Smithfield schools to overhaul hazing policies
- The Rhode Island attorney general found antisemitic hazing and misconduct in Smithfield schools, triggering an official corrective review and recommendations. - The AG requires new reporting procedures, staff training, and stricter discipline across the district to prevent future incidents. - Parents and community members demand accountability while the district prepares policy changes and implementation timelines (patch.com).
Rhode Island Attorney General Charlotte Burke ordered Smithfield Public Schools to overhaul its hazing policies after an investigation uncovered antisemitic hazing and staff misconduct. (patch.com) The probe, launched in fall 2025, examined incidents at Smithfield High School involving students forcing peers into antisemitic acts like chanting slurs and simulating violence against Jewish people. Staff failed to report or address the behavior, violating state law. (providencejournal.com) Burke's April 22, 2026, letter mandates new anonymous reporting hotlines, annual staff training on hazing recognition, and progressive discipline up to expulsion for violators. The district must submit a compliance plan by May 15 and fully implement changes by September 2026. (patch.com) Hazing in schools often escalates from pranks to abuse, with Rhode Island defining it as any coerced act causing physical or psychological harm during initiation rituals. Antisemitic incidents spiked nationally 360% from October 2023 to September 2024, per the Anti-Defamation League. (adl.org) Smithfield Superintendent Wayne Newton welcomed the recommendations, saying the district will "implement these measures swiftly to foster a safe environment." No staff face charges yet, but the AG warned of potential legal action if compliance lags. (providencejournal.com) Parents packed a April 20 school board meeting, with one mother stating, "Our kids deserve better than adults who look the other way." Community leaders from the local Jewish alliance called for independent oversight of the reforms. (wpri.com) This follows similar probes in Cranston and Coventry districts, where AG interventions led to 20% drops in reported hazing cases within a year. Smithfield enrolls 2,800 students across six schools, with high school as the main site of documented issues. (rilin.state.ri.us) The district's timeline includes policy drafts by June 1 and staff training sessions starting July 2026, with progress reports due quarterly to the AG's office. (patch.com)
