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Three Village reports task force steps after middle-school antisemitic and hate-speech incidents
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Scanlon outlined a superintendent-led task force formed after reports of antisemitic remarks; the group divided into subcommittees, produced policy and reporting changes and scheduled further meetings, with emphasis on ongoing systemic interventions and student supports.
Three Village Central School District Superintendent Dr. Scott Scanlon told the Board of Education on Oct. 3 that a volunteer task force created after reports of antisemitic remarks at the district’s middle schools has moved from initial fact-finding to creating sustained programs and policy changes.
Dr. Scanlon said 97 people responded to a volunteer application and the first 42 volunteers were placed on the initial task force, which split into four subgroups focusing on antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism and “othering.” He said the groups met through the summer and convened with local and national partners including the Westchester County Holocaust Center.
The superintendent said the first meeting was “quite cathartic” and that participants reported incidents, some of which had not been formally reported to administration. “Some of the students… expressed fear and anxiety of coming to school and being ostracized because of being different,” Scanlon said. He said that student accounts of fear were the most concerning outcome of the initial meetings.
The task force recommended several immediate changes and ongoing strategies, Scanlon said: reconvening the code-of-conduct committee to treat serious bias incidents at a disciplinary level comparable to fighting or drug possession; increasing communication about reporting mechanisms such as the SafeSchools hotline and the state DASA process; reviewing curriculum where appropriate; and piloting a peer-medation/mentoring program prior to suspensions. He said the district has comparatively large numbers of social workers and psychologists available to support programming.
Scanlon described the process as “ongoing and systemic,” not a one-time response. He listed specific next steps and dates: antisemitism subgroup (rescheduled to Dec. 1), Islamophobia (Oct. 28), racism (Nov. 6) and “othering” (Nov. 12). He also said the district is meeting with the new vice president for diversity and equity at Stony Brook University and will convene the District’s DEI committee.
Board members and presenters said the district would embed recommendations within regular programming, expand communications about reporting tools, and pursue partnerships with youth bureaus and community clubs to expand peer supports. Scanlon said the task force will review curriculum elements that are mandatory from New York state and those developed locally.
The board did not take a formal vote on new policy at the meeting; Scanlon described the effort as continuing and outlined further subgroup meetings.
