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District issues guidance after federal change removes schools from "sensitive areas" designation
Summary
Humboldt County School District circulated procedural guidance for staff after a federal change removed schools from the sensitive-area protections that had limited immigration enforcement activity at campuses.
Humboldt County School District on Feb. 10 briefed trustees on new guidance for front-office and site administrators following a federal change that removed schools from a 2021 "sensitive areas" memo.
Superintendent Dave Ebert said the 2021 Biden administration memo that had classified schools as sensitive areas was rescinded by the more recent executive action. He told trustees he does not expect Immigration and Customs Enforcement to begin knocking on school doors in Winnemucca, but the change means staff should know how to respond if agents do arrive.
The district’s written guidance — developed from American Association of School Administrators model language, reviewed by legal counsel and adapted for Humboldt — instructs staff to request identification and paperwork from any immigration officer, document the contact, notify the site administrator, and route copies of any warrant or subpoena to legal counsel for review before providing student information. Ebert explicitly cited FERPA as a constraint on releasing student records and emphasized that student information will not be released absent proper legal process.
Trustees and staff discussed potential escalation at front offices and the importance of involving principals and law enforcement. The superintendent said the district had communicated with Hispanic families about the change and named Claudia Means in special services as a Spanish-speaking point of contact for parents with concerns.
The board directed staff to continue training office personnel on the protocol and to keep the trustees informed if there are changes in federal practice, while several trustees asked administration to consider a practical drill or additional legal clarifications for front-desk staff.
Ebert reiterated the district’s expectation that any law enforcement interaction would follow normal coordination with local sheriffs and that the district would consult counsel before releasing protected information.
