Omaha school board and superintendent pledge support after ICE raids as community calls for rapid-response plan

Superintendent Matt Ray acknowledged community anxiety over recent immigration enforcement activity and said silence could be construed as indifference, telling the Board of Education that “If my lack of public comment has caused concern, I hear that.”

The board meeting on July 17 drew an extended public-comment section and repeated requests from parents, teachers and community advocates for specific district actions after what multiple speakers described as ICE raids in South Omaha. Commenters urged the district to adopt a districtwide rapid-response plan, provide staff training on immigrant-rights resources, and partner with local legal and advocacy groups to offer direct help to affected families.

Why it matters: Omaha Public Schools (OPS) is the largest district in Nebraska. Parents and educators told the board that recent enforcement actions have interrupted learning, increased absenteeism and caused trauma among students. Commenters said that clear policies and proactive communication could reduce fear and help students continue attending school.

At the meeting, community leaders and district staff described concrete needs. Monica Arroyo, president of the Jackson Elementary PTO, said the enforcement activity “tore apart 76 families” and urged the district to form “a districtwide rapid response plan” that includes trauma-informed care, crisis protocols and contingency planning for children left behind. Teacher and parent Martha Omar, who works at Central High School, told the board that teachers need to know which community partners and legal resources to refer students to earlier in a case.

Multiple speakers recommended that the district invite and coordinate with trusted community organizations — including the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement (CIRA) — to provide family-facing workshops in Spanish and other languages, and to train staff on how to connect families to legal help and basic needs (food, clothing, temporary shelter). Several commenters also asked the district to make public communications more accessible via social media and non-English channels.

Board members acknowledged the requests and emphasized both urgency and caution. Board member Miss Almanza noted OPS adopted an immigration resolution in February 2017 and said “it is not the mission of OPS to enforce federal immigration laws.” Vice President Snipes and other board members pressed for clearer, more frequent public communications; Snipes said she had urged “stronger, clearer communication” to build trust. Superintendent Ray said district staff had been working with community partners, checking in with summer programs and visiting schools and families, and that the district’s role is to “respond in a calm, caring, intentional, and meaningful way.”

Procedural actions related to public comment: the board voted to temporarily suspend the five-minute submission deadline in board policy 83‑46 for that meeting so more speakers could register (motion by Almanza, second Magnuson; roll call recorded as 9 ayes). The board also voted to waive the routine requirement that public-commenters state their address for one speaker who cited safety concerns (motion by Dr. Holman, second Almanza; roll call recorded as 9 ayes).

What the speakers asked the board to do next: public commenters repeatedly asked the district to - create a rapid-response protocol to deploy when enforcement affects students or school communities; - develop clear, multilingual communications and outreach; - provide district-wide staff training on trauma-informed responses and on how to refer families to legal/advocacy resources; and - formalize partnerships with community organizations that can provide immediate legal and social supports.

Board and district staff said they are working with community partners and reviewing internal protocols but did not adopt a specific new policy or rapid-response protocol at the meeting. Several speakers requested that the district publish a clear plan with responsibilities and timelines.

Closing note: public speakers framed the issue as both a child‑safety and attendance problem: multiple commenters linked enforcement activity to declines in student attendance and urged the district to reduce barriers so students can continue learning. The board heard the requests and recorded several procedural votes enabling expanded public comment and protecting one speaker’s safety information; no new district-wide policy was approved that evening on immigration response.