DV Journal

Sheriff’s Deputy Robert Landis has been the school resource officer (SRO) at Central Bucks West High School since 2023.

However, county Commissioners Bob Harvie and Diane Ellis-Marseglia, the Democrats who control the county board, decided not renew his contract. And Harvie recently announced he is running for Congress against Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks).

Central Bucks Superintendent Steve Yanni said a replacement SRO from Central Bucks Regional Police Department is on the April school board agenda for approval. The school district pays for the resource officers, not the county. Both the Central Bucks School Board and the Doylestown Borough are controlled by Democrats.

“It had come to my attention that Commissioners Harvie and Marseglia announced their intention to terminate the SRO agreement with the Central Bucks School District,” said Sheriff Fred Harran, a Republican. “I was not consulted by either Commissioner Harvie or Commissioner Marseglia before their plan to cancel the SRO program.

“I do not agree with their decision. I do not support their decision. They unilaterally made this decision without input from me or my deputy,” said Harran.

Inna Pyatesky, a parent of a CB West student, said, “It’s unnerving that everything seems to be made so political. No matter what the issue is at our school, it always feels like it’s of a political nature. All I can say is that there are no Democratic kids and no Republican kids, just kids. School is starting to look more and more like a tug-of-war between politicians pushing and pulling agendas. Our children and their safety are being played as pawns on the political game board.”

However, James O’Malley, a spokesperson for the county, offered a different explanation.

“The future of the School Resource Officer (SRO) position at Central Bucks West High School (CB West) in the Central Bucks School District (CBSD) has essentially been settled since December 2024 when the Central Bucks Regional Police Department (CBRPD) made a request to the Central Bucks School Board to take over the position.

“The County of Bucks was pleased to provide a temporary solution to fill the need for an SRO for CB West by providing a sheriff’s deputy on a two-year contract spanning the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years. Unlike a police officer who has full law enforcement powers, a sheriff’s deputy has limited jurisdiction. CBRPD intends to fill the SRO position with a sworn Act 120 police officer, which is the standard for this type of position. It is our understanding that the current SRO from the Sheriff’s Office was offered that position with CBRPD but declined.”

“The County of Bucks and the Bucks County Commissioners have no further direct involvement in this process,” O’Malley said.

In response to losing Landis, students launched an online petition to keep Landis.

That prompted CBSD Superintendent Dr. Steven Yanni to send an email stating Landis was offered a last chance to switch employers to keep the position, then effectively brushed aside the voices of students and parents while stating someone else would be hired. What Yanni omitted from his email was that such a change would cost Landis his pension, and push off his retirement with the new employer until well into his 70s, said Andrew Miller, a candidate for the school board in Region 2.

“SROs are important and vital resources in our high schools, and it is essential that we listen to students and parents to keep outstanding SROs in place,” said Miller,  “As someone with over 15 years of experience in law enforcement, I’ve seen firsthand the unique impact a trusted, consistent SRO can have in building safe, supportive school environments. It’s not just about presence—it’s about relationships, trust, and continuity. Deputy Landis has clearly earned the respect and trust of students, and that matters.”

Miller continued, “The failure to listen to students and parents, while omitting key information about the so-called ‘solution’ offered, is a perfect example of why we need change on our school board. We need leaders who will respect and listen to students and parents—and who understand the deeper implications of decisions like these. I applaud the students who started this petition. I hear you and I stand with you.”

Harran said, “I know the important roles that a School Resource Officer can fulfill, and the impact that an SRO can have – not only on the students, teachers, and administrators within a school, but on the entirety of the community that the school serves. I advocated for and implemented School Resource Officers, D.A.R.E. Programs, a P.A.L. Program, and other school and community outreach and involvement initiatives in my more than 30 years as a police officer, and as the Director of Public Safety for the county’s largest municipality, Bensalem Township.

“My deputies and I were excited at the prospect of beginning a School Resource Officer Program through the Sheriff’s Office, and in 2023 I pursued the SRO request from the Central Bucks School District with various officials in county government. My efforts culminated with an agreement among the school district, the county, and the Sheriff’s Office for the placement of a Deputy Sheriff as a School Resource Officer for CB West H.S. starting with the 2023-24 school year.

“Sheriff’s Deputy Landis was assigned as the SRO at CB West and has served continuously in that role since his appointment. Based upon all of the interactions I have had and feedback I have received since Deputy Landis’ assignment to the high school, I believe that the SRO Program at CB West has been a success,” added Harran.

After a jury was unable to reach a verdict last week in a massive equal pay lawsuit brought against the Central Bucks School District, federal Judge Michael M. Baylson decertified the plaintiffs’ class action.

The lawsuit alleged about 320 female teachers were underpaid by the district, which is the third largest in the state. The women claimed gender discrimination, alleging the district paid them less than comparable male teachers.

Previous attempts to settle the lawsuit involved amounts in excess of $100 million, a sum administration officials say the district cannot afford.

Neither the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Ed Mazurek, nor attorney Mike Levin, who represented the district, responded to requests for comment.

The school district, however, issued two statements.

“The plaintiffs alleged the district had violated the Equal Pay Act (EPA). According to the EPA, plaintiffs can prove discrimination if employees who are similarly situated (i.e., their work requires the same effort, skill, and responsibility) are compensated differently based on their gender.

“Today, the court issued an order decertifying the collective action suit, citing that the jury was unable to come to a unanimous verdict and that it was clear that all plaintiffs are not similarly situated. The order also states that individual plaintiffs may initiate their own lawsuits if they believe that they can prove that their claims are not barred by the statute of limitations.

“We reiterate our commitment to refining and enhancing our hiring practices, just as we seek to continually improve in all areas of operations. We also once again wish to underscore how much we value and respect all of our employees,” the statement said.

It was signed by school board President Karen Smith, Vice President Mariam Mahmud, and members Rob Dugger, Dana Foley, Susan Gibson, Jim Pepper, Heather Reynolds, and Jenine Zdanowicz.

In a July 30 statement after the hung jury, the district said it wished “to express how greatly we value and respect the more than 3,000 teachers, staff members and administrators who educate and care for the approximately 17,000 students across our 23 schools. Their work is essential to developing and sustaining the excellent educational and extracurricular experience we strive to provide at CBSD, and we are immensely grateful for their dedication to our students and schools.”

The class action lawsuit became a political football in the 2023 school board election, where the Democrats wrested control of the district from a Republican-majority board. Two of the Republicans members resigned from the board in February, leaving Pepper as the sole GOP member.

Board Member Rick Haring, one of the newly-elected Democrats and husband of one of the litigants, Rebecca Cartee-Haring, did not sign the district’s messages. In a previous email, Cartee-Haring decried the board’s decision not to settle the case in January after “many of us worked diligently to support all of you candidates. We supported you because you said you were running on compassion and common sense.”

Asked about the case on Monday, Cartee-Haring said, “A hung jury does not mean there was no evidence of discrimination. In fact, the jury was 6-2 on whether or not the plaintiffs met their burden of the preponderance of the evidence proving discrimination on the basis of sex.”

“The lawsuit for me and Dawn [Marinello] is still pending a motion for directed verdict for the plaintiffs and is able to be retried after the judge rules on that motion, which he has not done yet.  [There is] no need to refile. [The] judge will schedule a new trial.”

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I never imagined that I would find myself in a situation lasting nearly six months, grappling with ongoing challenges to halt antisemitic propaganda, policy violations, and inappropriate, troubling, and outright dangerous posts from a teacher within the district.

On top of this, I must continually prove that my only intention is to protect my child from antisemitic behavior perpetuated by the district teacher and Muslim Student Association (MSA) club he advises. This is the very reason my parents came to America—to shield me from such hatred.

It is disheartening and heartbreaking to witness the administration’s inaction from the outset and to endure the ongoing, deafening silence from the majority of the Board. This issue, which began as a clear violation of policies, has only worsened over time, and my concerns have been met with an alarming lack of response.

There is an old Jewish saying: “The antisemite does not accuse the Jew of stealing because he thinks he stole something. He does it because he enjoys watching the Jew turn out his pockets to prove his innocence.” I have had to continually prove that my intentions are pure, driven solely by the concerns of a parent for my child. I have provided highlighted evidence of policy violations, proof that an AIM truck was not hired despite accusations, and even shared my personal life story to demonstrate that there is no animosity towards anyone, especially based on their religion.

I would never believe that I, who was born and grew up in a majority Muslim country, would ever be accused of being Islamophobic. I never thought I would have to hear the thousand-year-old libel of being “financially enabled” and be labeled as part of “a hate group,” accused of “Islamophobic attacks” and “scapegoating a Muslim teacher” simply because I dared to voice my valid concerns due to teacher’s openly antisemitic, anti-Israel, and anti-Zionist behavior.

Despite presenting evidence of policy breaches, the inappropriate behavior of the teacher, and my personal story, I have seen no meaningful action or change.

I implore you to hear my voice not just as a constituent but as a mother deeply concerned for the well-being of her child. The silence and lack of action on this matter must end. It is time for the administration and the Board to address these issues with the seriousness they deserve and to take decisive steps to rectify the situation once and for all!

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Central Bucks School District parents fighting against antisemitism in their kids’ schools have an ally in Accuracy in Media (AIM).

On Wednesday, AIM brought its billboard truck to Central Bucks West High School, where Youssef Abdelwahab teaches Spanish and is the advisor for the Muslim Student Association. Both are part of a U.S. Department of Education Title VI Civil Rights investigation.

Abdelwahab runs an online business, AragApparel, selling A-rags and other apparel. He has allegedly posted several antisemitic comments online since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7 and the war in Gaza began. The issue of social media posts continues to roil the district.

Posts on the business’s Facebook page claim “Gazan children are being actively starved/killed by Israel & the U.S.” and that “Zionism=Nazism.”

Shortly after the billboard truck featuring Abdelwahab’s photo arrived at Central Bucks West, the police came and told AIM president Adam Guillette, his cameraman, and driver they needed to move. Guillette said they found a parking place for the billboard on the street near the school.

Many people honked, gave them the thumbs up and spoke to them, saying they were “unhappy with the district,” said Guillette.

“Imagine being a young Jewish girl in his class,” said Guillette.

Furlong resident Inna Pyatetsky can imagine it.  Her daughter will attend CB West in the fall, and Pyatetsky requested that she not be placed in his class.

She was surprised and happy to see the billboard and stopped to talk to Guillette.

“I said, ‘Thank you for doing this,’” said Pyatetsky. She’s complained about Abdelwahab to the school administrators and the school board, but she does not think they’re listening. An immigrant from Uzbekistan, she is shocked by the sudden rise in antisemitism she’s been encountering. This May, she attended the March of the Living at Auschwitz and said protesters shouted at the visitors, some whom had survived the Holocaust. Several of her family members died in the Holocaust.

“I have this dreadful feeling,” she said. “How is this happening in America? I’m shellshocked.”

Seeing Guillette and his billboard truck, “I felt for once there’s a voice.”

But Guillette said one woman started yelling and banging on the billboard truck windows as it was parked outside Central Bucks West.

“She tried to grab my microphone,” he said. She said she was calling the police and went into the school. Guillette called the police instead.  When officers came, Guillette did not press charges against her.

“These are people who have never had their views challenged,” he said.

Later, they drove the billboard truck and parked it outside Abdelwahab’s house in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. They “chatted with passersby” about why they were there. Eventually, Abdelwahab came home.

“He said we were harassing him,” said Guillette. “And he would call the police.” But then, Abelwahab “told some homeless people nearby that we hate Muslins.”

“It got a little hairy,” said Guillette. “They threatened us, and we got into our car. There was one rowdy person.”

Asked to comment, Abelwahab said, “There is no evidence to back the untrue statements displayed on the billboard truck. They are all simply lies. The billboard truck pulled up to the front entrance of the school for all of CBW to see, an act of clear defamation of character and slander.

“Later the same day, I found the same truck parked outside my home in Germantown, Philadelphia, almost an hour away from CB West High School. They were spreading lies and false information about me to every passerby. Then they came up on me after I parked, breathing down my neck with ridiculous questions, microphone in my face, walking with me up to the doorstep of my home.

“This is harassment. I have a wife and little kids at home that I love and care about. They do not feel safe and nor do I by such aggressive and inappropriate behavior. I am being targeted and harassed by individuals filled with hate and bigotry towards people who come from different religious and ethnic backgrounds and have different views on what’s happening in the world.

“I continue to appreciate the support of my school’s senior administration, the school board, and superintendent. They see and understand what is happening for what it is.

Central Bucks School District Acting Superintendent Jim Scanlon sent a note to parents condemning AIM’s actions.”

Scanlon wrote, “It is with regret that I am contacting you at this time to make you aware that a political advocacy group brought a truck with an electronic billboard to CB West High School today, and that is making news headlines. District security staff asked the truck and the two occupants to leave our property, but we have no ability to regulate its presence near our schools and the truck remained nearby on a public street. Our standard procedure at graduation is that security is present, we have set an expectation that no organization will disrupt the ceremonies. As always, we do not condone hate speech of any kind, and our school board and administrative team have issued a statement to this effect. The matter referenced in the messages by this group is one that is the subject of a legal matter and has been discussed publicly, at length, at our school board meetings. We are not aware of a new development that may have prompted the presence of this advocacy group.”

Mara Witsen, a resident, believes a spotlight on the district is needed.

“I am glad that someone called attention to the CB West teacher’s behavior,” said Witsen. “Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and parents and taxpayers in the district deserve to know what is going on in their schools, and who they pay tax dollars to employ. Hopefully the additional media interest will cause the school board and administration to stop playing games and kicking the can down the road. Antisemitism from school district staff deserves to be addressed swiftly, and politics should play no part in the response.”

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The war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza continues to roil the Central Bucks School District.

Jewish parents and students concerned about antisemitism spoke at a May 22 committee meeting. Several mentioned Central Bucks High School West Spanish teacher Youssef Abdelwahab and the Muslim Student Association, which are both the subject of a U.S. Department of Education Title VI civil rights investigation.

Abdelwahab reportedly apologized for some of the club’s posts.

After listening to lengthy public comments, the committee leaned toward Board Member Dr. Miriam Mahmud’s suggestion to form a task force to develop a social media policy for the district’s many student clubs.

Adam Wright, a Plumstead resident and a principal who was formerly a history teacher, said a recent student’s social media post of a swastika over a star of David should not be allowed.

“As a statement of fact, someone who is a history teacher, there has never been an independent state of Palestine,” said Wright. “The name Syria Palestina was first coined after the Romans concurred Judea after the Bar Kokhba revolt in 135 CE as a means of disconnecting the indigenous Jewish population from their ancestral homeland. Most historians believe this was done during the reign of the Emperor Hadrian.”

The name “Israel” dates to what was written in ancient Egypt in 1320 B.C.E., he said.

School Board Member James Pepper

“The phrase ‘Free Palestine’ has no meaning,” said Wright. “If our desire is to conduct and maintain productive dialogue among students and community, then we need to ensure that we maintain accuracy in the information and the language that we’re using.”

A former student said that classmates called him a “Christ killer” in the 6^th grade.

He had pennies thrown at him on the school bus in middle school and was the victim of a hate crime in high school, he said.

“Something must be done to combat the use of social media for bigotry and hate,” he said.

Inna Pyatetsky said, “The board must include policy language regarding the use of social media. Content of the post must be restricted to the club’s mission.” The board must also put enforcement and consequences in place, she said.

“This board was elected to make sure that kids in marginalized groups felt safe in our schools,” she said. “It is time to acknowledge you have failed to include one ethnic minority in your organizational framework of DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion): the Jewish student. There should have been unequivocal condemnation of antisemitism on its own, affirming that any form of any form of Jew-hatred, including social media posts, will never be tolerated.”

Fania Karlitsky said while some students object to changing the policies governing social media, “I would like to argue that our existing policies as they sit may actually be deemed hateful, as they’re the ones that allowed the MSA club to post over Easter weekend begging their God to deal with ‘the usurping Jews and treacherous Zionists’ with no consequences. Yet efforts to update the policy to prevent such content are being labeled hateful by students.”

“Just a few days ago, there was yet another post made by a student. This time, they intertwined an image of a Jewish star and a swastika and wrote, ‘The irony of becoming what you once hated.’ For those of you who needed an explanation, the implication was Jews are Nazis.”

“I saw today the board is implementing DEI principles in schools as a remedy…I believe the teaching of DEI principles has fueled a significant amount of hatred toward Jews. It’s important to note that existing DEI policies have overlooked the experiences and concerns of Jewish individuals, leaving Jews completely out of its programs.  There have been many instances where DEI initiatives have perpetuated the misconception that all white individuals are privileged and oppressive, leading to resentment and discrimination.”

A high school student said, “The Jewish kids are not OK. Because of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, Mr. A. posted stories and pictures on his social media that make his classroom no longer a safe space or welcome. When you compare Zionism and Nazis, how can it be a safe space and welcoming?

“I am an Israeli Jewish student who believes Israel has the right to exist. The amount of propaganda spread by both Mr. A. and the MSA club about my homeland and my religion feels like an attack against me personally. Again, this doesn’t create a safe space.”

He thanked board member James Pepper for a statement Pepper read at the May school board meeting. However, two women wearing hijabs called on Pepper to resign.

At the May 4 meeting, Pepper held a small Israeli flag and said, “Mark Twain is reported to have said, ‘History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.’ On April 25, 1933, Nazi Germany passed legislation that limited Jewish enrollment at universities to 1.5 percent of the student body.

“Over the last several weeks, Jewish students in our country were prevented from going to class at universities across this country. They were hounded, and they were threatened because they were Jewish. Can you hear the rhyming?

“Nazi Germany slaughtered over six million Jews during the holocaust. On Oct. 7, a homicidal genocidal death cult slaughtered over 1300 men, women, children and babies and kidnapped 230 men, women, children and babies. Like the Nazis, today’s homicidal genocidal death cult will not stop.

“If given a chance to repeat the atrocities of Oct. 7, this homicidal genocidal death cult will do it again and again and again and again until every Jew is either killed or expelled from Israel. This homicidal, genocidal death cult has said as much, like the Nazis, Hamas will not stop unless it is stopped.”

Pepper added CBSD could have condemned antisemitism and “chose not to.”

“Instead of condemning virulent antisemitism, we got a healthy dose of unrelated Whataboutism,” he said.

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(From a press release)

The Central Bucks Board of School Directors will consider an employment agreement with Dr. Steven Yanni to serve as the next superintendent of schools at the regularly scheduled meeting of the board on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. The Board will hold a Community Forum to introduce Dr. Steven Yanni on Monday, May 13, at Central Bucks High School West Auditorium located at 375 West Court Street, Doylestown.

Steven Yanni has over two decades of teaching and leadership experience, most recently serving as Superintendent of the Lower Merion School District in Montgomery County. Prior to that, Dr. Yanni served as the superintendent in the School District of Upper Dublin, also in Montgomery County (2018-2023), and the New Hope-Solebury School District of Bucks County (2015-2018). As a Superintendent, Dr. Yanni has exhibited a deep commitment to cultivating inclusive learning environments where every student can thrive and to the power of collaboration among parents, guardians, educators, and community stakeholders to ensure equitable access to high-quality education and ample opportunities for success.

Under Dr. Yanni’s leadership, several districts have implemented pioneering initiatives supporting personalized learning, structured literacy, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) education, and project-based learning. Dr. Yanni has been a driving force behind efforts to improve access to technology and expand career readiness programs, empowering students to make informed decisions about their post-graduation paths.

“The Board is very excited and pleased to introduce Dr. Yanni to our community,” said school board President Karen Smith. “We believe his substantial experience as a Superintendent will be invaluable to us in Central Bucks and look forward to his leadership as we continue to work to create a bright future for all our students. Finding someone for this important position with Dr. Yanni’s extensive level of knowledge, proven track record of expanding and advancing educational offerings, and dedication to putting students first, ensures our district’s ability to continue to offer the highest level of quality education.”

“I consider it both an honor and privilege to be chosen to serve as the next superintendent of the Central Bucks School District,” said Yanni. “In this role, I will remain unwavering in my commitment to equipping every student with the essential academic and problem-solving skills needed for personal growth, responsible citizenship, and lifelong learning in a district that focuses on academic excellence, empowerment, and innovative educational practices.”

The Central Bucks Board of School Directors (the Board) invites all community members to attend a Community Forum introducing Dr. Yanni on Monday, May 13, 2024, at 6 p.m. in the auditorium of Central Bucks High School West located at 375 West Court St., Doylestown, PA 18901. The event will also be live streamed and recorded, with those links to be made available on the school district’s website.

In addition to introductory remarks from Dr. Yanni, the Community Forum will include student performances, and a question-and-answer period facilitated by Dr. Mark Hoffman, Executive Director of the Bucks County Intermediate Unit (Bucks IU). The Board welcomes input from district stakeholders on which themes should be covered in the questions presented to Dr. Yanni. Community members are invited to submit up to two (2) questions for consideration through the following survey.

Questions may be submitted up until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8, 2024.

Submitted questions will be consolidated by common themes to allow for Dr. Yanni to address the maximum number of topics possible during this Community Forum. The format for the evening does not provide an opportunity for questions or comments from the audience during the forum itself. Instead, all questions must be submitted in advance using the link above.

Dr. Yanni will receive a copy of all submitted questions. The board has chosen this format to ensure that the maximum number of questions can be asked by the moderator in the time allotted.

The Board began their search process in February 2024, engaging with the Bucks IU to serve as its search consultant. On behalf of the Board, the Bucks IU conducted a community survey from February 28, 2024, through March 8, 2024, to identify the community’s opinions and priorities. More than 960 parents, guardians, taxpayers, students, staff, and other community members responded to the survey, offering feedback on the ideal characteristics and attributes of the future superintendent. The survey also captured what the community believes to be the district’s priorities for the immediate and long-term future. The survey results were shared with the community on the district website and through district communication channels.

As the search consultant, the Bucks IU facilitated a comprehensive search process, actively recruiting qualified candidates and advertising the position in local, regional, state, and national publications. The position was advertised from February 27, 2024, through March 24, 2024. Thirty-two candidates applied for the position. All decisions relating to interviews and candidate selection rested solely with the Central Bucks Board of School Directors. The Board thoroughly reviewed all the candidate applications and selected nine applicants to move forward to a first round of interviews. Six candidates were from Pennsylvania, and one each from Delaware, Iowa, and New Jersey. Following these initial interviews, the Board invited three applicants back for a second, increasingly rigorous round of questioning which also required the candidates to complete writing exercises and prepare presentations relevant to district priorities. The Board invited two applicants to return for a third round of interview questioning after which, the decision was reached to offer Dr. Steven Yanni the position of Superintendent of Schools.

I am a proud American who fully embraces the United States values, especially freedom of speech. I am also a refugee born and raised in Soviet Kazakhstan and later Uzbekistan. I lived among a Muslim population, surrounded by their faith and culture, and have a deep appreciation for diversity.

I am also a grandchild of Holocaust survivors. As a constant reminder of my Jewish ethnicity, my Soviet Union passport listed my nationality as “Jew.”  Being Jewish is not simply one’s religion but an ethnicity. In fact, Jews are an ethnic minority worldwide. Some of us practice Judaism, some choose other religions, and some are secular. Never could I have imagined that Jew-hatred would find me here, in the land of the free.

As U.S. college campuses erupted with blatant antisemitism, I hoped it wouldn’t reach our quiet suburban schools, yet here we are experiencing it firsthand. I watched in horror as Central Bucks West’s administration turned a blind eye and refused to enforce their policies, and allowed the spread of antisemitic propaganda by one of their teachers, Mr. Abdelwahab, and student members of the MSA club.

I attended the public board meeting to express my concerns about the administration’s disregard for policy violations. I described the hostile school environment it created and asked the board to do their job. I was not there to criticize this teacher’s character, work ethic, or religion.

None of the parents shared those thoughts or words. Yet, school board Vice President Dr. Mahmud read a prepared statement at the meeting claiming that the Jewish parents were on a ”witch hunt” and committing “Islamophobic attacks against a minority teacher.” Her preconceived notions clouded her judgment, and her words are a classic case of victim blaming. It is reprehensible!

Jews lived in the diaspora for thousands of years. Indigeneity of the Jewish people to the land of Israel is undisputable, and so is their right and obligation to defend their people from unprovoked genocidal attacks by terrorists. We are witnessing a deliberate twisting of facts and history to perpetuate antisemitism disguised as anti-Zionism.

Its goal is simple: brainwash and radicalize the impressionable minds in a systematic and calculated way to hate the Jews. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions but not their own facts. We must not let falsehoods told a thousand times become truths!

Per Dr. Mahmud, Mr. Abdelwahab “creates a safe space for students of all backgrounds and interests.” his posts tell us otherwise; they are bursting with false, inflammatory propaganda, glamorization of martyrdom, and calls for intifada. This disinformation campaign adversely impacts the students, the Jewish community, and all of society.

Our concerns weren’t raised because the teacher is Muslim but because he chooses to post antisemitic tropes and propaganda while knowing his students follow his social media and often replicate the same misguided rhetoric on MSA’s club account.  Their one-sided focus on the suffering of Gazans is very telling; they don’t appear at all concerned with the suffering of any other population, including millions of Muslims who are persecuted in Yemen, Syria, Pakistan, or China, not to mention 130-plus hostages still held by Hamas terrorist. Why?

Even after the board meeting, our calls for swift and direct actions went unanswered, and this inaction seemed to embolden the teacher and the club, culminating in a post of a prayer for G-d to “deal with the usurping Jews and the treacherous Zionists” on club’s Instagram. These posts should be seen exactly for what they are: incitement of Jew hatred. History taught us that this rhetoric goes hand-in-hand with violence.

Many of these propaganda posts were brought to the attention of the school district’s administration. Where was their resounding condemnation of this targeted hatred? We highlighted the dangers that stem from the spread of anti-Jewish rhetoric. Where was the board’s commitment to enforce their policies and address violations with meaningful disciplinary actions? At the time of the unprecedented rise in antisemitism and when Jewish students needed support and protection, most of this board stayed silent.

The belated board’s statement, as expected, was tone-deaf. It failed to strongly condemn the only real issue at hand, antisemitism. Also missing was the commitment to address this evident Jew hatred. By lumping the unparalleled antisemitism with an alleged islamophobia and “all other forms of hate,” it undermined the validity of our concerns, lacked the emphasis it deserved, and rendered the message insincere. While all hate should generally be condemned, this is not the time for equivocal statements, nor is this “action” enough.

For our children to feel safe and welcome in the schools, we must see results, policies must be strictly enforced, and there must be consequences. We will not stay silent and let our schools become an accessory to the next Holocaust. We want real actions, and we want them now! “Never again” is now!

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Emotions ran high at Tuesday’s Central Bucks School Board meeting as students spoke in defense of Spanish teacher Youssef “Mr. A” Abdelwahab, and Jewish parents expressed concerns about student indoctrination into antisemitism.

Abdelwahab sponsors the Central Bucks West Muslim Student Association (MSA). He is also a businessman with an online dew-rag and Arab head scarf business. The parents are concerned with the postings on his Instagram account, which many students follow, and Facebook and business webpage, which include messages like “Zionism = Nazism.”

While teachers and students are “entitled to their beliefs…by having the teacher’s social media handle available in the classroom on the whiteboard, which there is photographic evidence of, this drifts into a problem,” said Mara Witsen. “As well as posting pictures of the students on a business Instagram page held by that person, this goes beyond the scope of a club teacher sponsor.”

Witsen told the board she was speaking for herself and other parents who were afraid to attend the meeting.

“If a Jewish teacher directed students to his pro-Israel Instagram page, I would have the same concerns,” Witsen said. “The posts that students are directed to when they visit that Instagram page that was written on the whiteboard in the classroom is a page that publicly states that Zionism is equal to Nazism. Upwards of 90 percent of the world’s Jews are Zionists. It is disheartening to know that a teacher in our district sees 90 percent of his Jewish students as Nazis. And it is an untenable situation for many students. Should any students request to be removed from the class, I highly suggest you grant that request.”

Another parent, Fania Karlitsky, said Abdelwahab “violated school rules and policies in several ways,” including promoting the suicide of Aaron Bushnell, a mentally ill man who immolated himself outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., on his Instagram account. Students follow that account and are very impressionable, she said.

He “not only shared content on suicide but also implied that acts of violence toward others are justified in the name of resistance,” she said.

“On Oct. 10, 2023, only three days after the tragedy in Israel, he posted content stating, ‘resistance is justified when people are occupied.’

“In this case, the resistance he was talking about was the rape, murder, torture, and other unthinkable acts perpetrated against Israel’s most vulnerable citizens, including the children, the elderly, women and even babies. He shared photographs of others using guns. At a time when high schools nationwide are on edge waiting to see who will be the next school shooter, this is more than irresponsible. It is reprehensible, and it must stop,”  said Karlitsky.

Numerous students defended “Mr. A.”

Senior Mary Ayata, the MSA co-president and founder, noted that Abdelwahab is the only Muslim teacher in the district and claimed accusations against him are rooted in “Islamophobia and racism.”

“Allegations suggesting that a teacher is manipulating the thoughts of myself and my peers are unfounded. As someone from the Middle East, I am fully capable of forming my own opinions on matters pertaining to my region of origin, particularly those in life-threatening conditions.”

“As a representative of MSA, I would like to make it clear we feel targeted and persecuted in this community,” she added.

Lamees Shaat, a sophomore whose parents are Palestinian, claimed that 150 of her family members have died in the Gaza war.

“I should not have to deal with people saying I’m a terrorist when I say I’m Palestinian,” she said. “I should not be uncomfortable around certain teachers when they ask me tone-deaf questions about my country.”

“Dealing with the weight of the deaths of 150 family members has been nearly impossible. The C.B. West MSA and Mr. A have provided me a community to lean on during these traumatic times. That is why these false accusations made against Mr. A are so upsetting. Mr. A has been one of my sources of comfort at school. While I am feeling sad or distressed about everything that’s happening, I can talk to him and the MSA about everything I’m feeling…Mr. A is a beacon of light in the darkness,” Shaat said.

Asiyah Jones of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) spoke and offered her organization’s services to train teachers and staff. However, her organization has a troubled reputation regarding links to terrorism and a record of defending Islamist violence.

Shortly after the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack killing 1,200 Israeli civilians,  CAIR leader Nihad Awad said he was “happy” about the attack and that Israel did not have the right to defend itself, drawing condemnation from the White House.

Acting Superintendent Jim Scanlon told DVJournal district officials investigated Abdelwahab when the allegations were brought to his attention and concluded he had not violated any policies. As for the teacher’s social media handle written on his classroom whiteboard, that was done by students and taken down, said Scanlon. He noted that the Jewish Student Union and the MSA have been meeting to understand each other and plan a joint event “to promote peace.”

And while the MSA wrote letters to protest the state treasurer buying Israeli bonds, the JSU wrote letters in support of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), he said.

Abdelwahab did not respond to requests for comment.

The Democratic school board has been in charge in Central Bucks for three months, and the repeal of our previous board’s policy 321 is already plaguing the district. Policy 321 called for balance and neutrality in the classroom, whether in the context of teaching the Board-approved curriculum, facilitating discussions about current events, addressing students’ questions, conversing with students about social or political matters, or assessing students’ responses and work products.

The policy also stopped teachers from displaying flags or posters advocating any political or sociopolitical activities and issues in the classroom. When the Democrat majority took over, school board Member Heather Reynolds motioned to halt Policy 321 during their first school board meeting. She did not reference how to protect students from unwanted political activism (which is currently happening in our buildings). Her fellow Democratic school board members agreed with her, and the audience clapped. There has already been fallout from the repeal of the policy, and parents should be very concerned about where the district is heading.

The district is allowing anti-Israel political activism during school hours. Recently, it was brought to the attention of several parents that an organization in Central Bucks West High School is allowing students to gather during lunch and learn to write anti-Israel letters to the Pennsylvania state treasurer to stop dropping bombs in Gaza. Not only is this political activism, it doesn’t make sense.

The state treasurer has nothing to do with how Israelis protect themselves from a terrorist organization or how Israel conducts missions to rescue hostages. This student activity was purely to sway children’s views about political candidates–the one thing our previous board worked diligently to stop. I recently saw school board President Karen Smith at an event with the Democratic candidate running for state treasurer.

The latest thing teachers are doing is hanging huge “progress” flags in my child’s middle school. Some say this isn’t political and makes children feel safe. I am not sure why an American flag doesn’t promote the feeling of safety. The real problem is, what if a teacher says the same thing about a Palestinian flag? Or what if parents don’t want their children to believe they can change genders?

No guidelines or parameters are set up to say what type of political symbols are allowed in school. As a community, we need the district to explain what it is doing to protect all children since they need to feel safe, and it is only focused on a small minority.

The previous policy of keeping all symbols and flags out of school was working to protect all kids. Now, it’s a free-for-all, and I am very concerned for our Jewish community. If the district is allowing anti-Israel political activism in districts, why not Palestinian flags and marches in the buildings? It’s very disappointing this is the trajectory our district is taking. The politicizing of our children and schools has to stop immediately. It’s hard to understand why people in Bucks County voted for school board members who want politics to be a school priority. Here we are, though. It’s a terrifying time in Bucks County.

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(From a press release.)

The Central Bucks School District, located in Doylestown, has officially begun a search for its next Superintendent of Schools. To facilitate the search process, the school board unanimously voted to retain the services of the Bucks County Intermediate Unit (Bucks IU), Bucks County’s educational service agency.  The Bucks IU does not charge a fee for this service for school districts located in Bucks County, although the Bucks IU will be reimbursed by the district for any out-of-pocket advertising or other costs associated with the position posting.

Bucks IU Executive Director Dr. Mark Hoffman offered that the Bucks IU has a strong tradition of supporting school boards in their search for new superintendents.   Hoffman said the Bucks IU “takes seriously its commitment to providing high-quality, comprehensive executive searches that lead to the successful appointment of district leaders.”

“Selecting and supporting a Superintendent is one of the most critical tasks assigned to school boards in Pennsylvania.  The Bucks IU team looks forward to working with the Central Bucks Board of School Directors and the Central Bucks community during this important process,” he said.

As a part of the search process, the Central Bucks Board of School Directors is soliciting feedback from students, staff, and community members using a survey to gather information on the traits, characteristics, and priorities stakeholders are seeking in their next Superintendent.

A survey is now open for feedback through 4 p.m. on March 8. A survey summary will be shared with the community shortly following the date it closes.

Central Bucks School District staff, students, and community members are encouraged to complete this survey to provide their feedback. The survey data will be used by the Board to help create interview questions and to aid in distinguishing candidates that meet the identified qualifications.

Applications for the position of Superintendent are now being accepted and the job has been posted. 

The position announcement has been distributed to a variety of social media sites and national, state, and regional publications including EdWeek, The School Superintendents Association (AASA), the Association of Educational Service Agencies (AESA), Penn*Link, Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators (PASA), Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials (PASBO), Pennsylvania Association of School Personnel Administrators (PASPA), and the Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units (PAIU), as well as county and state email distribution lists and various job boards.   The job posting closes at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, March 24, 2024, with initial interviews of candidates to occur in April and May.  The Board’s goal is to name a new Superintendent before June 30, 2024.

Karen Smith, President of the Central Bucks School District Board of School Directors, said, “The Bucks IU brings to us a wealth of experience and knowledge in the Superintendent search process.  As an experienced facilitator of Superintendent searches, the Bucks IU will guide us in our search for the next leader of our schools.

“The Bucks IU will work with the Board of School Directors to develop interview questions and protocols, as well as organizing and coordinating the logistics of scheduling and facilitating the various rounds of the interview process. I want to note however that the members of the Central Bucks Board of School Directors are solely responsible for the selection of candidates to advance through the interview process and for whomever is selected as the next superintendent,” she said.

A community forum, to introduce the new Superintendent, will be arranged and announced once the final selection is completed.