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One of Mass.’s most expensive towns launches plan to combat antisemitism after 3 swastika incidents
All three incidents occurred in the middle and high schools within the last month.
One of Massachusetts’ most expensive towns to live in has launched a plan to combat antisemitism after three swastika incidents at its schools.
“I cannot stress this enough: these actions are unacceptable and stand in direct opposition to the core values of our district,” Superintendent Karen Zaleski wrote in an email to the school community on Tuesday. “We recognize the harm these incidents cause — not only to our Jewish students, families, and staff — but to our entire school community.”
Weston Public Schools partnered with the Anti Defamation League and Weston Police to create a response guide for middle and high school students, the superintendent wrote.
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The first incident occurred on Oct. 16 when an eighth grader copied and pasted a swastika image and presented it to their class, the email said.
The second incident was on Oct. 30 when a swastika was drawn in dry-erase marker in a seventh grade classroom.
The third incident took place on Tuesday when a student found a swastika had been drawn in a high school bathroom stall, the email says.
“Weston Public Schools has zero tolerance for hate and discrimination
of any kind. Antisemitism and hate have no place in our schools or in our community,” she continued.
The response guide, “Steps Forward to Combating Hate and Anti-Semitism,” will be introduced to the school curriculum in the spring after a vetting process by administrators, the Belonging, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Committee, and parent forums takes place over the winter months, the email states.
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“In the meantime, together, we must ensure our schools remain safe, welcoming environments where all students can learn and thrive without fear of discrimination or hate,” the superintendent wrote. She also asked families to continue the conversation about kindness and maintaining a safe, inclusive environment at home.
Additionally, the email directed students impacted by the events to the administrative team, counseling staff, and trusted adults for support.
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