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Staff and families press East Side Union High trustees for statement on immigration enforcement; superintendent pledges factual communication
Summary
Multiple staff members and community commenters urged the East Side Union High School District to issue clear messaging about recent immigration-enforcement developments. The superintendent said the district will send factual guidance and resources to staff and families.
Several staff members and community representatives used the Jan. 23 public-comment period to urge the East Side Union High School District to publicly address fears about deportation and immigration enforcement.
Online and in-person commenters including Vlasa Osuna, Natalie Gutierrez, Emily Zavala, Tim Gale, Maggie Rodriguez, Alberto Camacho, Veronica Correa and Cesar Juarez Ruiz said students and families were anxious, in some cases keeping students home, and requested a clear district statement assuring safety and listing resources.
Commenters told the board social workers and school staff are receiving repeated calls from families seeking information and help. One commenter noted a recent letter from the Santa Clara County Office of Education signed by 14 superintendents; she said the district's superintendent's signature was missing and asked the board to clarify its stance.
Superintendent Banditsy responded that the district would send out a communication "with the latest facts, not misinformation," and provide resources so families can plan and access help. Banditsy said the message would be distributed via the district's messaging systems and community partners and would be updated as laws or guidance change.
Why it matters: staff said the climate of fear is affecting students' attendance and well-being; commenters asked for timely, accurate information and for the district to affirm protections and privacy policies for students.
No formal board action was taken at the meeting on this subject. The superintendent's pledge to issue factual guidance counts as a direction to staff; the board retains authority to agendize further action if trustees request it in a future meeting.
Details raised by commenters included requests that the district: publish a clear statement of support for all students regardless of immigration status, confirm that staff do not solicit immigration or citizenship information unless required by law, and provide resources and referrals for families seeking legal or social services.
The board's trustees and the student governing representative acknowledged the anxiety and affirmed the district's obligation to provide safe, welcoming schools. The superintendent said the district's initial communication would be issued the following day and adjusted as federal or state guidance evolves.
