Racist, Homophobic & Antisemitic Language @ School

April 27, 2023

Dear Families,

Skokie School District 73.5 is proud of our diversity. It is one of our greatest attributes and is often our families’ response to the question, “Why did you choose our district?”

Earlier this month we received reports of racist, homophobic, and antisemitic language spoken among some of our middle school students to their peers. Our administrators and staff addressed these incidents immediately and continue to work proactively to address any continued hate language at school. This includes reviewing our current procedures and curriculum and making improvements where necessary.

We understand that some of our students may not yet recognize the real-life implications of derogatory messages. We encourage all students to alert a trusted adult in school if they hear them spoken.

If your child shares with you an incident of racist, homophobic, or antisemitic language in school, please notify me and your school’s administrative team so we can address the issue together in a timely manner. We are committed to maintaining a safe, welcoming, and inclusive learning environment for all.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership in educating and supporting our students.

Sincerely,

Dr. Zipporah Hightower

Superintendent