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School committee advances DOJ‑requested policy edits naming antisemitic acts in first reading
Summary
At a first reading, the Concord‑Carlisle committee reviewed Department of Justice‑requested edits that explicitly identify certain antisemitic acts (swastika drawings, Nazi salutes, derogatory 'Jew' usage) and outline corrective steps; chairs said they will submit the edits to DOJ and plan follow‑up community conversations.
The School Committee reviewed first‑reading edits to harassment and nondiscrimination policies that were requested as part of a Department of Justice agreement, and committee leaders said they will submit the revisions to the DOJ for review before a final vote in June.
Superintendent Lori (S1) explained the edits add specific examples of antisemitic conduct to the harassment policy and document the district’s corrective actions, including safety and support plans for impacted students. "It just says we're going to take corrective action with our harassment, which would include a safety or support plan for the victim," S1 said, noting the language was provided at DOJ direction.
Committee members acknowledged the change and flagged broader questions about policy language and framing. Member Michael (S5) urged sensitivity to wording, suggesting the committee revisit some terms and phrasing with broader community input in the fall. "This language lands differently for members of our community," S5 said, while noting the committee needed to comply with the DOJ timeline now.
A committee member asked why the edits single‑out three Jewish‑related examples rather than listing other forms of targeted harassment; the superintendent said the additions were made specifically at DOJ direction and recommended legal counsel guide any subsequent wordsmithing. The committee agreed to submit the indicated first‑read edits and consider a fuller review later with counsel and community participation.
The proposed edits remain a first reading; the committee expects to vote on the regional policies at the June meeting after DOJ acknowledgement and any minor housekeeping corrections.
