Weston policy committee updates visitor and safety policies after new state immigration law

The Weston Board of Education Policy Committee on June 3 reviewed changes to the district's visitors and school safety policies that were prompted by recent state guidance and a law enacted in March 2025. The committee discussed language that would direct any federal immigration authority who appears at or contacts a school to communicate with a designated administrator who will follow the protocols in the school's safety and security plan.

The change matters because the committee said it implements newly required steps from state guidance and the March 2025 law directing superintendents to designate an on-site administrator to interact with federal immigration authorities. Jessica (legal counsel) said the law "directs superintendents to designate on or before 04/01/2025 . . . at least one administrator at each school to be responsible for interacting with federal immigration authorities who appear in person at school, or contact the school to request information." The policy language under review references Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) guidance and the district's school safety plan.

Committee members and staff emphasized that the visitors policy and the safety and security plan are intended to operate together. Tracy (staff member) read the proposed paragraph into the record: "In the event that a federal immigration authority appears in person at a school in the district or otherwise contacts a school to request information in accordance with applicable law and pursuant to the guidance to K-12 public schools pertaining to immigration activities developed by the Connecticut State Department of Education . . . such authority shall be directed to communicate with the administrator designated for such interactions who will follow the protocols outlined in the school security and safety plan." Jessica told the committee that most other language in the policies and the forms in the packet remain unchanged.

Committee members asked operational questions about how the designation will work in practice. Sharon (committee chair) and others asked whether the principal is the designated administrator and whether the assistant principal or another designee would act if the principal were absent; Tracy and Deb (Superintendent) said the principal is the typical designated administrator and that principals would notify the superintendent and, if appropriate, consult district legal counsel. Jim (director of safety and security) described the practical steps security staff would take: vetting visitors at the door, handling initial contact outside the building if appropriate and verifying the type of warrant or authority before granting broader access. Jim said, "If it was an ICE enforcement officer, that would be a meeting outside of the school in the parking lot, and then check the judicial warrant versus administrative warrant, go through that whole process."

The committee also discussed optional language in CSDE guidance that the district chose not to adopt. The packet showed recommended phrases marked as optional, such as directions to staff to maintain a cooperative manner to avoid escalating a situation and recommended that the designated administrator record details of the visit. Tracy noted those items were included in CSDE guidance but not required by state law.

No formal committee vote to adopt or repeal policy was recorded at the meeting. Committee members agreed the proposed policy language tracks state guidance and the recent law and said they would continue drafting implementation details (for example, procedures for exterior meetings and when local law enforcement would be notified) in operational forums such as the security committee.

The committee asked Jessica to be available by email for follow-up legal questions and to refer any immigration-specific questions to an immigration practice attorney if needed. Sharon summarized that the committee would present the revised policy language to the full board in the usual two-read process before formal adoption.

The committee adjourned after several other agenda items; staff said implementation details and training tied to the policy would be handled through regular administrative procedures and the district's safety-review cycle.