Smithfield Superintendent Resigns Amid Antisemitism Investigation

Smithfield Superintendent Resigns Amid Antisemitism Investigation

The Superintendent of Smithfield Public Schools has announced she is resigning from her position.

As GoLocal reported in November, Bartz was placed on leave during an investigation of anti-semitism, which is currently ongoing. 

It marks the latest in the controversy involving five football players allegedly assaulting a Jewish student and spraying him with a chemical to reenact a Holocaust gas chamber.

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In a letter addressed specifically to Bartz, the Rhode Island Coalition for Israel wrote, "If there are no consequences for the five football students involved, what message does that send to other students who bully, hate, or engage in Jew-hatred?"

The Town Council will take up the matter of Bartz' resignation on Monday. 

 

Bartz Claims Wins

GoLocal obtained a copy of the formal communication from Bartz to the community, in which she touts her accomplishments as Superintendent. 

In it, Bartz writes "among our shared achievements" during her tenure that "our graduation rate reached 95%, and chronic absenteeism declined through the joint efforts of families, teachers, and support teams" and that "most of our schools have surpassed pre-pandemic performance in English Language Arts and mathematics, and Smithfield High School rose from #30 to #9 in the state—reflecting expanded opportunities in dual enrollment, career and technical education (CTE), and rigorous coursework."

"As Smithfield moves forward, I am confident the district will continue to build on this progress and momentum," wrote Bartz.