Kingston board hears immigration safety pleas; refers NEA model resolution to policy committee

Community members and advocacy groups pressed the Kingston City School District Board of Education on immigration enforcement and student safety during public comment, and trustees voted to send an NEA model school-board resolution on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to the district policy committee for review.

Speakers at the Sept. 3 meeting described morning enforcement activity in Kingston and urged the board to adopt a formal resolution and implement specific protections, including “Know Your Rights” training for adults in schools and clearer messaging for families. Daniel Woodham, a caseworker with the Ulster Immigrant Defense Network, said he was “coming to represent the voice of people that aren’t here” and asked the district to provide clear, multilingual assurances that “the bus is safe. The school is safe.”

The issue drew responses from a dozen public commenters, including members of Ulster Rapid Response and Family of Woodstock, several former and current educators, and parents. Anna Jacobs, a member of Ulster Rapid Response, told trustees, “This morning, there were multiple federal agents in our area, 5 to 10 cars,” and said at least one person was confirmed detained. Multiple speakers asked the board to adopt a formal resolution, make staff and contractors aware of school protections, and ensure bilingual outreach.

Superintendent Dr. Miguel Catalino told the board the district already follows strict rules to keep students from being removed at school. “Our goal is to keep our students safe. No one gets access to our students,” he said, adding that students are released only with parent permission or a valid judicial warrant and that staff have steps to follow if ICE appears on school property. Catalino said the district deploys eight bilingual family workers and partners with local groups, and he asked trustees to act as outreach ambassadors while administration expands communication with families.

Board discussion centered on how best to incorporate community input. Trustees debated creating a citizen advisory committee under district Policy 2250, but that motion was ultimately withdrawn amid concerns about timing, member safety and whether a short-term committee could provide useful, representative guidance. Trustee Michael Spicer instead moved — and the board approved — referring the NEA model ICE resolution to the policy committee for review and drafting. Trustees said referral would allow the committee to examine the model language against KCSD policies and state law before any board vote.

The NEA resolution elements described during discussion include declaring the district a safe zone, creating a rapid response team, protecting student data, posting the resolution at school sites, requiring the superintendent to report back on compliance, and notifying after-school providers and vendors within 30 days. Trustees emphasized several of those elements already exist in district practice, and legal and procedural questions led members to prefer committee review rather than immediate adoption.

Trustees and the superintendent committed to more intensive outreach starting immediately, including targeted bilingual messaging, and to continuing to work with Ulster Immigrant Defense Network, Family of Woodstock and newly formed neighborhood rapid-response groups. Several trustees urged that any future committee include direct parent and community representation and protections to avoid exposing vulnerable families.

Ending: The policy committee will review the NEA model resolution and draft language before the board considers a formal vote. In the meantime the superintendent said district outreach and bilingual family-worker activity will be stepped up and the district will communicate to families about protections beginning the next day.