North suburban high school's pro-Palestinian yearbook quote found to be taken out of context, school board says

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - A student’s comments in the Glenbrook South High School yearbook that angered many parents and residents was not about the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel, according to an investigation by the district.

Attorney Justin Petrarca told the Glenbrook High School District 225 and the public the quote that, in part, said a student was happy when she saw what Palestine did, was taken out of context.

“[It] never mentions Oct. 7, is never related to Oct. 7, and you have to read the context of the whole interview, three and a half minutes, to understand that,” Petrarca said.

Board Member Sandra Muhlenbeck told upset parents and residents the board wants to be deliberative.

“Work like this does take time, and I’m sorry, to the extent that people have felt impatient and felt as if we should do something more quickly,” Muhlenbeck said.

Petrarca also found yearbook advisor Brenda Field, a teacher at GBS, was aware of the quote and had several conversations with the editors—but never advised them to retract it.

Two of the three student editors are Jewish and, while they refused to be interviewed, told Fields they didn't believe it was antisemitic.

The board said it may take action at its meeting next month.

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