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Parents and residents pressure Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified over PV High yearbook; call for policy changes and training
Summary
Multiple residents told the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District board the PV High yearbook contained an anti‑Semitic editorial and urged the district to adopt clear anti‑Semitism guidance and expand staff training; the superintendent said the district will provide bias training in August.
Public commentators pressed the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District Board of Education on June 26, 2024, over an editorial that speakers described as anti‑Semitic in the PV High School yearbook, calling for an apology, clearer policy language and adoption of a working definition of anti‑Semitism.
The wave of comments came during the public‑comment portion of the board’s regular meeting. Jeff Gold, who identified himself as a longtime community member, said the yearbook contained "a factually devoid anti‑semitic yearbook article" and criticized the district’s and board’s response, saying it had been handled behind closed doors and had damaged public trust.
Several other speakers told the board they felt unsafe or that the board had not adequately condemned what they described as targeted language. Katie Hbert, who identified herself as a physician and used the label "a Zionist," said the board should apologize and adopt a working definition of anti‑Semitism so the district can clearly identify and respond to incidents. "I Call On The Board to apologize for allowing that hate into this room and adopt a policy that they will not let slurs of any kind be hurled at minorities," she told the board.
Other residents described personal distress and asked for specific remedies: removal or correction of the editorial from yearbooks, clearer rules governing student publications, and better public communication from district officials. David Kramer asked the board to "remove the yearbook from circulation, replace the offensive editorial, remove it from consideration for any possible awards" and to place the issue on a future agenda so the community could see the remedial plan.
Superintendent Dr Serrano told the board staff has already begun work on responses tied to student safety and school climate. "We are planning professional development sessions on bias for all staff on our first day back in August and will continue with this Focus throughout the school year," Dr Serrano said, and added that the district is reviewing policies and practices related to student publications, including yearbooks.
Board members acknowledged the intensity of public feeling and described steps already taken, including meetings with parents and community groups, refunds offered to students who requested them, and reviews of curricular and publication practices. Several trustees also said they wanted to ensure any policy language aligns with California law and the district’s legal counsel.
The board did not take formal policy action on the yearbook item at the June 26 meeting; members said they would continue the review and return to the issue with staff proposals and legal guidance at a future meeting.
