If we want to build an inclusive and respectful city and school district we need to stop putting our thumb on the scale for one side. Kids can see inauthenticity a lot of the time. I think we are in, I think we defeat the purpose of trying to stomp out anti-Semitism honestly and the last thing I would like to say is the graffiti also mentioned anti- black hate or racism but this has been completely lost in this discussion. The ADL is here for anti-Semitism. Who takes care of our black kids? I think we need to find something that's neutral that encompasses all these isms and there has to be something out there. That's it. Jessica. Jan code. I apologize if I mispronounced that as well. That's okay. Jan cozy. I also scribbled so that's on me too. Hello. My name is Jessica. I'm a CHS grad and current Clayton resident. I too am here to express my concern over the requirement that Clayton school faculty undergo a mandatory training with the anti-defamation league also known as the ADL. According to the largest progressive organization in the world, Jewish voice for peace, for years the ADL has used its credibility as a civil rights organization to silence critics of the state of Israel and their work has labeled anyone opposed to the state of Israel's suppression of Palestinians as anti-Semitic. This makes it hard to identify actual instances of anti- Semitism that are on the rise due to right wing extremism in this country.

According to the largest progressive organization in the world, Jewish voice for peace, for years the ADL has used its credibility as a civil rights organization to silence critics of the state of Israel and their work has labeled anyone opposed to the state of Israel's suppression of Palestinians as anti-Semitic. This makes it hard to identify actual instances of anti- Semitism that are on the rise due to right wing extremism in this country. As such, I'm concerned that the ADL's presence in our school system will not contribute to erasing anti-Semitism. Instead it will contribute to an unsafe environment for students, teachers and school administration to engage in open dialogue and discussion around what the UN along with Israeli human rights organizations have deemed a genocide. The role of local school boards is to create a space where students can dialogue with others and learn, think critically and share their thoughts and experiences respectfully and safely. My concerns are shared with the largest union in the United States, the national education association who overwhelmingly voted this past June to cut ties with the ADL in recognition of this consistent bias and unreliability. This is the same teachers union that represents the majority of My questions are who made the decision to partner with the ADL for this training on anti-Semitism? Were other programs from other sources considered? Were students considered at all or given a chance to provide input? Were a diverse array of parents consulted?

Were students considered at all or given a chance to provide input? Were a diverse array of parents consulted? And on the topic of equity, what is the Clayton school district doing to address Islamophobia? Do Muslim and Arab students have a student group where they can engage with others? When I was a student at CHS, I valued that in my classes, clubs and as part of the globe, I was given the opportunity to think and speak critically about local and global issues. It was such an important part of my becoming a person in this world. I'm concerned that this partnership with the ADL is a step backwards. It creates a culture of silence and a fear within the school system for those who fall outside of ADL talking points. I ask the school board to reconsider your source for trainings on anti-Semitism and to share your plans for ensuring that Arab and Muslim students also feel safe and welcome in Clayton. Thank you. Hello. I won't speak as eloquently as the last three speakers because I don't have anything written down but I did want to talk about the same matter. CHS for me was very formative because of my history teachers and because of speech and debate. One thing in AP World that we learned was to take into consideration the bias of the articles and the first accounts of situations and topics that came about.

CHS for me was very formative because of my history teachers and because of speech and debate. One thing in AP World that we learned was to take into consideration the bias of the articles and the first accounts of situations and topics that came about. So what was very important was not just the content that was being put out but who was behind putting out the content. Was it the farmers in the feudal system or was it the feudal lords who were standing idly and were in the palaces? Who was best equipped to tell us about the occasion and to tell us about information? In speech and debate we looked at both sides and were able to have conversations very openly about things that were happening around the world. What I'm concerned about is that the ADL has like the previous speakers have said has an inherent political bias that's going to take shape and that is and I'd also like to know why how we came to this decision to partner with the ADL and also what our relationship with the ADL is going forward as it has very concerning political views when there are other organizations that are more equipped to deal with training for antisemitism. Thank you. Thank you all. Moving along, agenda item four. I will turn it over to the superintendent for her superintendent's update. Thank you everyone and thank you for everyone who gave a comment.

I will turn it over to the superintendent for her superintendent's update. Thank you everyone and thank you for everyone who gave a comment. As Stacey said we don't respond but we will be reaching back out with e-mail responses so thank you for giving up some of your evening to be here tonight. Superintendent update, first thing, this is our first board meeting for the school year since school started so I should put it that way. First two weeks went really well. I got to visit all the buildings and went into the classrooms, the students, the staff, everyone had great positive energy. It was a very smooth start and everyone I spoke to I'm like where do we need to knock or keep this going but it went really well. Even the parents it was great. I'm trying to get in front of all the different schools at the start of the school year, school day I should say so I tried to rotate myself. Usually I always started the past few years at Clayton High School and I got to meet this wonderful group of seven to eight families who it was their first time in Clayton dropping off their kindergarten students so it was a great way to connect with the families and how excited and nervous they were but I'm already in touch with many of them who have said that they've had a great first week so it's been great just having that energy back.