The superintendent of a Rhode Island school was placed on leave on Wednesday over her handling of an alleged antisemitic hazing incident that has local Jewish organizations demanding answers.
Smithfield Schools Superintendent Dr. Dawn Bartz was put on paid leave while external reviews inquired into the incident and the administration’s conduct, a move that the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island and Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center (SBHEC) said was encouraging, after five football players were reinstated despite their alleged role in the Smithfield High School hazing incident.
In late September, the senior football players allegedly locked a Jewish freshman player in a bathroom, sprayed disinfectant through the door, and shouted anti-Jewish slurs.
The Jewish Alliance said that the incident was witnessed by at least 20 other players. The SBHEC and the Jewish Alliance reportedly provided support to the victim’s family and worked with the school district to develop an education plan “to make sure something like this doesn’t happen again.”
Bartz and other school officials had announced in an October 9 letter, obtained by WPRI-12, that an investigation had been opened into the alleged antisemitic hazing incident and that the department had a “zero-tolerance policy for hazing, bullying, and harassment in any form.”
Players reinstated after one training session
After an investigation, the players were suspended from the team for one season, said the Jewish Alliance. However, after a single training session, they were reinstated.
SBHEC and the Jewish Alliance decried the administration’s decision in an October 23 statement, saying that the school leadership had “gone back on the disciplinary actions they previously shared with us,” which outlined “clear consequences for those students responsible.”
The Jewish Alliance called for the reinstatement of the disciplinary action, an apology from the administration to the victim and the Jewish community, and an explanation regarding the decision.
Pressure mounted on the Smithfield School Committee as local political officials issued statements about the allegations.
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee and RI Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green stated on October 28, calling on the school and district to conduct a “thorough” investigation and take action accordingly.”
“Acts of hazing and antisemitism will never be tolerated anywhere in Rhode Island,” McKee and Infante-Green said.
Smithfield town manager Robert Seltzer distanced the town from the school system in an October 29 statement condemning the reported occurrence, noting that the school system operated independently from the town.
RI Congressman Gabe Amo also issued a statement of support for the Rhode Island Jewish community on October 30, calling for all to do more to ensure that no resident was targeted because of “who they are.”
The Boston Globe reported on October 30 that Bartz spoke about the incident, assuring that the district was taking the incident seriously, but that she didn’t explain why the players were reinstated.
The Smithfield School Committee held a meeting on the issue last Monday night, according to the Jewish Alliance.
Valley Breeze reported that an attorney representing the accused football players had argued that the athletes didn’t intend any antisemitism, and that the hazing was simply general “locker room antics.”
The Rhode Island Current reported the committee voted to hire an outside law firm to investigate the district’s handling of the alleged incident. The local outlet also reported that the case was being investigated by the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office.
“As we await the outcome of the Attorney General’s investigation, the Jewish Alliance and SBHEC remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that incidents like this never happen again,” the Jewish organizations said on Tuesday in a statement.
Bartz was placed on leave on Wednesday, with the Jewish Alliance and SBHEC expressing encouragement for the move based on the recent developments in the case.
“The decision to place the superintendent on administrative leave is a significant step, and we await further details on this development,” said the Jewish groups.
They added, “We are confident that those investigating will conduct a thorough review and take all necessary action to resolve this matter appropriately. We hope this creates an opportunity to resume the education process with the school to ensure this never happens again.”
On Tuesday, the Rhode Island Interscholastic League issued a statement about the Smithfield incident, condemning “all forms of hazing, harassment, and discrimination, including acts of antisemitism.”