Oak Park and River Forest High School is set to release new plans that address accusations of antisemitism in a little more than two weeks, officials said.
The goal is to have them complete by the time teachers and students return to campus. The plans, which are not final, will be released to the school community before they are made public, officials said.
Details about the plans were not immediately available. But they would address acknowledged problems and work to bolster the “safe, welcoming environment” OPRF fosters, said Supt. Greg Johnson.
Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, OPRF has grappled with balancing the messaging, activities and interests of both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel students and teachers. The resulting war, the strong local emotions regarding it and the power of social media together have pushed the district to understand how to live out its promise of inclusivity in this context.
Critics – some who acknowledge the district has taken some steps to remedy the strife – say officials have not gone far enough.
In the latest development, Michael Soffer, a veteran history teacher resigned, citing antisemitic culture at the high school. A respected teacher who had served OPRF for 17 years, Soffer created the school’s Holocaust Studies and genocide studies course following the mass shooting at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue. According to Chicago Tribune, Soffer also cited antisemitic graffiti found outside of OPRF’s building and “hate-speech graffiti” found inside a bathroom, along with an incident of a 14-year-old boy “airdropping” an image of a swastika, as part of the motivation to bring this course to OPRF.
In his resignation letter obtained by Wednesday Journal, Soffer said that despite numerous conversations with administrators, the district did not go far enough to address his concerns.
“The continued toll of antisemitism at OPRF- and the district’s lack of response to the antisemitism and lack of support for Jewish students, parents, and teachers- created an untenable climate,” Soffer said.
He said the last few years have been “incredibly trying.”
Soffer did not respond to requests for comment by publication. According to his LinkedIn profile, he is now a history teacher at Lake Forest High School.
Johnson told Wednesday Journal the district is sorry to see Soffer leave but added that they know he will serve his new district “just as well as he served his students” at OPRF.
“Last year was incredibly challenging for many of our Jewish students and faculty members, and it pains us to know that what transpired has caused such a valued educator to leave the school,” Johnson said.
According to Johnson, Soffer is the sole former employee who has cited antisemitism as the reason for their departure.
In late June, more than 100 people filed a complaint against OPRF D200 and three teachers with the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Attorney General’s office.
The signers, led by Oak Park parent Nate Mellman, alleged that the three named teachers “demonstrated unprofessional conduct as well as promoted and condoned antisemitic statements and/or acts.”
They pointed to one teacher’s social media accounts that they said contained posts with antisemitic comments and those that promoted “antisemitic falsehoods.”
The complaint also listed the Middle Eastern and North Africa Club Advisors, stating they have “endorsed the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel” and promoted a “a one-sided viewpoint” in the classroom, posted “antisemitic” posts on social media, and sold T-shirts that “depicted the entire outline of Israel next to the word ‘Palestine,’ symbolizing the elimination of the State of Israel.”
Mellman told Wednesday Journal community members attended multiple board of education meetings to report incidents and follow up with the district. According to the complaint, “virtually no remedial action” was taken.
At the July 11 board meeting, Johnson said that the district remained “steadfast” in its efforts to balance the rights of all by seeking advice from community and religious leaders.
Johnson also said the district sought legal counsel and has been consulting with their attorneys to ensure district policies are properly followed. According to Johnson, “enhancements” to better support D209 community members affected by the events have been suggested and that the district will share those actions once details have been finalized.
“As we prepare for the coming school year, we will continue to work hard in both visible and invisible ways to support our Jewish students and faculty members,” Johnson told Wednesday Journal.
