AMHERST — An emergency response plan under provisions of the Massachusetts PROTECT Act and state law is in place for the Amherst, Pelham and Amherst-Pelham Regional schools, ensuring additional protections for students who could be targeted.
The committees for the three districts, at a joint meeting Tuesday, unanimously enacted the policy, which establishes procedures for how school employees interact with law enforcement officers engaged in civil law enforcement, including federal immigration agents.
The policy states that “the district strictly prohibits civil arrests for civil law enforcement, including federal immigration enforcement, on school grounds during school hours, student drop off and pick up windows, before- and after-school programming and school-sponsored events without a judicial warrant or judicial order except as required by state or federal law or as required for the commonwealth or its subdivisions to administer a state or federally supported or funded program.”
Because this was considered as an emergency measure, to align with the PROTECT Act as the school year begins, the committees dispensed with the usual procedures for adopting a policy.
Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman said Boston attorney Michael Joyce made recommendations for the policy that are more personalized for the schools in Amherst and Pelham, and that he will also help develop procedures that are specific locally.
Herman said the policy covers actions by any law enforcement agency, not just Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
It states, “the superintendent shall develop and implement PROTECT Act procedures consistent with the law and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education directives to support school environments that are safe and accessible for students, staff and residents. The procedures shall be implemented, wherever applicable, in alignment with District Emergency Operations Plans, Medical and Behavioral Health Emergency Response Plans, and the District’s Memorandum of Understanding with local and state authorities.”
Other provisions include having a senior administrator in the superintendent’s office be the primary contact with law enforcement agents, contacting legal counsel for the district documenting all interactions with law enforcement while on school grounds and notifying parents and guardians.
Amherst representative Bridget Hynes said her only concern with the policy is that it doesn’t address what happens at bus stops, where students could be vulnerable to law enforcement while boarding a school bus or van, or getting off one.
“I think we should have something about what we’re doing at bus stops because that’s been an issue,” Hynes said.
Hynes said the district’s transportation companies need to be aware if there is an active law enforcement operation at a bus stop, and that students in those cases should remain on the bus.
“I think this is a really, really important space that feels the most vulnerable for many students,” said Amherst representative Laura Jane Hunter.
At places where students are being picked up and dropped off, bus drivers need to be prepared, such as knowing what happens if pulling up to a bus stop and ICE is already there.
“We can’t monitor every single bus stop, but I want our bus drivers to feel as prepared as they possibly can for this situation,” Hunter said.
Herman said the law is that school buses are considered school grounds and drivers have been undergoing training for a long period of time.
Pelham representative William Sherr, who chairs the regional committee, said training has been done and protocols are understood.
Herman said the policy has procedures that are legally sound, and doesn’t include any instructions that would be illegal.
The procedures will be posted on the district’s website in English and in other primary languages spoken in the community.
The policy also states that the schools are “committed to ensuring safe, inclusive, and welcoming learning environment for all students and to providing a free public education to all students regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, immigration or citizenship status, disability, or sexual orientation.”
