Paxton requested that the district provide documents related to any reports of antisemitic behavior.
PLANO, Texas — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Thursday announced he’s investigating Plano ISD over reports of potential “antisemitic behavior” by students and staff.
Specifically, Paxton in a letter to Plano ISD Superintendent Theresa Williams, stated he was concerned that the district may have excused absences for students participating in walkouts over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and that students were “subjected to biased materials that advance a pro-Palestinian worldview.”
As part of the investigation, Paxton requested that the district provide its policies on student walkouts, documents on disciplinary actions, and investigations into students who participated in walkouts, any documentation regarding allegations of anti-Israel curriculum, and disciplinary actions against teachers and staff for the same. He requested that the district provide the information within 10 business days of receiving the letter.
“Reports have come to my attention that Plano Independent School District (“PISD”) may be permitting and facilitating antisemitic behavior by students, teachers, and even school administrators. Specifically, accounts have circulated that teachers are presenting biased materials and insisting that students take a pro-Palestinian view. Reports indicate there have been school-sponsored pro-Palestinian walkouts, for which the school provided ‘excused absences’ to participating students,” Paxton wrote in the letter.
Paxton further said any school staff members who “facilitated or supported radical anti-Israel rhetoric in our schools should be fired immediately.”
“The reports regarding antisemitic activity in Plano ISD schools are alarming and must be swiftly and aggressively addressed,” Paxton said. “Any teacher or administrator that has facilitated or supported radical anti-Israel rhetoric in our schools should be fired immediately. I stand in solidarity with our Jewish community, and we will continue to do everything in our power to root out antisemitism in all its forms.”
Plano ISD said in a statement in response to the announcement of the investigation that the district “unequivocally rejects antisemitism and all forms of hate, and takes any allegation of discrimination with the utmost seriousness.”
Here’s their full statement:
“Plano ISD unequivocally rejects antisemitism and all forms of hate, and takes any allegation of discrimination with the utmost seriousness. We do not tolerate antisemitic behavior, and any such act is despicable and will be disciplined to the fullest extent allowed by state law.
We were made aware earlier of statements made on social media and in a press release by the Attorney General’s staff regarding an investigation into Plano ISD. Any suggestion that Plano ISD promotes or facilitates antisemitism is false and inconsistent with our values, policies and ongoing actions.
We strongly believe that the political theater surrounding social media allegations—amplified by a discomposed former board member—serves only to distract from the real business of the district: educating and equipping students today who will shape the world tomorrow.
Plano ISD is prepared to cooperate transparently and openly with any investigation, including our own independent audit into these claims. We are confident that these baseless allegations will not withstand scrutiny, and we expect elected officials to report their findings honestly when their review concludes. The district continues to partner with our deeply respected community and national organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee, Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas, and the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum, to strengthen our efforts to prevent and respond to antisemitism.
The district will continue to partner with families, staff and the Plano ISD community to ensure that our schools uphold the highest standards of dignity, safety and respect for all.”
Paxton’s announcement of his investigation into Plano ISD comes as the City of Heath’s Department of Public Safety is underway to determine who put two Nazi flags outside of Rockwall-Heath High School recently.
Paxton also previously requested information from Plano ISD related to an investigation into EPIC City, a proposed Muslim-centric community in Collin County.
On Oct. 3, in response to the allegations of antisemitism, the school district announced that it had engaged Ryan Patrick from Haynes Boone to conduct an independent audit of its policies, procedures and systems.
Plano ISD stated in a news release that the audit would examine complaints, training programs, and reporting protocol procedures.
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