Parents in the Orange City School District packed into a special board meeting in Pepper Pike on Monday, demanding answers after social media posts they called antisemitic were traced to a district employee and triggered an internal investigation. According to families, Jewish students at Brady Middle School responded by wearing Stars of David and other Jewish star necklaces on campus as a show of solidarity. Parents told the board they expect the issue to be handled “with urgency and seriousness” and urged that the employee be temporarily removed from classroom duties while the posts are reviewed.
District opens investigation
Superintendent Lynn Campbell told families in an April 10 letter that the district had been made aware of the posts that day and had opened an investigation, according to Cleveland.com. Campbell described the content as “discriminatory and antisemitic in nature.” Parents told the board that the employee at the center of the probe is a paraprofessional who works at Brady Middle School.
Parents demand swift action at board meeting
At the special meeting in Pepper Pike, three parents addressed the board and said the posts included false historical claims and inflammatory language, urging immediate steps from district leaders, according to Cleveland.com. Parent Sharon Naveh pointed to a post that paired an image of Anne Frank with a statement such as “Israel must be stopped,” saying that combination “becomes dangerous.” Other parents warned that, in their view, the damage to students and the school climate had already started.
Students rally and community response
Parent Sarah Schwarz told the board that Jewish students at Brady Middle School rallied on April 13 by wearing Jewish star necklaces in solidarity, a gesture families hoped would help keep students safe, according to Yahoo News. Board officials at the meeting said they could not comment on personnel matters, noting that such issues are confidential, the outlet reported.
Policy, place and local context
Brady Middle School sits on the Orange Schools campus in Pepper Pike, and the district lists its schools and campus address on its website, where it also highlights a nondiscrimination policy that covers religion and other protected classes, the Orange City School District notes. In the broader community, local groups and education leaders have been offering trainings focused on antisemitism in schools, part of a regional effort described by the Jewish Federation of Cleveland after its 2025 Education Leaders Summit.
What comes next
The district says the situation remains under investigation and that any steps taken will follow applicable personnel and legal rules, according to Yahoo News. Parents at the meeting said they are looking for transparency and a clear timeline as officials decide what actions are appropriate and how the district will support students who have been affected. Families also indicated they expect further updates at upcoming school board meetings.
