NYC schools boss defiantly insists antisemitic incidents have been dealt with in ‘appropriate fashion’ during grilling by Congress

Schools Chancellor David Banks was defiant Wednesday as he was grilled by Congress over his response to antisemitism — insisting that hateful incidents in New York City classrooms have been dealt with “in an appropriate fashion.”

Tensions flared as Banks was slammed for his decision to reassign — not fire — the principal of a Queens school where students rioted in November against a Jewish teacher who had attended a pro-Israel rally.

“How can Jewish students feel safe in New York City public schools when you can’t even manage to terminate the principal of ‘open season on Jews High School?’” said Rep. Brandon Williams (R-NY), referring to former Hillcrest High School principal Scott Milczewski.

“It’s not ‘open season on Jews High School’ it’s called Hillcrest High School,” Banks snapped back, adding, “and we considered his leadership to not be strong enough in that school.”

“Is he strong enough to be on your payroll?” Williams prodded as Banks defended his decision to keep Milczewski on city Department of Education staff. 

House Republican conference chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) also quizzed Banks on Hillcrest, noting it was “very concerning” that Milczewski had been moved into the senior position of director of instruction when his leadership had been called into question.

But Banks’ response was that while the DOE has had teachers with “challenges,” there are also “members of Congress who have made antisemitic statements, and I would not cast aspersions on this entire institution.”

“Similarly, I would stand in defense of New York City educators as well,” he said.

In addition to the student rampage at Hillcrest — which forced Jewish teacher Karen Marder to hide in a locked office for hours — the Big Apple public school system has also been rocked by a citywide student walkout calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and allegations of heinous antisemitism at Brooklyn’s Origins High School amid the Israel-Hamas war.

Banks was on the offensive as he addressed the panel of 14 lawmakers, slapping down assertions that the DOE had “done nothing” to address the scourge of hate gripping the city.

“I can’t state that I can prevent every incident from ever happening, but … once it is brought to our attention … we respond in an appropriate fashion,” he said.

Banks acknowledged that “antisemitism is the number one religious-based hate crime in America” but fell short of admitting its stronghold on Big Apple schools.

“All forms of hate have no place in our public schools. And New York City public schools have been aggressive in fighting hate wherever it has reared its ugly head,” he said.

Students, parents, educators and advocates for Jewish rights poured into the nation’s capitol to witness Banks and officials from Maryland’s Montgomery County and Berkeley, California face fierce questioning from the House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.

All three institutions are liberal-leaning districts with large Jewish populations that have faced alleged antisemitic incidents since Oct 7 — when Hamas launched a vicious attack on Israel.

Banks and the other two school district leaders all condemned the phrase “From the river, to the sea” as antisemitic — the strongest responses heard to date in congressional hearings on antisemitism in schools.

Leaders of Ivy League universities, including Columbia’s President Minouche Shafik, have faced criticism over their testimony to Congress.

Banks insisted to the lawmakers that his administration had taken action, noting that since war broke out in the Middle East, there have been 281 incidents of hate in city schools, 42% of those anti-Jewish and 30% Islamophobic.

“We have removed, disciplined, or are in the process of disciplining at least a dozen staff and school leaders,” he said.

“We have suspended at least 30 students, we’ve involved the NYPD when hate crimes are committed, and we’ve retrained all 1,600 principals on our discipline code to ensure that it is enforced properly.”

He used as an example of his administration taking action an incident in which a map that left off Israel was found hanging in a Brooklyn elementary school classroom — claiming it was immediately removed when the DOE became aware of it. He said the map was an isolated incident and a failure by the teacher who brought it in.

But when first asked about the map and whether it would be taken down, a DOE spokesperson had actually reportedly replied “Why would it be?” and the removal of the controversial learning tool was only noted by the department after widespread media coverage.

Reps. Burgess Owens (R-Utah) and Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) joined Stefanik and Williams in quizzing Banks about his handling of Hillcrest and Milczewski, the high school’s principal who was reassigned.

“There are egregious crimes that have been committed under your watch,” Williams told Banks. “I want you to speak directly to the parents of Jewish students in New York City, how should they reassure their children that this antisemitic nightmare in your schools has come to an end?”

Banks claimed he speaks to Jewish parents everyday and that Hillcrest was an example of a lack of “proper supervision” and Milczewski was promptly moved to a different post, noting that there is “due process.”

Critics called Banks’ testimony dishonest with Councilwoman Inna Vernikov saying that his comments “make it seem as though NYC has somehow got a handle on antisemitism.”

“He wasn’t transparent. He danced around direct questions and couldn’t say what disciplinary action was taken against antisemitic students and teachers,” she said.

“As the hearing was going on, I got word that there was antisemitic graffiti at a public school in my district. The situation is obviously getting worse, not better.”

Others applauded Banks’ condemnation of antisemitism but agreed that he’d been “disingenuous” in his responses regarding accountability.

“He led the committee to believe he fired the Hillcrest HS principal when in fact principal Milczewski was promoted,” Maud Maron, a Manhattan mom and member of the Community Education Council District 2.

In the lead up to the panel Banks emphasized that the DOE has assembled an interfaith council and developed curricula on Jewish and Muslim history and crowed of the launch of a Holocaust teaching guide created in partnership with the Museum of Jewish Heritage.

The DOE will also be expanding its “Hidden Voices” series — which highlights the voices of people forgotten in the history books — to include Jewish and Muslim people and will hold training sessions for middle and high school leaders on how to navigate “difficult conversations.”

“As I testified, I’m the proud leader of the nation’s largest school system with over 1 million students and staff. Our city is a global city. And when tragedy strikes overseas, we recognize that it impacts the families in New York City as well,” Banks said in a statement after the hearing. 

“My message to Congress today was clear: Antisemitism and all forms of hate have no place in our public schools. And New York City public schools have been aggressive in fighting hate wherever it has reared its ugly head.”