ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
Discussion regarding the need for a policy in place in case of the appearance of immigration officers on USD 480 property continued before the USD 480 school board at its most recent meeting Monday evening.
A new policy was sent out shortly before Monday’s meeting in regard to the discussion that had been started at the board’s July 21 meeting.
“USD 480 is an educational institution that is mandated by state and federal law to maintain, develop, and operate local public schools. USD 480 is also mandated by state and federal law to provide a public education to school-aged children regardless of a child's race, ethnicity, gender, immigration status, or disability,” a letter from Superintendent Dane Richardson noted. “Federal law dictates that all children living in the United States – including children who are undocumented immigrants – are able to attend public school. USD 480's job is to do everything possible to create a safe and productive learning environment that sets every child up for success in school and in life; that requires minimizing disruptions, distractions and trauma that might affect our students. It is important to understand that, by law, a child's immigration status (or that of their parents) does not affect their right to receive a public education. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of student education records and restricts the sharing of personally identifiable information without parental consent or certain subpoenas or judicial orders. This include, data that might indirectly reveal a student's immigration status. (S. Board Policy JRB-Release of Student Records). USD 480 has had and currently has in place a number of policies concerning law enforcement activities on school grounds and property. These policies are available to the public via links at www.usd480.net.”
Among those to speak before the board were Seymour Rogers Middle School teacher Ryan Richards and Liberal High School teacher Keenan Thompson.
“As a concerned citizen, I want to thank the board for that statement finally coming out. I also briefly perused it before coming to the meeting, and I want to express appreciation for finally addressing this situation and giving it the voice it deserves,” Richards said. “I know for Mr. [Dane] Richardson, it can't be easy coming into this district and have all these kinds of problems already coming to your desk, so addressing this is a step in the right direction for USD 480. I would like to see this addressed as a potential professional development day or something similar, and I think the community would like to have other questions answered as well. I also definitely agree with having a specific policy on what to do if ICE comes on any campus, especially with the multiple buildings we have with LHS – I know at Seymour Rogers Middle School, it's easy because everyone has to come in the front, but if they come in a side door, do the custodians know the protocols? Having those basic guidelines in place would go a long way. Dodge City was definitely more proactive in their response, and I would also like USD 480 to be more proactive with these types of situations. It's good to see our USD 480 leadership taking this seriously, and I think a lot of people will remember that. I also would like assurance that this isn't something that's forbidden to be discussed in the classroom and teachers won't be told 'This isn't relevant, teach only what's in front of you.' This is a time to show the students there are other adults in their lives outside of their immediate household who care about them and want them to be safe and feel secure. I want students to be able to share their concerns with their teachers without being brushed aside. This statement is a step in the right direction, but we can go farther.”
“I fully acknowledge how politicized these events – and the legislation surrounding them – has become, but I ask for everyone to put aside personal and political differences and truly listen to the concerns being brought forth,” Thompson said. “I urge the board to consider drafting and implementing a policy or plan for USD 480 buildings on what action to take if immigration agents arrive at any of our schools. Within our community, there is a lot of fear and anxiety about returning to school without a policy that would guarantee the safety of the students. Nearly all the other 6A schools in Kansas have released policies, plans and even trainings for their school staffs, but USD 480 is in the minority by not having anything specific outlined regarding potential ICE raids. Drafting and implementing a policy would significantly ease tensions and anxieties and serve as a token of hope for USD 480 students. Within our buildings, there are policies and plans in place for the protection of our students and staff in the event of any major calamity or situation, and I know our community is appreciative of the reminder of these policies sent out recently. However, why is there not a policy regarding this very unique and very real scenario? By having concrete, black-and-white guidelines provided to buildings, our staffs would be properly equipped to handle the arrival of ICE agents with professionalism and would also establish legal and physical protection of staff and students. Without a policy, we're expecting staff to address what could become a very tense situation on the fly, which opens students, staff and the district to physical and legal dangers. I urge the board to put aside personal politics and remember our district's mission statement to provide a safe, quality and caring learning experience for every learner every day. A policy would be a powerful reminder USD 480 does provide this for everyone.”
Local citizens Susana Basurto and Larissa Ontiveros also shared their concerns.
“Many families in the community are not yet able to get legal status in the U.S. I've heard so, so many times 'Why can't people just get their status to be legal?' Well, it's not easy to establish legal status in the U.S. when you come in as a migrant – it's not just based on a background check and paying a one-time fee of a few thousand dollars, that's not even close to how it all works,” Basurto said. “It takes a lot of time and work to even just apply. If it was actually a simple process, a lot more people would have legal status in the U.S. I'm here to ask USD 480 to put a policy in place to show support for our students and their families. Many of us have witnessed parents being afraid to come and pick up or bring their children to school, and they have to ask other family members to help so they're not exposed and potentially stopped. I remember back in 2012, there were immigrations raids in town, and many of our parents were scared to drop off and pick up their children, but our principal helped with that and gave the students a safe place and helping them get home. That's the type of action we need to see in the district. We also need social workers advocating for our students' families and counselors providing emotional support to them. If the district puts together a policy and shares it with students and faculty and staff, it can help dispel some of those fears our students and their families might be experiencing. As the district's leaders, we need the board to show support for these children and help them feel safe and secure while they're at school. If there's a policy in place, it will be very beneficial for everyone.”
“When there is no protocol for the district, no training, and no clear support system to guide staff and students through these times, the students suffer in silence,” Ontiveros said. “That's why I would like to urge the district to take action by training staff and administrators on how to respond if ICE does appear on campus, establish a clear protection policy that prioritizes student safety and privacy, invest in trauma-informed mental health support, and partner with local immigrant support organizations to ensure families have access to resources and legal aid. Most importantly, we need to help students know their rights by using communication that's accessible and compassionate. Our students deserve to learn without fear, our students deserve the tools to help them, and our teachers deserve the tools to help them. The district has a responsibility to be proactive because that's why we elected you.”
