Richard Minack steps down amid bullying scandal at Brighton Secondary College

Brighton Secondary College’s principal has controversially stepped down after being embroiled in one of the state’s biggest anti-Semitic bullying scandals.

Brighton Secondary College principal Richard Minack has stepped down. Picture: David Crosling

A principal at the centre of one of Victoria’s most serious anti-Semitic bullying scandals has controversially stepped down.

Richard Minack, principal of Brighton Secondary College, has “relinquished his position”, with Leisa Higgins taking over as acting head.

Mr Minack’s sudden departure was announced by Ian Burrage from the Department of Education in a letter to the school community on Monday.

Former Brighton Secondary College students — brothers Joel and Matt Kaplan, Liam Arnold-Levy, Guy Cohen and Zack Snelling — sued the Victorian government, Mr Minack and two teachers over claims of systemic racial bullying between 2013 to 2020.

During the seven-week trial, Mr Arnold-Levy alleged he was bashed, spat at, called a “f — king Jew”, told to “die in an oven”, had “Heil Hitler” drawn on his locker and held at knifepoint.

He told the court that there was “no safe place” at the high school and that nothing was done to stop the bullies, despite several reports to staff. The department’s no-costs-spared legal challenge included 79 days in the Federal Court – including trial and pre-trial dates – before Chief Justice Debra Mortimer.

The state was forced to pay a total of $435,280 on behalf of the Bayside public school.

Justice Mortimer said the leadership cohort at the school should “hang their heads in shame”.

“I am satisfied Mr Minack, the BSC leadership cohort and the teaching staff took no, and certainly no adequate or systematic, action to modify student behaviour, to condemn the swastika graffiti and to implement a clear and consistent discipline program as part of any behaviour modification approach,” Justice Mortimer said.

The school also hit headlines last week after students came to school dressed as Arabs.

The pupils are now facing disciplinary action.

Dr Dvir Abramovich, Anti-Defamation Commission chair, said: “History will not remember Mr Minack kindly.”

“There is no doubt that there will be many Jewish parents, of past and present students, and those brave young adults who sued BSC and won, who will breathe a sigh of relief at this welcomed news,” he said.