A Richmond father said he is “disheartened” by the school district’s “broad” message to parents in response to the Israel-Hamas war and is calling for heightened security.
Michael Sachs, who is Jewish, told the Richmond News his child has not been in school all week due to concerns about safety, bullying and antisemitism in the wake of the weekend’s events.
Sachs is especially concerned about the possibility of a “global jihad” against the Jewish community, which some have inferred from a statement calling for protests from Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal to Reuters on Tuesday.
“I, along with many other families, Richmond families of kids who are Jewish, was deeply disappointed,” said Sachs about the message issued to parents and students by Richmond School District superintendent Christopher Usih on Tuesday.
“To see the people who are responsible for the education of what is right and wrong for our children of the future, not taking the position of condemnation, and of how they’re going to support and provide safety for our children, it’s quite disheartening.”
In Usih’s message to parents earlier this week, he said “Our thoughts are with all those impacted by current global events.”
Usih continued by emphasizing the school district’s “commitment to ensuring that all students, families, and staff feel welcomed, are treated respectfully, and have a sense of belonging,” and reassured parents and guardians that district staff are around to offer support.
A document listing strategies for supporting children through stressful circumstances was also attached to Usih’s message.
The message did not elaborate on the “current global events,” but Richmond School District spokesperson David Sadler later confirmed to the News that the message was issued “in response to ongoing international developments, notably the conflict in the Middle East.”
More than 2,700 people have been killed and around 10,000 injured in Israel and the Gaza Strip following a surprise assault on Israel last Saturday by Hamas, a group widely regarded as terrorists in the Western world.
Hundreds of Israelis were massacred by Hamas militants in their homes, on the streets and at an outdoor music festival.
In retaliation, Israel put Gaza under total siege and dropped 6,000 bombs on the densely populated area, causing the displacement of more than 330,000 people.
More action needed from school district
Sachs called Usih’s message a “canned statement” and said the school district should have been more specific when referring to current events.
He thinks the school district should “establish clear communication of condemnation” for lives loss in Israel and acknowledge its toll on local Jewish families, and reiterate a zero-tolerance policy for “antisemitism and all forms of hatred.”
Sachs added that the school district should increase security presence in all Richmond schools on Friday and instruct teachers and staff to report all incidents connected to the current situation.
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