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Candidates discuss school-to-prison pipeline, student safety, and supports for immigrant students
Summary
Forum candidates said preventing the school-to-prison pipeline requires early social‑emotional supports, community partnerships and careful use of law enforcement; they also described school practices to protect immigrant students and noted Albany’s sanctuary-city context.
Candidates responded to questions about the school-to-prison pipeline, interactions with law enforcement in schools and district protections for immigrant students.
On the pipeline, candidates emphasized early intervention and social-emotional supports. Sreedhar Chitoor and Edith Leet said many issues begin outside school and called for community partnerships to provide supports; Chitoor urged improved communication and collaboration, while Leet emphasized creativity, respect and early-grade interventions to keep students engaged. Austin Wolfgang, who works on criminal-justice issues, said interventions must start in elementary school and recommended avoiding law-enforcement responses to nonextreme student misconduct. He noted both benefits and drawbacks to school resource officers and said training and restraint are important concerns.
On immigration and ICE, candidates described district outreach and protective measures. Chitoor said the district had prepared staff about legal limits on enforcement access (agents need a federal warrant to enter buildings) and that administrators notify trained staff when authorities approach. Leet said schools should educate students and families about rights and suggested volunteers can help maintain contact and reassurance. Candidates said outreach and communication had helped address attendance concerns early in recent enforcement scares and that community partners can assist families.
