12/05/2025, 12:56

i had to make a number of revisions to make the language flow better.


New petition description:

Request for Policy Changes Related to Afterschool Clubs and Anti-Semitism in FCPS Dec. 5, 2025 Drs. Nardos King and Geovanny PonceFairfax County Public SchoolsFalls Church, VA  Dear Dr. King and Dr. Ponce:

Thank you for meeting Nov. 21 with concerned Jewish community members to discuss the videos Muslim Student Associations (MSA) at Langley and Thomas Jefferson high school studentsproduced, madewhich mockingmocked the kidnapping of hostages,hostages. andwww.camera.org/article/video-students-recruiting-for-msa-jokingly-threaten-kidnapping-and-terror/

We were grateful to learn about the steps FCPS willplans to take to prevent future occurrences of student actions that violate FCPS policies, foment antisemitism and create a hostile environment for Jewish students, staff, and faculty. www.camera.org/article/video-students-recruiting-for-msa-jokingly-threaten-kidnapping-and-terror/

We appreciate Dr. Ponce’s enumeration of steps being taken to improve oversight of student clubs, including the Muslim Student Associations (MSAs)MSAs, at the 27FCPS high schools throughby Directors of Student Activities (DSAs) and teacher advisers. 

We thank TJ and Langley principals writing parents regarding the MSA videos and their stated commitment “…to create a learning environment where all students and staff feel safe and respected.” We also welcome assurances made at the meeting that expectations for students, their teacher advisers, and Directors of Student Activities (DSAs) will be “tightened up.”

We applaud the TJ and Langley principals' letter to parents notifying the community about the videos, and reiterating their commitment “…to create a learning environment where all students and staff feel safe and respected.” 

Therefore, we the undersigned, respectfully request your consideration of the following actions to focus the Dec. 11 meeting at your offices with Superintendent Dr. Michele Reid:

1.    We urge FCPS to NOT lift or cancel any of the in-school suspensions the MSA club members may have received following the revelations of the two videos in local news media,media. We andalso advisewould oppose the principals of the schools or the School Board andlifting principals not to lift them either.them. We havebelieve, beenand apprisedattorneys bywill legalback counselus on this point, that such a move could be a Title 6VI violation. (SeeCivil Rights Act Violation.  (See Appendix of Documentation)

2. We request training of teachers who supervise after-school clubs like the MSAs to so theyto ensure the safe, respectful school environment promisedexpected by TJ and Langley principals in the above-mentioned letter to parents. Asparents (in Appendix). As mentioned at our Nov. 21 meeting, one MSA adviser told a Jewish parent weeks after the principals’ letter that the videos were only done in jest.jest, Dr.although Kingwe statedwere advised at the meeting this doesis not reflectFCPS' theofficial FCPS condemnationview of the videos. Wematter.We request that the DSAs address EACHeach faculty adviser in order to ensure they understand and are committed to enforcing FCPS policies, including howrisks studentsaround student use of third party social media, and printprinted mediacollateral, to promote their clubs and club activities.   3.    We request FCPS determinereview outsideof influence/controlthe overindependence MSAsof orMSAs, similaras studentrequired clubs. Accordingby toFCPS FCPS'policy. Your application, “Starting a High School Club -- Activities Office Guidelines, states "A club may NOTnot be the extension of an outside organization, and no outside organization may have any authority or decision-making power over an FCPS club or students.”We would respectfully request that FCPS verify whether MSAs are in compliancecompliance. And, and not just go by the word of the student members and faculty adviser. We note thatFCPS Regulation 2601.39P, Page 18, tates saysthe youschool haveadministration has a right to review thissuch documentation.documentation, even if in the private hands of students.

4.    We request measures to ensure that guest speakers to these clubs are vetted and approved using YOURFCPS FORMforms (see appendix for further details).

5.    We5.    Please requestadvise which middle and high school social studies classes have incorporated any antisemitism lesson plansplans, devisedsuch by eitheras the stateAugust 2025 release of the Virginia Attorney General (Virginia Rules) or Jewish Community Relations Council (details in Appendix).Rules). We wouldunderstand appreciatethat curriculum issues are within the remit of chief FCPS Chief Academic Officer Dr. Sloan Presidio'sPresidio's, and kindly request his presence at the Dec. 11 meeting with Dr. Reid to discuss this.6.  Pleasediscuss.6.  Please provide an update on FCPS’s response to Gov. Youngkin’s executive order regarding developing tools to log antisemitic/antireligious incidents.   

In closing, as members of the Fairfax County Jewish community, we share the stated goal of FCPS administrators to create a learning environment where all students and staff feel safe and respected. As stated in the April 2024-adopted Policy 3280.4 regarding "controversial issues:" The FCPS Portrait of a Graduate articulates a vision for student success that includes skills such as acknowledging and understanding diverse perspectives and cultures when considering local, national, and world issues, analyzing and constructing arguments and positions to ensure examination of a full range of viewpoints, and respecting divergent thinking... ”

We respectfully requestThank you ensureso these expectations are being met.  Again, thanksmuch for listeninggiving us an opportunity to us.share our views We look forward to the Dec. 11 meeting and receiving a written response to this letter.

CC: Michele Reid, superintendent Sincerely,Ken Reid, Falls Church (county)

Shari Schwartz, Vienna

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