Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Resolution

RESOLUTION REGARDING DISTRICT PRACTICES RELATED TO IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT

WHEREAS, all children in the United States are entitled to equal access to a public elementary and secondary education, regardless of their or their parents’ actual or perceived national origin, citizenship, or immigration status; and

WHEREAS, The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) generally prohibits school districts from providing third parties, such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), personally identifiable information in a student’s “educational records” without written parental consent, judicial order, or a lawfully-issued subpoena; and

WHEREAS, Roseville Area Schools embraces its responsibility to welcome and educate all students and uphold its equity vision to provide an equitable and respectful educational experience for every student, family and staff member; and

WHEREAS, Roseville Area Schools is committed to the physical safety and emotional well-being of all students within its control, and is committed to ensuring that all schools and district facilities are welcoming and safe places for students and their families; and

WHEREAS, the presence of ICE employees on Roseville Area Schools property for the purposes of removing students or their family members or obtaining information about students and their families disrupts this safe and welcoming environment; and

WHEREAS, Roseville Area Schools believes that it is in the best interests of the students, staff, families and community that it take action, by reasonable legal means available, to prevent disruptions to the educational environment that ICE actions may create.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Independent School District No. 623, Roseville Area Schools, shall adopt procedures and practices that assure the following:

That unless specifically required by law, board members, district employees, contractors, volunteers, and representatives will not use district resources solely for the purpose of detecting or assisting in the apprehension of persons whose only violation of law is or may be being an undocumented resident in the United States, or failing to produce documents authorizing residency in the United States;

That board members, district employees, contractors, volunteers, and representatives shall refrain from inquiring about a student’s or family’s immigration status;

That board members, district employees, contractors, volunteers, and representatives shall not – unless compelled by a valid court order, by law, or subsequent to receiving parent’s signed consent – disclose to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers any information about a student’s or family’s immigration status;

That board members, district employees, contractors, volunteers, and representatives shall require any ICE personnel wishing to enter any district owned or leased property to notify the Superintendent in advance of such entry and to provide proper written authority to enter such property;

That board members, district employees, contractors, volunteers, and representatives shall refrain from referring students and parents with questions about their immigration status to ICE;

That board members, district employees, contractors, volunteers, and representatives shall continue to assure that all students have access to the learning and other educational services available at their schools, including rigorous courses, student extracurricular activities and athletics, and support services regardless of the student’s or family’s immigration status; and

That the Board declares the District to be a Safe Zone for its students, meaning that the District is a place for students to learn, to thrive and to seek assistance, information and support related to any immigration law enforcement that interferes with their learning experience.