To: School Directors of Upper Dublin School District  Acting Superintendent and In-Coming Superintendent: 

• Jeffrey Wallack, President
• Mark Sirota, Vice President
• Darlene Davis
• Jenna Evans
• Alima Redding
• Jennifer Iannitti
• Art Levinowitz
• Titia Scherpbier
• Dr. Marykay Feeley, Interim Superintendent
• Dr. Laurie J. Smith, Superintendent 

Over the past few days, it has come to our attention that a newly elected School Board Director, Tricia Ebarvia, published a post on Facebook that contained a reference to and/or endorsement of a webinar which purports to be a “discussion” about  the war between Israel and Hamas. 

 

 

 

 

Through this post, Ms. Ebarvia encourages Upper Dublin residents, students, and teachers to participate in this webinar entitled “Getting to the Root: Sharing Stories and Humanizing Palestine-Part 1”. Ms. Ebarvia’s business partner is Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul, who has also promoted this webinar. The webinar registration link is here:

https://streamyard.com/watch/EBrh8GrGDBmn

When one delves into the description of the webinar, it is revealed that it is not a discussion with regard to the current conflict but is more akin to propaganda as it includes language which describes the conflict between Hamas and Israel utilzing terms such as the,  "colonial history” of the relationship between Israel and the Palestinians and more disturbingly the “ ongoing genocide and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians..." Let us not forget that the current war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked, raped, tortured and murdered over 1,400 Israelis and took over 200 hostages. The battles that have ensued since constitutes Israel’s defense of its borders and its people and an effort to eradicate Hamas – a group which a multitude of countries all over this world have deemed to be nothing more than a terrorist organization. 

One of the speakers for the webinar (and someone whom Ms. Ebarvia follows on Instagram) is Sawsan Jaber who herself recently posted a message on Twitter (see image below) referring to the President of the United States, Joseph Biden, as "Genocide Joe." i.e., Ms. Jabar has posted other disturbing and anti-semitic posts which are simply too numerous to set forth in this letter. The very fact that Ms. Ebarvia is following Ms. Jaber on social media is extremely worrisome and raises serious doubts about whether she is truly fit to serve as a School Board Director in this community.  The timing of Ms. Ebarvia’s post is also concerning given that it was made only a few days after Ms. Ebarvia won election to the Board. One certainly wonders whether her election to the Board would have occurred had such a post been made prior to election day given the divisive nature of the same. 

 

 

In the Upper Dublin School District, we have a relatively large number of Jewish students, parents, teachers, staff and members of the administration. The District is also home to a number of Israelis. The language identified in the webinar’s description and Ms. Ebarvia’s close association with those who are supporting the same are very concerning. The language is not only inaccurate and extremely hurtful to Jewish and Israeli people, but her associates' comments about the United States should be distressing to all Americans. 

Ms.  Ebarvia is the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at a Quaker school, Greene Street Friends in Philadelphia. Ms. Ebarvia’s campaign for election to the School Board set forth a promise of addressing and improving the principles of diversity, inclusion and equity. Given her Facebook posting and the association of the posting to Ms. Jabar there would now appear to be serious questions as to whether Ms. Ebarvia considers Jewish and Israeli people as members of a community whose concerns should be included under the DEI umbrella. Certainly endorsing a seminar which intends to deliver the inaccurate and hate-filled message that Israel is committing genocide would not appear to be inclusive of the Jewish community. It is indeed concerning that Ms. Ebarvia would serve in two different leadership roles, in two different communities, and yet is promoting support for a terrorist organization. Perhaps even more concerning is that with this posting, Ms. Ebarvia appears to be tone deaf to the fact that since the Hamas-Israeli war began over a month ago, there has been a significant increase in anti-semitic activities in this county, much of which has taken place on the campuses of higher education and most recently in New York City Public Schools culminating on the National Shutdown for Palestine on November 9th. Has Ms. Ebarvia already forgotten that only a few years ago 11 Jews were murdered and six others were wounded in a shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue. 

Ms. Ebarvia’s social media activities demonstrates a complete lack of judgment with and worse, has essentially endorsed anti-semitic propaganda that has no place in our community. As such, we believe that Ms. Ebarvia should not permit herself to be sworn in as a School Director and should immediately issue a written apology to the Upper Dublin community with specific language which addresses all of the concerns set forth above. Should Ms. Ebarvia not surrender her seat on the School Board, we intend to examine all other available methods to seek her removal as a School Director as the same may be provided for by the Pennsylvania School Code, and the Board’s By-Laws.

Your attention to and consideration of this important issue is appreciated.