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Lansing School District board unanimously adopts 'welcoming district' resolution protecting immigrant students and families
Summary
The board passed a resolution affirming the district as a welcoming place for students and families regardless of immigration status, pledging multilingual resources, training and limits on district cooperation with immigration enforcement absent a lawful federal criminal warrant.
The Lansing School District Board of Education unanimously adopted a “welcoming district” resolution affirming the district’s commitment to a safe, nondiscriminatory learning environment and outlining protections for immigrant students and families.
The resolution, read aloud to the board, states the district “will always welcome, enroll, educate and protect all students, staff and their families regardless of legal status, consistent with the law,” and calls for multilingual resources and training on immigrant rights in partnership with unions and local advocates. The text also directed staff to limit access by federal, state or local immigration authorities to district facilities and personnel “except in those specific instances when a specific lawful federal criminal warrant is presented.”
Trustees spoke in favor before the roll call. One trustee commented that the measure communicates to families that “they are not alone” and that the district’s priority is educating children rather than advancing a political agenda. Others described the resolution as consistent with the district’s mission to provide a “high quality education in a culturally safe and nurturing environment.”
Board members then voted by roll call; the clerk recorded unanimous support.
Ending: The resolution directs the district to continue multilingual outreach, to work with legal and community partners on immigrant-rights training and to review district procedures to avoid actions that could expose students or families to immigration enforcement except when compelled by lawful warrants.
