Community speakers urge solidarity for Iranian students and debate ethnic-studies and transgender supports at Poway Unified meeting

Several community members addressed the Poway Unified School District board during the public-comment period on Jan. 22, raising international solidarity, transgender-student supports and the district’s ethnic-studies offerings.

Sarah Murashi told the board she spoke for the Iranian community and urged the district to “stand in solidarity with Persian and Iranian community” as families and students grieve reported violence abroad. “Right now, 25,000 lives have been taken in 10 days,” Murashi said, and she suggested principals include acknowledgement in weekly reports so students know their community is seen.

Another commenter introduced as Stewart Cook criticized the district’s prior messaging and its memorandum of understanding with Trans Family Services, arguing that the district and the outside group had overstated links between affirmation and suicide reduction and urging the district to review or cancel contracts. Cook referenced Trevor Project survey figures and said parents should consider legal counsel if they have concerns.

Two speakers addressed ethnic-studies curriculum. Dan Pritzker called ethnic studies divisive and said such courses “don’t teach history” but instead “weaponiz[e] history” and urged the district to stop offering them. Tali (Tal) Hirsch, who identified family history tied to the Holocaust, said she once supported ethnic studies as a path to tolerance but now objects to what she described as altered curriculum and foreign-driven agendas that she said could promote blame rather than constructive learning.

Board leadership closed the public-comment period after the speakers finished; the meeting moved on to its next agenda item.