Long Island school district pledges action after antisemitic incidents

NEW YORK (PIX11) -- A Long Island school district is promising to take "tremendous steps forward" following what the superintendent said was an "uptick in antisemitic things going on in the community and schools."

Three Village Central School District Superintendent Kevin Scanlon made the comments while addressing a Board of Education meeting Wednesday night. There were concerns in the community after word spread that students at the Paul J. Gelinas Junior High had allegedly used antisemitic language while watching a Holocaust movie during a social studies class.

While Scanlon didn't discuss details, he told parents and residents at the meeting "there were no acts of violence or threats, most of these incidents incurred speech and insensitive acts and remarks. It doesn't matter if it was one or was 41. One is enough. We cannot put up with these types of things going on in our community."

Rabbi Aaron Benson, the president of the Suffolk Board of Rabbis, told PIX11 News that some parents felt their concerns were not taken seriously when they first alerted the principal of the school about the hateful comments.

"I would say that had someone used racial slurs, or suggested that some other group be lynched or attacked, none of the students, teachers would have found that funny or just an off-handed noisy comment. That would have led to a serious and appropriate response," Benson said.

The superintendent stated in a letter to the community, "It is evident that the numerous resources, programs and educational opportunities that the district currently provides are not enough." He also pledged, "...there will be curricula changes ... we will be providing on-going training to the administration, faculty and staff on how to address such incidents..."

When PIX11 News asked about the students involved, a spokeswoman for the district said, "The District doesn't comment on individual student discipline matters."