Issaquah School District administrators didn’t know about anti-Israel club on campus, club organized Palestine walkout on October 7

Responses from a FOIA request filed by Defending Education show that the Issaquah Student League (ISL), an unauthorized student group, organized a walkout commemorating October 7 at Issaquah High School (IHS). IHS administrators were not aware that ISL recruited students on campus until they were informed of or saw posters. Leading up to the walkout, students glued posters on flag poles, chalked on school property, and handed out donuts and flyers near the car pickup line after school to recruit walkout participants.

Administrators were unaware of Issaquah Student League’s presence on campus

Emails indicate that administrators were not aware that ISL existed, even though ISL had a table at the school club fair. Administrators were alerted to ISL’s presence and recruitment by other members of the community (presumably parents).

ISL actively recruited on campus

Administrators received reports from parents about ISL posters found throughout campus advertising the club and encouraging Palestinian activism.

In other emails, a district security officer noted how some posters about an October 7 walkout planned by ISL were “glued to the flag poles, light poles and the fences.” There was no follow-up about how whether the students were identified or how they would be disciplined.

ISL also chalked on school property to advertise their walkout.

The students who did the chalking were identified, but the Issaquah High School principal sought to minimize punishment even though one of the students was a repeat offender. She said: “I mean, chalk isn’t really property damage. I would issue lunch detention for using district resources to advertise for a non school sanctioned club/event.”

ISL also recruited for the walkout by tabling with flyers and donuts near campus. Multiple parents alerted administrators about this.

Administrators checked security cameras to see if they could determine who was involved.

Administrators identified two people, a former and current student.

They decided to speak with the current student only about where she parked.

This student may have also been involved in the chalking.

Administrators determined that the tabling technically took place off-campus, so they could not discipline students.

ISL also recruited on social media, screenshots of which were shared via email with IHS administrators.

October 7 walkout

The Issaquah High School principal shared a message with teachers about the walkout and how to handle it.

According to emails among administrators, only six students ended up participating in the walkout. Administrators decided to not send a follow-up message about the walkout to parents.