned/silenced in their lived experiences and are ironically falsely labeled “anti-Semitic” if their lived narratives include the trauma they face due to the human rights violations and aggressions committed by the government of Israel towards them or their loved ones. This is islamophobic and anti-Arab/Muslim. Many Jewish students and staff who recognize the human rights violations of the Israeli government feel they don’t have a voice and are labeled as self-hating Jews. Some Pro-Israeli people/groups label any criticism of the government of Israel as violent and anti-Jewish, that is unacceptable in our schools. The documented racism of the Israeli government especially against Palestinians and Ethiopian/black Jews is undeniable. As Americans, all students have inalienable rights to speech and to criticize any government, including the government of Israel without being intimidated, harassed/bullied in person or online, or labeled “anti-Semitic” or falsely accused of being violent, hateful, or perpetuating anti-Jewish sentiment. Anti-semitism has increased again recently. Anti-Muslim, anti-Arab sentiment, and Islamophobia have also continued to increase despite being at very high rates consistently for several years. Our Jewish, Muslim, Arab and Israeli students must be made to feel safe, accepted, and respected. As taxpayers, we request the district and administration to invest the time, money, and resources in creating/modeling schools where all students and staff feel comfortable, respected, supported, can build good relationships with people of different backgrounds and thrive in education. I know this is not easy, but it is not impossible. If there is a school district that can do this, it is District 219. Thank you for your time, Enisa Selimbegovic Akgul
Subject: A ll students need support
I am a community member of District 219. I am concerned about the district recognizing our diverse student body and taking the steps necessary to ensure a ll s tudents are adequately supported and made to feel accepted in school. It’s imperative that our district take action to engage a ll o ur diverse communities and address the concerns of a ll our students. They are deeply affected by dire social justice issues occurring locally, nationally, and internationally. Rather than incorrectly deem these concerns as too “political,” our district must understand the impact on student learning and embrace the social-emotional learning standards that must be implemented daily to allow a ll s tudents to succeed in school. L et’s be clear, all our students want to feel safe, accepted, and have a positive learning environment. They are not the cause of the conflict in the world—they are trying to escape or fix it. H earing stories and experiences from our African American, Latino, BIOPAC, Palestinian and Muslim students and staff, our district obviously hasn't been doing enough to support them as they have been told they can leave if they don’t like it here. When will this change? In schools, students and staff should have safe places for dialogue, differences, and friendship without the interference of outside groups with alternative agendas dictating our district on what to do.
Many of our students come from countries where there is much conflict and still have family/loved ones there. Their narratives and trauma they live daily is real. Our schools, where they spend many hours, must be safe places to share their identities, stories, and their lived experience without being silenced or made to feel bad about it. Teachers/administration must be adequately trained and supported to help students feel supported. Our Palestinian and Muslim communities, in particular, have suffered a lot in our district especially in terms of daily macro/microaggressions from peers and staff. Even our own government has perpetuated Islamophobia due to things like the Muslim ban. Some Palestinian students cannot even share their identity in school without being made to feel uncomfortable. Some Palestinian teachers have left the district due to a lack of support. Some students who are Muslim, Palestinian, Arab-Israelis, even with ethnically Jewish roots feel they cannot mention Palestine without being shunned/silenced in their lived experiences and are ironically falsely labeled “anti-semetic” if their lived narratives include the trauma they face due to the human rights violations and aggressions committed by the government of Israel towards them or their loved ones. This is islamphobic and anti-Arab/Muslim. Many Jewish students and staff who recognize the human rights violations of the Israeli government feel they don’t have a voice and labeled as self-hating Jews. How is that not anti-semetism and unacceptable? Some Pro-Israeli people/groups falsely label any criticism of the government of Israel as violent and anti-Jewish and that is unacceptable in our schools. The documented racism of the Israeli government especially against Palestinians and Ethopian/black Jews is undeniable. As Americans, all students have unalienable rights to speech and to criticize any government, including the government of Israel without being intimidated, harassed/bullied in person or online, or incorrectly labeled “anti-semetic” or falsely accused of being violent, hateful or perpetuating anti-Jewish sentiment.
Anti-semitism has increased again recently. Anti-Muslim, anti-Arab sentiment, and Islamophobia has increased further too despite being at very high rates consistently for several years. Our Jewish, Muslim, Arab and Israeli students must be made to feel safe, accepted, and respected. As taxpayers, we request the district and administration to invest the time, money, and resources in creating/modeling schools where a ll students and staff feel comfortable, respected, supported, can build good relationships with people of different backgrounds, and thrive in education. Thank you for your time.
Regards, Khadija Ahmed
Subject: P lease include in public comments at June 8 BOE meeting To Whom it May Concern: My name is Rabbi Yochanan Posner. I am not currently a parent at District 219, but I know many of the Jewish students through my efforts with the Jewish Association of Students at Niles North and Skokie Cteen, and I know many of the families through my role as a Rabbi at Lubavitch Chabad of Skokie. I was involved in arranging the panel cohosted by the Jewish Association of Students and the Muslim Student Association at Niles North in February of 2020. I was also one of the panelists, and I look forward to several more such inclusive events during the 2021-2022 school year. My purpose in writing this letter is to present to the District 219 Board of Education what many parents are concerned about, and to offer a path forward for the district, as well as for the parents and students. At the last meeting of District 219 Board of Education, parents of Muslim students sought to express their sincerely felt sense of outrage, and demanded the opportunity to present the Palestinian narrative and to advocate for it in school. However, pro-Palestinian rhetoric means danger and destruction for the people of Israel, and is terrifying for Jewish students, especially in light of the recent attacks on Jews in the United States by people espousing such rhetoric. The threatening message of the recent vandalism of a synagogue in Skokie, and violent riots in Naperville, along with online harassment, isn't lost on Jewish students in District 219. No parent wants their children to fear for their safety or to feel that they have to fight for life and death causes at school. Indeed no child, Muslim or Jewish, should ever be put in that position. Undoubtedly many students of various backgrounds followed the recent war in Israel and Gaza with concern and with fear for the safety of their relatives and friends in Gaza as well as in Israel. I hope that every single one of them had sufficient support so that they were able to focus on their studies without anxiety. However, it should be self-evident that one group of students’ wellbeing may not come at the cost of another group of students’ wellbeing. A diverse public school should be culturally sensitive and not choose sides. It is not realistic to be neutrally supportive of both sides in the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Hamas slogan "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" is irreconcilable with the Israeli ideal for Jews to live freely, safely, securely, and peaceably in the ancestral Jewish homeland. The world has not yet found a mutually acceptable compromise; there may not be one, and it appears that this conflict may tragically continue indefinitely. The primary purpose of school is to educate, and specifically to educate in certain subjects. In order to do that effectively, school must be a safe place for all students and teachers. For this reason, even though all speech is protected by the first amendment, legally there are certain exceptions in a school setting. Moreover, not all speech is appropriate for a school setting. If speech makes others feel uncomfortable to the degree that they cannot learn, or if speech distracts the student or teachers from their purpose of education in the subjects on the curriculum, this speech does not belong on the school campus. It is simply unhelpful to the primary mission of the school and therefore inappropriate and unwelcome. It is not productive or acceptable to bring a war into school. The Israeli–Palestinian conflict is being fought militarily in Israel and in Gaza, it is being fought diplomatically by lobbyists at the UN and in Washington, DC, and in other capitals, and it is being fought in the media. If individuals want to express solidarity with a particular side in the conflict, they can attend rallies or protests - out of school. These are all venues for geo-political conflict. School is not one of them. This is America, the great melting pot. There are many different types of people here, and despite our differences we coexist and live together as one nation. It should be possible for Muslim and Jewish students to be friendly with each other in District 219, even while their relatives are fighting with each other in the Mideast. Bringing the Israeli–Palestinian conflict into school makes that congeniality unlikely, if not impossible. And it is not healthy for any of the students in the school, Muslim, Jewish, and others. I think that what is needed is a clear loud voice from school leadership saying that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict may not be fought in school. When a school becomes embroiled in controversial issues that are not directly related to the education of students, the students’ education suffers. School is not a place for irredentist activism; it is a place for learning. I urge the District 219 Board of Education, the school administration, the faculty, parents, and students to focus on their common purpose at school and to not let other topics interfere, no matter how tantalizingly right and just they may appear to be. Thank you for reading my letter and taking its message to heart. Sincerely, Rabbi Yochanan Posner Subject: P ublic Comment
Dear Mr. Kim and the District 219 Board of Education,
As an alumnae and parents of District 219 students, we are saddened to be sharing these sentiments with you today, as they display how drastically District 219 has changed in the past 30 years. We chose to move back to District 219 because we wanted to raise our children in a diverse, tolerant community. This was true until recently.
Since 2019 we have been in touch with the administration about several issues that have occurred in 219 schools that have left Jewish students feeling uncomfortable. However, the last month of this school year saw an increase in the level of hatred aimed at Jewish students like we’ve never seen before. One of our children was beside herself because of the hatred and anti-Semitic vitriol posted on Instagram by other District 219 students. Jews nationwide are reeling from a level of anti-Semitism that most of us have never experienced in our lives, while the rest of the country sits back and watches silently. Some may claim that the increase in hatred was due a conflict that was 6,000 miles away.
We are aware of all the letters written on behalf of the Muslim Student Association at the May board meeting, and we’d like to state that we agree that all students are hurting and have a right to be heard and feel safe and accepted. However, there is only harm done when the content shared by the staff sponsor of a school activity (Niles West Muslim Student Association) is hurtful and biased. How do you expect Jewish students who already felt uncomfortable and unsupported in District 219 to feel after dissemination of this kind of biased material?
The Israeli-Palenstinian conflict is addressed with approved sources in the freshman graduation-required class on Modern World History. Even in this class environment, our child experienced extraneous commentary on the situation and the teacher was unprepared to handle the dialogue. We believe District 219 needs to keep the subject under control and has an obligation to educate teachers so they have the knowledge and skills to address this sensitive topic factually and keep class discussions comfortable for all students. Ethically, public schools and their employees are expected to stay politically neutral in the classroom. This is especially important in a district as diverse as 219, but is far from the case.
District 219 needs to think long and hard about the message you send students when you remain silent on the topic of anti-Semitism and aggressiveness toward Jewish students. Silence is not an acceptable answer, and so far, that is all your student body has heard from you.
In disappointment,
Rena & Doug Thompson
Subject: G ood Evening. My husband and I chose to live in Skokie 24 years ago based on the safety of the community, the excellent public schools, the excellent park district and a village that was full of public services supported by tax dollars. It was additionally easy for us to settle in Skokie as my grandparents were here as one of the 3000 Jewish families that sought refuge in the village post World War 2. In my tenure living here, I have never been more discouraged or concerned. The School recently put up signs "Hate has no home here", but I don't believe either the school, the administration, or members of the school board or some community members are living by this tenant. From observation, hate has no home here unless: 1. You are a police officer. If you have chosen law enforcement as a career, we will disparage you, create false narratives about and use social media to call for your demise. 2. You are a Jew. Anti-Semitic rhetoric has a home here and is generated and tolerated by staff as well as BOE members 3. You are a republican. 4. You have an dissenting opinion. 5. You care about public safety and the security of the students in our buildings. Freedom of speech has been squashed. People are simply afraid to disagree and productive conversations with open dialog are not encouraged. I can't even imagine what it is like to be a member of the BIPOC community and disagree with the vocal minority. The BOE and administration is here for the students. Your job is to prepare the students of D219 to be productive adults, as they define it. Your job is not political. Please remember why you are here and please focus on the kids. Additionally, please encourage education and constructive dialog. Let’s be kind to each other. This community can do some much better. Please stop the hate and vitriol. Hate has no home here. If you put it up, live by it. Respectfully Submitted, Elline Eliasoff
Subject: P ublic Comment Board Meeting 6/8/2021 To the District 219 School Board: On behalf of the Skokie FOP, I would like to thank all the members of the Superintendent’s SRO/Security Task Force for their commitment, both in time and dedication, to the security review they conducted which included the role of the SRO. The Skokie FOP continues to take the position that the best solution is to continue to have an SRO inside the building. The community survey conducted by D219 supports this position as do the numerous instances of security threats to both Niles North and Niles West in years past being quickly resolved in part due to the involvement and response of the SRO. Conceptually, the Skokie FOP agrees with some of the task force’s recommendations including developing a crisis plan, an on-going review of the District’s safety and security practices and on-going training. Other recommendations present issues that the task force may not have anticipated but that this School Board should consider before making its decision. Maintaining an SRO with a majority presence outside the building would delay a response to any immediate threat inside the building. It also conflicts with the recommendation to facilitate relationship building. Building relationships requires interaction. Interaction happens when the SRO is in the Building. Emergency call boxes and emergency notification devices are a great idea. But no additional detail was provided as to who would respond when one of those is activated. An SRO with a presence outside the building or no SRO at all would delay a police response and put the burden on the District’s security staff to handle something they may not be prepared for. The most alarming recommendation is under the no SRO option that “requires a clear expectation of what the police response time will be in the event of a crisis.” The only way to guarantee a police response time in the event of a crisis is to maintain an SRO in the building who is familiar with the school’s layout and can respond immediately. Otherwise, the District is leaving itself to rely on Patrol Officers assigned to different geographic areas of the Village who are not as familiar with the school’s layout that may or may not be handling other calls for service when a crisis at D219 occurs. As members and stakeholders in this District, it is our expectation that the D219 Board will do what is in the best interests of security and safety for the District as a whole and retain the SRO inside both Niles West and Niles North. Damon Nikolopoulos Vice President, Skokie Fraternal of Police
Subject: F or public comment june8 I am a ‘92 graduate of Niles West, as well as a parent of current and future students of West. My family consists of a diverse Latino-Jewish Black background and we chose to raise our children here because of the diverse community. Within the past two weeks, there have been over 200 anti-Semitic attacks in the US against the Jewish people, synagogues, and businesses. It has left many of us feeling isolated and unsafe. To be Jewish and encounter anti-Semitism is often an incredibly lonely experience. I expected D219 to reach out to our Jewish students with emotional support and solidarity as they did for the Asian, Black and Brown students when there were hate crimes being committed against them, but they did not. I wrote 2 emails and both were not addressed. The vandalism of the Persian Hebrew Synagogue in Skokie is within our D219 borders. I would like to understand why D219 finds it reasonable not address this hate crime and was instead met with silence? This lack of response leaves me concerned for the safety of my child in school. D219 needs to be a safe place for ALL students. They need to feel accepted. Recently, the Israel-Palestinian conflict has become a hot topic with d219 students on social media. Many of the tweets, memes, Snapchats that I have seen are of anti-Semitic content. There is a difference between promoting peace and inciting hate. I have also seen the Twitter feed of school board member Jill Manrique’s statements asking others “to join her to condemn Israel’s war crimes in Jerusalem and Gaza” and that “Silence is also Violence.” Which she signs “your elected school board member” I believe her comments are very one sided and are also not only inciting hate but also violence. Freedom of Speech is very important and encouraged, but school officials should not be using their positions or platforms to voice their personal political views, especially on social media where it’s seen by the masses including students of D219. The way Ms. Manrique articulates her ideologue supersedes the aims. Perpetuating problematic ideas even with critical examination can still lead to increased hate and fear. I also didn’t appreciate Mr. Edwards rant on the Niles North Twitter page. These officials are silencing voices with their narrative. Ethically, public schools and its employees should stay publicly politically neutral. This is especially important in a school district as diverse as 219. I would like to know how the district intends to make sure my child feels safe at school and how anti-Semitic actions from students will be handled by the district. Sincerely, Dr. Kathy Knobel
Subject: C omments for Board Meeting Anti-semitism has increased again recently. Anti-Muslim, anti-Arab sentiment, and Islamophobia has increased further too despite being at very high rates consistently for several years. Our Jewish, Muslim, Arab and Israeli students must be made to feel safe, accepted, and respected. As taxpayers, we request the district and administration to invest the time, money, and resources in creating/modeling schools where a ll students and staff feel comfortable, respected, supported, can build good relationships with people of different backgrounds, and thrive in education. Thank you for your time. Khadija Ahmed
Subject: D istrict 219 Board of Education. I would like this letter read during public comments at the BOE meeting June 8,2021. I graduated from Niles west 30yrs ago. I currently have a student at D219 and a future D219 student as well. I moved back to this area based on the flourishing diversity that I grew up with and embraced. We are a blended family of mixed race and religion. I believe we all want a safe environment for our children. An environment where our children can feel safe and accepted. Recently, there has been a 438% increase in anti-Jewish hate crimes. I have seen Instagram and Snapchat posts with anti-Jewish content from other students. Not only anti-Jewish content, but when my child’s friend tried to defend Israel, the students bullied the child on social media. So much so, that I told my child to keep quiet and not say a word in fear of retaliation. I advised my child to not respond to the hateful and inaccurate social media by other students. I would like to show pride in our faith, but unfortunately for my child’s safety I have advised him to hide who he is, and who we are. It’s unfortunate that D219 does not provide a Hate has no home mentality to the Jewish Students. The email sent from the Niles west Muslim student association on 5/13/21, regardless of content, caused harm as it included biased sources and single story lines to the Israel/Palestine conflict. My child was already experiencing discomfort and fear of being Jewish on campus, this email did not ease his fear, instead heightened it. Personal political views must be kept out of the classroom, unless it’s taught appropriately. Presently Modern World History at d219 does a great job and has experienced teachers on the topic. Other school officials and teachers, including Board members, should stay politically neutral. There is a difference between peaceful discussions and using social media to promote hatred divisiveness, that incites anti-Jew. In addition, the principal of Niles North and board member Jill Manrique have used school platforms to promote their own political agenda. Promoting hate and divide. Teaching what to think and not how to think. With the increase of hate, teachers and board members adding to hate, how does a child feel safe in school? It is all one sided opinion pieces that don’t belong in the school. It makes it very difficult for one to have a different opinion and not feel retaliation not only from other kids, but from the actual teachers and mentors that are supposed to be a safe place for our children to seek guidance. Removal of SROs during this troubling time is a mistake. It is now routine to have multiple armed policeman now at many places of worship to keep community members safe. Who is keeping the school safe without the SRO? Jill posted on her abolition coalition flyer that the board president resigned due to being driven out due to his skin color. He cited “personal health reasons”. Why is she spreading lies, hate and divide? Is it to gain leverage for her own personal agenda. Jill stayed silent when the white English professor said there was an overrepresentation of Asian kids in honors English classes. So if her logic applies to herself, her silence was also violence. It is interesting how this district picks and chooses what is racist and what is not. Do as I say not as I do...fluid ethics. Please let me know how the district intends to make my child feel safe at school and how the Anti-Jewish actions for students will be handled by the district. Please let me know how board members ans employees of the school using school platform for one’s own political opinion and agenda will be handled? As an alumni of D219 I am very disappointed in the way the D219 members are behaving. This is not just a representation of the school. It is a representation of our community. Thank you A. Hurtado Subject: T HIS LETTER IS FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THE JUNE 8TH BOE MEETING Dear District 219 Board of Education and administration, I am the parent of a current student at Niles North High School as well as an incoming Freshman. I am also a naturalized citizen who was born and raised in Israel. Twelve years ago, my husband and I chose to live in the D219 boundaries precisely because I wanted my children to be raised in a diverse community. For the most part, this has been very beneficial. However, recent events have led to some serious safety concerns. The recent events in Israel have impacted our family in many ways. On my maternal side, my Israeli roots date back to 1882. My great grandmother, my grandmother, my grandfather and both my parents were all born in what became the State of Israel in 1948. As were my brother and I. My aging parents, aunts, uncles, sibling, nieces, and cousins all still live there. There are many people we love and care about whom live there. This includes my parents Arab-Christian next-door neighbors of over 50 years. This includes the Muslim owner of our favorite Shawarma restaurant in Kfar Yassif and many more. Listening to the live stream of radio from Israel with sirens going off sometimes every 30 seconds a couple of weeks ago– was very emotional and difficult. I have sadly lived through this before. I grew up this way living on the border with Lebanon. My children experienced rockets over their heads when they visited their grandparents in 2014. They have slept in their grandparents’ bomb shelter before. This is not the first time we have been filled with worry for everyone whom we care for in the Middle East. We all yearn for the day when no one has to experience this ever again. What I have never experienced before is fear for my children’s well-being and safety here in the United States. Where Persian Jews were attacked in LA for being Jewish. Here in Skokie. Where our Persian-Hebrew Synagogue (founded by Jews from Iran) was vandalized in an anti-Semitic hate crime. Here in Skokie – where we see social media spreading vile anti-Semitic content from other students, colleagues, and neighbors. Here in Skokie – where an 8th grade math teacher decided to discuss the Israeli/Palestinian conflict through a one-sided lens. He decided to (in his words) “stand on the side of humanity”. My child was brave enough to share her real fear for the lives of her elderly grandparents in Israel. Not taking a stand. Not voicing a political opinion. Just stating the facts. Sharing her human fear for the lives of family members she loves dearly. Her teacher did not acknowledge her feelings. He did not acknowledge her real fear. After she spoke, he simply resumed math class. He basically rendered my child “not on the side of humanity” by shutting down the conversation at that point. I am aware that he is not a D219 teacher. And I believe the administration at the D219 feeder school did a great job in addressing the issue. I am actually more fearful of what will happen in D219. D219 is not offering my children and I any sense that you will keep them safe. The district CAN and SHOULD ensure that ALL our children feel safe and accepted. The district shared out this message of acceptance and safety last year after the George Floyd events. The district shared out this message earlier this year, speaking up against anti-Asian hate. My kids were proud to be part of a district that values diversity. That seeks to provide a safe space for what they thought was everyone. And yet …. We see the rise of anti-Semitism, and we hear not one word from the district. Not one email of support. Not one email that condemns anti-Semitism, and anti-Semitic speech at the schools or on social media.. Not one email that sends a message to my children that their diversity matters. That they will be kept safe at D219. And while I understand that the district cannot police the social media posts of students. I am concerned about social media posts I see from board members as well as D219 administrators. These posts set the tone for everyone else. These posts make it “OK” for students to target my children. Ethically, public schools and its employees are expected to stay politically neutral in the classroom. I would expect that this would apply to any social media or email communications that are done using district email address or district social media handles. This is especially important in a school district as diverse as D219. Please let me know how the district intends to make sure my children feel safe at school and how anti-Semitic actions from students will be handled by the district. Sincerely, Menucha Levy
Subject: F or public comments at the June 8th BOE meeting My name is Yakov Arnold and I am the parent of a student at Niles West High School. I chose to live within the D219 boundaries because I wanted my children to be raised in a diverse community. For the most part, this has been very beneficial. However, recent events have me concerned. In the past few weeks, We have seen an increase in the level of violence and animus directed at Jews. In my hometown of Los Angeles, there were multiple acts of violence against Jewish people, blocks away from where I grew up. Here in Skokie, just blocks away from where I currently live, Jews have also experienced anti-Semitic attacks. The Persian Hebrew synagogue was vandalized and an angry protest took place in front of the progressive Reform Temple Beth Israel. I am aware of the many letters from Muslim parents read at the last board meeting. We agree that our children are hurting, need a voice, and need assurance from D219 that they can feel safe and accepted. ALL of our children deserve a learning environment where they can feel safe and accepted. This letter is not a statement on the politics surrounding the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. I also believe that being an anti-Zionist does not make one anti-Semitic. However, the email sent from the Niles West Muslim Student Association sponsor on May 13, 2021, regardless of intent, caused harm as it provided a single-story lens to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. It did not address the nuance needed to talk about the Middle East conflict. It did not differentiate between Jews and Israelis or even the divergence of opinions on the topic within the Jewish community. The conflation of Jews and Israelis or the State of Israel and “Beth Israel,” the name, according to the Torah, the Israelites were called by God upon receiving The Ten Commandments is proof that there is a tremendous amount of ignorance out there. If left unchecked, it has and can lead to violence against Jews. My child was experiencing discomfort and fear of being outwardly Jewish on campus. The MSA email only exacerbated the situation. The Israeli/Palestinian conflict is addressed in a safe environment with approved sources in the freshman graduation-required class on Modern World History. It is already covered in the curriculum. We believe this subject should stay in this safe and controlled environment, with teachers who have the knowledge and the skills to address this sensitive topic. Ethically, public schools and its employees are expected to stay politically neutral in the classroom. This is especially important in a school district as diverse as 219. Please let me know how the district intends to make sure my child feels safe at school and how anti-Semitic actions from students will be handled by the district. Sincerely, Yakov Arnold
Subject: F or public comment Dear D219 School Board Members, I am a Morton Grove resident and my husband and I are raising our five children here. I also have seven nieces and nephews who will one day attend a D219 school. I continue to offer my support for maintaining the SRO program as well as the hiring of certified police officers to serve our district as security personnel. These are good men and women who wish to serve and protect our children. Please do not favor the demands of those who proclaim "hate has no home here" but who spew hatred for anyone who doesn't think or believe as they do. Please do not accommodate the requests of those who preach tolerance but are intolerant. Sincerely, Kate DeWitt
Subject: T o Be Read For Public Comment To Whom it May Concern, I was very dismayed to see an organized protest by Board of Education member, Jill Manrique, advertised via her Twitter and other social media outlets. Specifically, my discouragement is related to the statement on the flyer saying that former 219's BOE member and president, James Specker's departure was due to the district driving him away due to his skin color. Mr.Specker's resignation letter cited "personal health reasons", and it is completely inappropriate for Ms. Manrique to publicly announce that his reasons for resignation were a lie. It is clear that she is leveraging his personal situation for her own gain in an effort to drive the narrative of the Abolition Coalition, which she co-founded, per her resume. When elected to our board, Ms. Manrique took an oath where she committed to "seek changes through ethical and constructive channels". While I respect her efforts to perpetuate change through the creation of this coalition, spreading lies about Mr. Specker is both unethical and deconstructive. Additionally, as a member of the board, she is expected to adhere to the code of conduct, of which she has blatantly ignored. Specifically: Principle 1: I will represent all School District constituents HONESTLY and EQUALLY and refuse to surrender my responsibilities to special interest or partisan political groups; Principle 2: I will not use my Board membership for personal gain or publicity; Principle 4- I will take no private action that might compromise the Board and will respect the confidentiality of privileged information. Her twitter account profile description cites her BOE membership ,and she has consistently indicated her board membership in her tweets, which clearly are guided by special interest and partisan politics. By facilitating a protest herself and advertising it by @mentioning various Niles Township trustees, she is clearly garnering publicity and striving for personal gain. And by stating mistruths about a fellow board member, she is compromising your Board. Based on the code of ethics, and her blatant disregard of the oath she took when elected, I respectfully request that the BOE seek to remove Ms. Manrique from the Board, as she is not serving our community in a bi-partisan manner, and has become a liability via her divisive and accusatory rhetoric. Further, as you seek to replace Mr. Specker on the Board, I strongly suggest that if any candidate has any affiliation with any Board Member that could result in a conflict of interest, that the Board Member recuse themselves from the vote. Sincerely, Teresa García
Subject: F or Public Comment - School Resource Officer I submit my comment today in support of retaining the SRO program in D219. I voice my support as a stakeholder in D219 as well as a parent of a child attending D219. It is extremely disheartening and quite frankly unacceptable that this issue has not been resolved even though a substantial amount of time has been allocated to this issue.
Does it even need to be stated that a public survey, sent out by the District, revealed that the majority of respondents were in favor of the schools SRO program? This should have been the end of the debate.
Our students, schools, and community should not be used as some personal conquest to further the political activist agenda of a District 219 Board of Education member. It is unacceptable that the safety of the students has not been made a priority and that this board and administration continues to kowtow to the outlandish and embellished falsehoods that are being spewed by members of this board. How did it get to the point that extreme activist opinions have taken precedence over the desires of the community, parents, students, and staff?
Concerns with the SRO program are NOT a reason to eliminate the SRO program in its entirety. Concerns should act as an invitation for constructive conversation that recognizes the ever changing needs of students, teachers, staff, and the community and evaluates how the program can be potentially reworked to accommodate those concerns and needs.
SRO's and security are tasked with maintaining safety and security, while upholding and enforcing rules and laws. As an alumni of Niles West High School, I can proudly say that during my time in attendance I never once had any personal negative or disciplinary interaction with security or an officer. In my adult life, I have never had any negative or disciplinary interactions with law enforcement. So the more pressing question becomes, what has happened to personal responsibility? When do individuals get held accountable for their own actions that resulted in an undesirable or disciplinary interaction with the SRO versus blaming the SRO for performing their prescribed duties.
Teachers, Staff, and Administrators are already overwhelmed and school resources are stretched thin. They should be allowed to focus all of their energy on performing their job to the best of their abilities without the added burden of being first responder, referee, or investigator.
How am I to be assured that my student, and all the other students, are safe while in attendance at D219 schools? Which members of the Administration and School Board are going to be held personally responsible and liable to guarantee that everything possible has been done to provide the safest environment for these children? The lack of swift action in this matter is simply unacceptable. Any action other than retaining the SRO is unacceptable.
Melissa Iusco
Subject: Keep SRO in the school Dist. 219 Board: The fact that this issue has not already been resolved is ridiculous. There were surveys that showed the majority surveyed wanted the SRO. That should have ended this conversation. If there should be some modification to the role of the SRO then have that conversation and leave things in place until the modification is figured out. This should not be a all or nothing discussion. We have all asked ourselves at times, WHERE ARE THE POLICE WHEN YOU NEED THEM. The answer should be in our schools, not outside the school or back at the station. These other two options greatly reduces the opportunity to stop a issue/problem. I would hate to see something happen and because various members of our board are pushing the removal of the SRO, that our students/staff and facility would be in danger or worse. I have read the comment that if just one student feels threatened by having the SRO in the school, that this is reason enough to remove them. The flip side of this would be, if one student feels threatened not having the SRO, then they should be in the school. As a parent of two children that attended West and now a grandparent of a student at West, I implore you to keep the SRO in our schools, to keep all students, staff and facility safe. William Patterson
Subject: R equest to Speak at the 6-8-2021 School Board Meeting Good Evening, I am requesting the opportunity to speak during this evening’s school board meeting. In accordance with the posted agenda and following the requested protocol, I would like to address District 219 Board of Education regarding last months Anti-Israel letters and comments. My comments will not be in anyway be derogatory and promote hate speech. My comments will address three key points: 1. Niles West High School is a public educational institution should support tolerance of all its students, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, gender orientation. Falling into this categorization is the respect for all recognized countries and besmirching a nation can not be tolerated. 2. Anti-Israel comments and discussion does not belong in the District. It is a difficult and politically charged subject and can only incite negative and destructive commentary, defaming and demonizing a collective group based on religious beliefs. Thus, the District, BoE or Paid Staff and Educators taking a position are there by targeting and promoting hate against a individuals with specific religious and cultural belief. 3. Remember our Districts Mission D219 MISSION STATEMENT
D219 is committed to providing an equitable learning environment that embraces diversity and individual student needs, while preparing students to achieve their full potential as a part of our global community.
VALUES
1. We value experiences that enable individuals to exceed expectations. 2. We embrace diversity and will work to eliminate the racial predictability of student achievement. 3. We are committed to employing professional staff members who are culturally competent, reflective of our student body and qualified to advance district initiatives. 4. We value collaboration with partners and stakeholders. 5. We value meeting these commitments in the most fiscally responsible manner. Amy Frankel
Subject: Info NTAC Dear Board of Education Members of District 219, In America, the board of education dates back as early as the mid-1600s. By the early 1800s, Massachusetts began to require that the committees that ran public schools no longer be linked to local governments, creating the local school boards we recognize today. The original intention behind the local school board was to give those in the local community an opportunity to have more ownership in their schools and not be swayed by politics, with education as the core focus. The responsibility of school boards still holds firm today. Yet, District 219 community members are witnessing a series of disturbing activities by individuals on your school board and within your administration and faculty. The banners “Hate Has No Home Here” placed on the Niles North and Niles West High Schools look lovely to those who walk or drive by, but the parents and students see another side. How is this message truly conveyed? Well, here are a few examples. On a Sunday evening, 5/23/21, Mr. Edwards, Niles North High School principal, was on a Twitter escapade in a fleet of unprovoked tweets against NTAC that implied h e is anti-white, anti-republican, anti-conservative. Using hate speech, he made inferences that the members of NTAC are hateful, misogynists, white supremacists with complete disregard that NTAC has members that are Asian, Jewish, Eastern European, Greek, Middle Eastern, Indian, Hispanic, and African American with conservative and moderate views. Does this represent “Hate has no home here?” Ms. Cindy Fey, a Niles North High School teacher, h as made an appearance at the last two Fairview South District 72 board meetings protesting with signs in an aggressive manner calling individuals racists and intimidating incoming school board members. Her behavior is bombastic and aggressive. Ms. Fey is not a resident of District 72, nor does she have children at Fairview. Is this a good representation of “Hate has no home here?” Ms. Jill Manrique, a school board member, Tweeted a flyer insinuating that Mr. Specker resigned due to racism to mislead community members purposely. He officially announced that he resigned due to health reasons. One could surmise that his health issues are directly related to Ms. Manrique's unethical behavior toward him. Not to mention her incessant Twitter behavior calling “yt” people racists and other foul inappropriate posts. She is anti-SRO and frankly anti-anything that does not align with her views. Ms. Manrique is the epitome of hate. With Anti-Semitism and Anti-Asian crime are on the rise. There is too much hate as it is. When will District 219 and its legal counsel hold these individuals accountable for fostering hate and attacking community members? You all must be very proud of these new banners. Helen Levinson Director
Subject: B oard mtg comment—Ms. Oyin As a graduate of Niles West, long time community member, and teacher, I’d like to share how much my black and brown students, many staff, and I looked up to Ms. Oyindamola Idowu, Chief Technology Officer, especially during these difficult past years of the pandemic. She was a guiding light that helped all of us educators teach our students as best we could with her superior technology experience and skills. Being a strong, extremely intelligent woman at the top of her field, she stood as a role model not only for African Americans but for all those who deeply value and embrace diversity. We are truly saddened that she is leaving the district and want our district to look at what needs be improved or changed to help retain black staff who are essential for our students to see themselves reflected in. Thank you. Tayyaba Ahmad