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Residents and educators urge clearer Jackson County Public Schools policy on ICE and SRO roles
Summary
Multiple written statements and public commenters at the Feb. 24 Jackson County Public Schools board meeting urged the district to clarify procedures for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) visits, the role of school resource officers (SROs), and staff training to protect student privacy and safety.
Multiple parents, educators and community groups urged Jackson County Public Schools (JCPS) on Feb. 24 to adopt clearer, public procedures describing how staff should respond if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or other federal agents seek access to school facilities or student information.
Speakers including Dr. Erin Callahan, associate professor of TESOL linguistics; Ricardo Bello, executive director of Unidex; Dr. Emily Nassar Hall; and several parents and former JCPS employees told the board at Fairview School that a rescinding of federal guidance that previously treated schools as “sensitive locations” has increased fear among immigrant families and left staff uncertain about their legal obligations.
The call for clarity came after the district circulated guidance to staff; commenters said that guidance did not answer key questions about SRO duties, training, parental notification and the documents or warrants federal agents must present to enter school buildings.
Why it matters: Commenters said ambiguity could disrupt learning, traumatize students and erode trust between families and schools. Many asked the board to publish a single, public policy that explains how JCPS will implement federal and state privacy laws, what SROs will or will not do in ICE matters, and who staff should contact during an enforcement visit.
What commenters asked for
- Dr. Erin Callahan, who identified herself as an associate professor of TESOL linguistics and former ESL teacher, urged the board to “develop and disseminate a policy that upholds this blanket of existing regulations” and to use existing best-practice training materials. She said the district should ensure compliance with federal and state statutes affecting student privacy and services, including FERPA, Title I and Title III rules and the McKinney-Vento homelessness protections.
- Dr. Emily Nassar Hall, whose written comment was read into the record, said, “Whether you are undocumented, a lawful permanent resident, or a citizen, you have no legal obligation to share information with ICE,” and urged comprehensive staff training so employees know how to interact with federal agents without violating student privacy laws such as FERPA and COPPA.
- Ricardo Bello, who said he is executive director of Unidex, described the vulnerability of immigrant students and asked the board to continue supporting bilingual education and community outreach so families understand their rights.
- Becky Peckman, a JCPS alum and parent, asked the board to make it district policy that ICE not be permitted to enter schools and that SROs and school staff not collaborate with ICE in enforcement actions.
Concerns raised
Commenters asked the board to clarify who may verify the identity of an officer, what kind of warrant (for example, a signed judicial warrant) is required to enter a school, whether administrators will contact parents and what protections exist for students questioned while at school or in after-school programs. Enrique Gomez, a member of the Jackson County NAACP, said impersonation of ICE agents has occurred locally and argued that district staff should not be required to judge credentials or warrants.
Several written commenters — including submissions from Jonathan Bradshaw Kullowy, Lindsey Drake, Casey Wallowinder and Brad Reisinger — urged the board to expand training for all staff and to provide clear, public-facing policies and guidance for families.
District response and next steps
Board members acknowledged receipt of written comments and the public input campaign and thanked residents for speaking. Multiple speakers on the board said they were responsive to the concerns and described earlier, initial guidance to staff as a first step; commenters asked the district to follow up with explicit procedures, targeted training, and community outreach.
Ending
Speakers suggested existing resources from nonprofit legal groups and educator organizations, including NEA best-practice materials and trainings from local immigrant advocacy groups. The board closed the public comment period after the final speaker and moved on to the action agenda.
