Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into complaints of widespread antisemitism in the Plano Independent School District, warning administrators to squash it ahead of the second anniversary of the Gaza terror attacks.
Mr. Paxton, a Republican, directed Superintendent Theresa Williams in a letter Thursday to “take all necessary steps” to discipline students, staff and teachers who defy state laws banning partisan politics from public schools as the Oct. 7 milestone approaches.
“Specifically, accounts have circulated that teachers are presenting biased materials and insisting that students take a pro-Palestinian view,” Mr. Paxton wrote. “Reports indicate there have been school sponsored pro-Palestinian walkouts, for which the school provided ‘excused absences’ to participating students.”
The letter also directs Ms. Williams to send all school protest policies, anti-Israel curricular documents and records of related disciplinary actions to the attorney general’s office within 10 days.
Mr. Paxton cited parental complaints to school administrators, district board members and city councilmembers in the Dallas suburb about “widespread anti-Israel and antisemitic rhetoric” in their children’s classrooms.
“Those complaints have either been ignored or met with vague responses that do nothing to meaningfully address the problem,” he added.
In a statement emailed to The Washington Times, a Plano Independent School District spokeswoman rejected all claims of negligence and pledged to comply with Mr. Paxton’s demands.
“Plano ISD is prepared to cooperate transparently and openly with any investigation, including our own independent audit into these claims,” said Lesley Range-Stanton, the district’s chief communications officer.
“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,” she said.
She added that the district “unequivocally rejects antisemitism and all forms of hate,” and takes all discrimination complaints seriously.
“We do not tolerate antisemitic behavior, and any such act is despicable and will be disciplined to the fullest extent allowed by state law,” Ms. Range-Stanton added.
The investigation follows a separate probe by the Texas Education Agency, which is responsible for public schooling in the state.
According to a recap posted on the school district’s website, the Plano ISD Board of Trustees defended its response to antisemitism complaints during an Aug. 19 meeting.
“Board President Dr. Lauren Tyra addressed recent public allegations of systemic antisemitism in Plano ISD, reaffirming the district’s commitment to the safety and well-being of all students,” the recap stated.
“She acknowledged that while there have been individual reported incidents, they have been investigated, addressed in alignment to policy, and without deliberate indifference,” the district said.
The recap emphasized that school officials were working with local religious leaders to combat antisemitism.
According to the attorney general, the district hasn’t acted fast enough to take meaningful action.
“The reports regarding antisemitic activity in Plano ISD schools are alarming and must be swiftly and aggressively addressed,” Mr. Paxton said in a statement Thursday. “Any teacher or administrator that has facilitated or supported radical anti-Israel rhetoric in our schools should be fired immediately.”
