Between 2023 and 2025, students at the district's high school and middle school were subjected to a series of antisemitic incidents. These incidents included the repeated drawing of swastikas and the use of the word "Jew" as a derogatory term by fellow students against Jewish students.
The investigation stemmed from a complaint filed by the Anti-Defamation League, the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, and the law firm Mayer Brown on behalf of affected students. The DOJ credited those organizations and their clients for filing the complaint and assisting with the investigation.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division said, "The Department will not tolerate antisemitic harassment of students at any level of education." She noted that school districts, like colleges and universities, must take prompt and effective action to address antisemitic harassment when it creates a hostile environment for Jewish students and must continue taking action until Jewish students are safe and welcome at their school.
Under the settlement, the district must review and revise its harassment policies and procedures. It is required to respond promptly and effectively to potential incidents, protect complainants from retaliation, and conduct thorough investigations of reported incidents.
The district must also develop and implement safety and support plans for victims and issue public statements in response to incidents where appropriate. A district-level employee must be designated specifically to oversee compliance with the agreement.
The district will provide training to both staff and students on its harassment policies and procedures. The DOJ's Civil Rights Division will monitor ongoing compliance, and the district will continue publicly reporting on its antisemitism-related efforts.
The DOJ commended the district for cooperating with the investigation and voluntarily entering into the settlement. The department signaled a preference for collaborative resolution over adversarial litigation where school districts self-correct.
The case was handled by the Civil Rights Division's Educational Opportunities Section. The settlement is the latest in a series of DOJ Civil Rights Division actions targeting antisemitism in educational settings.