Plano ISD under federal, state scrutiny for antisemitism

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(The Center Square) – Plano Independent School District is under increased scrutiny at the federal and state level for alleged antisemitic policies. The district describes the criticism as “political theater.”

Last month, U.S. Reps. Keith Self and Pat Fallon, both Republicans representing congressional districts 3 and 4 in north Texas, sent a letter to the Plano ISD Board of Trustees saying, “It is a sad reality that the reports of anti-Semitism have become increasingly common within the district.”

“We have become aware of numerous instances of antisemitic behavior by students, teachers, within the approved curriculum, and in at least one instance, by the school administration itself,” they wrote. “It appears that each instance has been treated as a one-off event, but this isn't the case of violations by one group or one school. The district has six high schools, of which five (Clark, Vines, Shepton, Jasper, and McMillan) have reported incidents, and all three of the Senior High schools (Plano, Plano East and Plano West) also have reports, as well at least five middle schools and three elementary schools.”

They also point to a school district board meeting held last month at which they argue “the district refused to acknowledge the issue.” The congressmen also cite federal and state laws the district must follow.

Several weeks later, Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an investigation into Plano ISD citing school sponsored pro-Palestinian walkouts and parents reporting “widespread anti-Israel and antisemitic rhetoric in curriculum and classroom discussions to school administrators, board members, and City of Plano councilmembers” that were either “ignored or met with vague responses that do nothing to meaningfully address the problem.”

Paxton said reports about antisemitic activity in Plano ISD schools “are alarming and must be swiftly and aggressively addressed.” He also said, “Any teacher or administrator that has facilitated or supported radical anti-Israel rhetoric in our schools should be fired immediately.”

His office requested a wide range of documents from Plano ISD, including ISD walkout policies, anti-Israel curriculum, disciplinary actions against teachers and staff for antisemitic action, among others.

Plano ISD is under scrutiny ahead of the two-year anniversary of the Hamas terrorist attack against Israel that killed an estimated 1,200 people and took another 200 hostages. Since then, antisemitic incidents reached an all-time high in the U.S., The Center Square reported. According to a new FBI report, hate crimes against Jews account for 70% of all religiously motivated hate crimes in the U.S.

The number of antisemitic attacks tracked by the Anti-Defamation League were the largest on record last year since it began reporting them in 1979, The Center Square reported. The majority of antisemitic attacks, 64%, occurred in 10 states, eight run by Democrats.

While Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas legislature have advanced numerous initiatives to protect Jewish students in Texas, brief riots erupted at University of Texas college campuses last year. They were swiftly quelled by Texas Department of Public Safety officers under Abbott’s orders. Dozens of arrests were made.

In Travis County, after arrests were made at UT Austin, the district attorney didn’t pursue charges against 57.

In Collin County, after 20 were arrested at UT Dallas, a grand jury indicted 14 people for obstruction of a passageway at the campus. The Class B misdemeanor carries a $2,000 fine, up to 180 days in jail or community supervision.

At a Plano ISD board meeting last month, board president Lauren Tyra said allegations of antisemitism had been investigated, addressed and “co-opted by politicians.”

"Plano ISD will not allow political posturing or sensationalization overshadow the critical work of building safe and respectful schools," she said, KERA News reported.

However, by Sept. 1, the district issued a slightly different statement, saying it “unequivocally rejects antisemitism, racism and all forms of hate, and takes every allegation of discrimination with the utmost seriousness. Plano ISD does not tolerate antisemitic or hateful behavior – any such act is reprehensible and is addressed to the fullest extent permitted by law and in strict accordance with our Student Code of Conduct, which explicitly prohibits antisemitism. Our district proudly reflects the rich diversity of our community and honors the cultural and religious traditions that shape the lives of our students.”

It also said Paxton’s claims that it “promotes or facilitates antisemitism … are false and run counter to the district’s values, policies and ongoing actions.”

The statement described scrutiny of district policies as “political theater … amplified by those with political grievances and past electoral defeats.”

Self, Fallon and Paxton were all reelected last year.

Plano ISD says it is “prepared to cooperate transparently and openly with any investigation, including our own independent audit into these claims. We are confident that these allegations will not withstand scrutiny, and expect all officials to report findings honestly when their reviews conclude.”