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Orange County Board reasserts support for immigrant students as families face changing policies
Summary
Board chair delivered a point-of-privilege statement saying the district will protect students' access to education and share protocols with staff; two public commenters—one a parent-researcher—urged continued supports and cited research on how anti‑immigrant climates harm children.
Chair Purcell of the Orange County Board of Education opened the meeting with a point-of-privilege statement reaffirming the district’s commitment to students amid recent changes in law and policy affecting immigrants. “Each child in North Carolina has the right to a free and public education and a safe environment according to our North Carolina constitution,” Chair Purcell said, and outlined steps the district is taking to prepare.
The board said it has consulted legal counsel, provided protocols for staff when families are approached about immigration status, and is training family liaisons and other staff to support affected students and families. “The safety and well-being of our students are top priority for this board and the district,” Chair Purcell said.
The board’s statement matters because families’ fear about immigration enforcement can affect students’ attendance and ability to learn, speakers said during the public comment period. Lynn Carswell, a community member, thanked the board for the statement and the district’s efforts to equip teachers and staff to handle likely challenges.
Spring Dawson McClure, a parent and psychologist working with a New York research team, summarized research on the harms of anti‑immigrant climates. McClure said that the “threat of familial separation and the chronic uncertainty about family safety can be experienced by many Latino children and immigrant households as psychological violence,” and that such threat is linked to higher anxiety, lower self‑regulation and reduced parental engagement in educational activities. McClure also cited work showing that educators can experience distress and reduced efficacy after witnessing family fear.
The board did not adopt new policy during the statement and public comment. Board members and staff said they will continue discussions and planning, and will provide staff with information and training in the coming weeks. The board read its public comment rules and heard two speakers during the public comment period before moving on to other agenda items.
