Public forum centers on ICE guidelines, book challenges and ESE staffing concerns

Speakers at the meeting’s public forum pressed the Escambia County School Board for written guidance to protect students from immigration-enforcement actions on campus, criticized the district’s handling of challenged books, and described staffing shortfalls and safety problems in special-education classrooms.

Community members requested a clear district policy that would require immigration agents to present a valid judicial warrant before entering schools. "This community has real fears," said Carol Cleaver, a Ferry Pass Middle School teacher. "I think it could go a long way to cutting down on confusion if we consider some of the guidelines that other counties in Florida have already put into writing." Deshaun McKenzie, a teacher, urged the board not to equate "complying with the law" with automatically cooperating when agents lack appropriate…