Saada v. Fayetteville-Manlius CSD, et al. · Supreme Court of New York · Onondaga County · Filed Aug. 6, 2026 · Index No. [Pending] · Last Updated Aug. 7, 2026
A Documentary Case Record
One School. Two Responses.
A dispute over student expression, institutional response and equal treatment at Fayetteville-Manlius High School — documented through primary records and court filings.
On May 18, 2026, sixteen-year-old Dahlia Saada presented “If I Must Die” during Fayetteville-Manlius High School’s AAPI Heritage Assembly.
The following morning, F-M High School families received a communication describing the presentation as “politically charged.” The message also acknowledged: “Unfortunately, in this instance, we failed to follow the process.”
A subsequent dispute over the school’s response, a separate incident involving a Palestinian flag, and allegations of unequal treatment ultimately led to a civil-rights lawsuit filed August 6, 2026.
Filed
August 6, 2026
Court
Supreme Court of New York, Onondaga County
Case Type
Civil Rights
Procedural Posture
Putative Class Action
Editor
Nabeel Shukri, MD
This site organizes primary correspondence, district records, court materials and public reporting. Allegations remain allegations unless established by the relevant record or adjudicated by a court.
Photo: Michelle Gabel | Central Current
01 · The Case in Brief
A poem, a public communication, and a dispute over equal treatment.
On May 18, 2026, Dahlia Saada, a sixteen-year-old student at Fayetteville-Manlius High School, presented “If I Must Die,” by Palestinian poet and professor Refaat Alareer, during the school’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Assembly.
The complaint alleges that the presentation had been submitted through the school’s review process and approved in advance. The family states that Dahlia rehearsed at school with staff present.
The following morning, Principal Patrick McNamara sent a ParentSquare communication to F-M High School families describing the presentation as “politically charged.” The message stated that school-sponsored assemblies were not the place for political content and acknowledged: “Unfortunately, in this instance, we failed to follow the process.”
Dr. Fahed Saada objected to the communication and later asked the district to issue a comparable community-wide response concerning a separate incident involving a Palestinian flag and alleged anti-Arab remarks.
The district communicated privately with the family, said reported student conduct would be addressed under district policies, and repeatedly offered to meet.
On May 26, Superintendent Magda Parvey explained in writing that the district would not issue the requested public statements concerning student discipline. She cited the District Code of Conduct, DASA procedures, and student privacy requirements.
The family argues that the difference in public treatment reflects unequal treatment of Palestinian expression and Palestinian students.
The district says the matters involved different institutional responsibilities: content presented during a school-sponsored assembly versus individual student conduct handled through disciplinary procedures.
The dispute later became the subject of a civil-rights lawsuit filed August 6, 2026.
The Core Dispute
One event resulted in a communication to F-M High School families. The other was handled through a private student-discipline process. The family alleges that distinction reflects unequal treatment. The district says it explains why the responses differed.
Case at a Glance
01
May 18, 2026
The Assembly
Dahlia presents “If I Must Die.”
02
May 19, 2026
The Communication
F-M High School families receive the “politically charged” ParentSquare message.
03
May–July 2026
The Paper Trail
The family, district, and later CAIR-NY exchange formal correspondence.
04
August 6, 2026
The Lawsuit
The dispute reaches Onondaga County Supreme Court.
02 · The Assembly
The presentation at the center of the dispute.
On May 18, 2026, Dahlia Saada participated in Fayetteville-Manlius High School's Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Assembly and presented “If I Must Die,” written by Palestinian poet and professor Refaat Alareer.
The complaint alleges that Dahlia submitted the presentation through the school’s designated review process and that it was approved before the assembly.
The family states that Dahlia rehearsed the presentation at school for hours with staff present.
A contemporaneous faculty email sent the following day stated:
“I know we took a risk with your poem, but I’m really glad you chose to read it.”
Primary Document · Faculty Email · May 19, 2026
Primary Media
May 18, 2026
AAPI Heritage Assembly
Fayetteville-Manlius High School
Family-supplied primary media.
Source Note
The description of the review and approval process reflects allegations in the complaint and the family’s account. The contemporaneous faculty email independently establishes staff awareness of the poem but should not be presented as proof of every formal review step.
03 · The Next Morning
A message to F-M High School families.
On May 19, 2026, at 10:24 AM, Fayetteville-Manlius High School sent a ParentSquare communication to F-M High School families concerning the previous day's AAPI Heritage Assembly.
The message described a student's presentation as a "politically charged poem" and stated that a school-sponsored assembly was not the place for political content, regardless of viewpoint.
It also described the school's existing content-review process and stated:
Unfortunately, in this instance, we failed to follow the process.
Why This Document Matters
The May 19 communication is the district's contemporaneous public explanation of its response to the assembly. It describes the presentation as "politically charged," explains the school's content-review expectations, and acknowledges that the process was not followed.
Key Excerpts from the Document
"a politically charged poem"
"Unfortunately, in this instance, we failed to follow the process."
District Communication
Document ID
DOC-2026-05-19-01
Date
May 19, 2026 · 10:24 AM
From
Fayetteville-Manlius High School via ParentSquare
To
F-M High School Families
Subject
High School Assembly - 5/18
Source Type
Primary Document · District Communication
04 · The Central Dispute
Two incidents. Two communication paths.
The disagreement is not only about what happened. It is also about how the institution responded to each matter.
May 18–19, 2026
The Assembly
Setting
A school-sponsored Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Assembly.
Student Expression
Dahlia Saada presented "If I Must Die," by Palestinian poet and professor Refaat Alareer.
Prior School Involvement
The family states that Dahlia rehearsed the presentation at school with staff present. The complaint alleges that the presentation was submitted through the school's designated review process and approved before the assembly. A contemporaneous faculty email establishes staff awareness of the poem.
Public Response
The following morning, F-M High School families received a ParentSquare communication concerning the assembly.
Language Used
"politically charged"
District's May 19 Explanation
The communication stated that school-sponsored assemblies were not the place for political content and acknowledged: "Unfortunately, in this instance, we failed to follow the process."
Source
DOC-2026-05-19-01
Primary Document · District Communication
April–May 2026
The Flag Incident
Reported Incident
Family correspondence and later CAIR-NY materials describe a video involving another student and a Palestinian flag. Those sources state that the video shows the flag being torn, stomped on, and spat upon. They also allege that anti-Arab remarks were directed toward Dahlia and her cousin.
Family Request
Dr. Fahed Saada requested a community-wide response comparable in reach to the May 19 communication.
District Response
School administrators communicated privately with the family and offered meetings.
District Explanation
Superintendent Magda Parvey later stated that concerns involving individual student conduct are handled under the District Code of Conduct and DASA procedures where appropriate. She also cited student privacy laws and stated that the district does not make community statements regarding student discipline.
Public Communication
The comparable community-wide statement requested by Dr. Saada was not issued.
Source
May 21–26 correspondence
Primary Documents · Family and District Positions
The Dispute
The Family's Position
The family alleges that publicly addressing Dahlia's presentation while handling the reported flag incident privately reflects unequal treatment of Palestinian expression and Palestinian students.
The District's Position
The district says the two matters involved different institutional responsibilities: content presented during a school-sponsored assembly versus individual student conduct governed by disciplinary procedures and student privacy.
The Legal Question
The civil-rights lawsuit asks a court to determine whether the district's actions violated Dahlia's constitutional and statutory protections.
The court — not this website — will determine the legal merits.
05 · The Paper Trail
What happened after May 19.
A contemporaneous record shows the dispute developing through written exchanges between Dahlia's family and school officials.
Document Display
Original correspondence is presented as supplied. Editorial summaries identify the document's significance but do not replace the underlying source.
May 19 · 10:24 AM
May 19, 2026
9:40 PM
Primary Document · Family Correspondence
DOC-2026-05-19-02
Dahlia's father objects to the school communication.
From
Dr. Fahed Saada
To
Principal Patrick McNamara
Dr. Saada challenges the school's characterization of his daughter's presentation, describes the attention and stress he says followed the May 19 message, raises concerns about her well-being, and argues that Palestinian cultural expression was being treated as political content. These are Dr. Saada's claims and conclusions.
May 20, 2026
Primary Document · District Correspondence
DOC-2026-05-20-01
The principal acknowledges the complaint.
From
Principal Patrick McNamara
To
Dr. Fahed Saada
Principal McNamara thanks Dr. Saada for his email and states that he will be in contact that day.
May 21, 2026
Primary Document · District Position
DOC-2026-05-21-01
The school says the reported incident will be addressed.
From
Principal Patrick McNamara
To
Dr. Fahed Saada
Principal McNamara states that school administration will address the reported incident under district policies and the FMHS Code of Conduct. He also states that the district does not condone hate speech, harassment, or discriminatory behavior.
May 21, 2026
Primary Document · Family Correspondence
DOC-2026-05-21-02
The family asks why the responses were different.
From
Dr. Fahed Saada
To
Principal McNamara + Others
Dr. Saada explicitly contrasts the public May 19 communication with the private response concerning the reported flag incident. He requests written answers regarding a comparable community-wide communication, Code of Conduct and DASA procedures, and the anticipated investigation timeline.
May 22, 2026
6:51 PM
Primary Document · District Position
DOC-2026-05-22-01
The superintendent offers to meet.
From
Superintendent Magda Parvey
To
Dr. Fahed Saada
Cc
Sarah Fitzgerald · Sarah Gridley
Superintendent Parvey states that Board President Sarah Fitzgerald shared Dr. Saada's email with her, says she is aware of the situation through communication with Principal McNamara, and offers to meet regarding next steps and a path forward.
May 22, 2026
9:20 PM
Primary Document · Family Position
DOC-2026-05-22-02
The family requests two public remedies.
From
Dr. Fahed Saada
To
Superintendent Magda Parvey + Others
Dr. Saada says he is open to meeting but first asks the district to commit in writing to a formal retraction of the May 19 communication and a community-wide apology addressing both the May 19 message and the reported April 11 incident.
The harm to my daughter was public, and the response so far has been private.
— Dr. Fahed Saada, May 22, 2026
May 26, 2026
A single day. Three messages.
By May 26, the disagreement had narrowed to a specific question: whether the district would issue the public remedies requested by Dr. Saada before the family agreed to meet.
May 26, 2026
7:00 AM
Primary Document · District Correspondence
DOC-2026-05-26-01
The superintendent again offers to schedule a meeting.
From
Superintendent Magda Parvey
To
Dr. Fahed Saada
Cc
Sarah Fitzgerald · Sarah Gridley
Superintendent Parvey states that she is willing to discuss Dr. Saada's concerns at a meeting and asks him to provide his availability so a meeting can be coordinated.
May 26, 2026
7:38 AM
Primary Document · Family Position
DOC-2026-05-26-02
Dr. Saada says two written actions must come first.
From
Dr. Fahed Saada
To
Superintendent Magda Parvey + Others
Dr. Saada states that he will not meet at that time unless the district first issues two written actions: a formal retraction of the May 19 communication and a community-wide apology addressing both the May 19 communication and the reported flag incident. He also states that Dahlia rehearsed the poem with staff present and argues that the difference between the district's public and private responses is unacceptable. These are Dr. Saada's assertions and position.
I will not meet at this time unless the district first takes two concrete steps in writing.
— Dr. Fahed Saada, May 26, 2026
May 26, 2026
5:19 PM
Primary Document · District Position
DOC-2026-05-26-03
The district explains why it will not issue the requested public statement.
From
Superintendent Magda Parvey
To
Dr. Fahed Saada
Cc
Sarah Fitzgerald · Sarah Gridley
Superintendent Parvey states that she will not issue public statements regarding the student-conduct matters referenced by Dr. Saada. She says those concerns are addressed under the District Code of Conduct and DASA procedures where appropriate, cites student privacy laws as limiting discussion of discipline, and states that the district does not make community statements regarding student discipline. She keeps the offer to meet open.
We do not make community statements regarding student discipline and our practice is to follow the code of conduct.
— Superintendent Magda Parvey, May 26, 2026
What May 26 Established
By the end of May 26, both positions were clearly stated in writing.
The family sought a public retraction and community-wide apology before meeting.
The superintendent declined to issue the requested public statements, citing student-discipline procedures and privacy, while continuing to offer a meeting.
The disagreement over public versus private institutional response remained unresolved.
July 14, 2026
The dispute moves into formal civil-rights correspondence →
06 · July 14, 2026
A civil-rights organization enters the record.
CAIR-NY sent Fayetteville-Manlius School District a formal Letter of Concern addressing the May 18 assembly, the May 19 communication, and the reported April 11 flag incident.
CAIR-NY's July 14 Letter of Concern argues that the district's handling of Dahlia Saada's presentation and the reported April 11 incident raises concerns under the First Amendment, Title VI, the New York State Human Rights Law, and district policy.
The letter presents CAIR-NY's factual and legal position concerning the May 18 assembly, the May 19 school communication, and the reported Palestinian-flag incident.
CAIR-NY argues that the district treated Palestinian expression differently and requests corrective action.
These are CAIR-NY's allegations, interpretations, and legal arguments. They have not been adopted by this website as independent findings.
What CAIR-NY Requested
Student Expression
CAIR-NY requested that students, including Dahlia, be permitted to engage in protected expression concerning Palestine.
Written Apology
CAIR-NY requested a written apology to Dahlia and her family acknowledging what the organization characterizes as the mishandling of the April 11 and May 19 incidents.
District-Wide Employee Communication
CAIR-NY requested a district-wide communication to employees regarding protected student expression and personal bias.
First Amendment
CAIR-NY argues that student expression concerning Palestine is protected speech and cites Tinker v. Des Moines.
Title VI
CAIR-NY argues that discrimination based on Palestinian, Arab, or Muslim ancestry or ethnic characteristics may implicate Title VI.
New York State Human Rights Law
The letter also raises concerns under the NYSHRL.
District Policy
CAIR-NY cites the district's own Code of Conduct and anti-discrimination protections.
Source Note
This letter represents CAIR-NY's legal and factual position. Its allegations and legal conclusions have not been adopted by this website as independent findings and should be read together with the district's own statements and subsequent July 20 DASA determination.
07 · July 20, 2026
The district issues its DASA determination.
Six days after CAIR-NY's Letter of Concern, Fayetteville-Manlius Schools issued a written response describing the findings of its DASA investigation.
According to the July 20 letter, the district completed an investigation concerning the May 18 AAPI Heritage Month assembly, the district's May 19 communication, and related communications.
The letter states that the investigation reviewed Principal Patrick McNamara's May 19 communication and information gathered from district administrators and staff.
The district concluded that the allegation concerning the May 19 communication was not substantiated under DASA and District Policy No. 0115.
- According to the letter, the district found that the May 19 email did not identify a specific student.
- The district stated that the communication was intended to inform the school community of the district's response to the assembly.
- The district found that the email did not contain language that could reasonably be construed as harassment, bullying, discrimination, or intimidation based on a protected characteristic.
The district therefore determined that the May 19 communication did not constitute a violation of DASA.
The July 20 letter also describes school staff checking on Dahlia following the May 19 communication.
According to the district's account, Dahlia told administrators and counseling staff on May 20 that her teammates and peers had been overwhelmingly supportive.
The letter states that she reported receiving roughly thirty supportive emails and text messages and that she expressed no concerns for her safety during those meetings.
The district also states that staff reminded Dahlia to contact a teacher, counselor, or administrator if concerns arose.
The letter further states that counseling support was offered and that the district established ongoing supportive measures involving designated staff members through September 11, 2026, subject to review.
A formal administrative determination issued by Fayetteville-Manlius Schools through its DASA process.
A court ruling on the civil-rights lawsuit. It does not determine the ultimate constitutional, Title VI, NYSHRL, or other legal claims now raised in litigation.
Source Note
This document presents the district's administrative findings under DASA and District Policy No. 0115. It is not a judicial determination and should be read alongside the family's correspondence, CAIR-NY's July 14 legal position, and the later court filings.
08 · August 6, 2026
The case reaches court.
Seventeen days after the DASA determination, the family filed a civil-rights lawsuit in New York Supreme Court, Onondaga County.
Court Filing
Summons and Complaint
Filed August 6, 2026
Document Status
Verified court-filed copy pending.
On August 6, 2026, the Saada family filed a civil-rights lawsuit in New York Supreme Court, Onondaga County, against Fayetteville-Manlius Central School District and named individual defendants.
The complaint seeks class-action status on behalf of similarly situated students and families. The case is in its early procedural stage.
- 01
First Amendment
Alleged violation of free-speech rights arising from the district's response to the assembly and the May 19 communication.
- 02
Title VI
Alleged discrimination on the basis of national origin and ethnicity in the administration of a school program.
- 03
New York State Human Rights Law
Alleged discriminatory conduct under NYSHRL in connection with the district's handling of the assembly and its aftermath.
- 04
DASA
Alleged failure to properly investigate and remedy conduct prohibited under the Dignity for All Students Act.
The complaint was filed on August 6, 2026. No court ruling, judicial determination, or finding of liability has been issued. All allegations are unproven. This record will be updated as verified court documents become available.
Source Note
Case name, court, filed date, and procedural posture are verified. Index number, NYSCEF docket link, and current case status will be added upon verification. The stamped complaint will be posted when the court-filed copy is confirmed.