EASTHAMPTON — Teachers, staff and administrators will be trained on how to respond to Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel who attempt to enter one of the city’s five schools or request information about students and families.
The School Committee unanimously approved a resolution at its Thursday night meeting that spelled out the rights of undocumented students and protocols for ICE access to schools and information about students.
Superintendent Nancy Follansbee will oversee the training, which will likely be incorporated in professional development courses later this month.
“In accordance with our nondiscrimination policy, the district does not tolerate any form of discrimination, harassment or bullying,” the resolution states. “This safe, inviting and discrimination-free environment would be threatened by the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement employees who come on district property for the purposes of removing students or their family members, or obtaining information about students and their families.”
The resolution echoes some policies that are already in place at Easthampton schools, such as a requirement that all visitors state the reason for their visit and be cleared for entry. ICE officials, however, must first notify the superintendent and district’s general counsel in person, with notice and copies of a warrant signed by a judge, the resolution states.
Without a warrant, the superintendent can deny ICE agents from entering school grounds, according to the resolution.
Also in line with current policy and practice, staff shall not ask about any student’s immigration status, or of their family members, and staff will not refer students or families to ICE.
Written guidelines of the resolution will be kept in district school buildings.
School Committee member Kasey Corsello brought up the idea in January after hearing that school committees in other districts were discussing a similar measure. With President Donald Trump taking office, there was a widespread concern for undocumented immigrants and risk of deportation, Corsello said.
“I was concerned,” she said. “Concerned for the students.”
Around that same time, the City Council looked into designating Easthampton as a sanctuary city which would forbid the use of municipal funds to assist federal agencies in seeking out and penalizing undocumented immigrants, and prohibit municipal employees from inquiring about individuals’ immigration status.
The public was split on the idea and it was dropped after two months of heated discussion.
The school district’s resolution on undocumented students was discussed through the Policy Subcommittee. Sarah Hunter, a member of the subcommittee, said the resolution was run by an attorney and is similar to the policy passed Amherst-Pelham School Committee in May.
Caitlin Ashworth can be reached at cashworth@gazettenet.com.