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Dozens of speakers urge board to keep immigration enforcement out of schools; teachers and parents ask for "safe schools" resolution
Summary
During public presentation, about 22 speakers — parents, students, teachers and community leaders — urged the board to bar immigration-enforcement activity from campuses, called for a formal "safe schools" resolution and described fear-related impacts on students; the board said district leadership is monitoring the issue.
About 22 members of the public addressed the Pinellas County School Board on March 20, 2025, largely urging the district to keep immigration enforcement out of schools and to adopt a formal safe‑schools resolution, speakers and the chair said.
Nut graf: Speakers — including parents, retired teachers, students and community leaders — argued that permitting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) presence or training on campuses would create fear that harms student learning and family engagement; several asked the board to adopt and post a school-safe-zones resolution translated into district languages.
Multiple speakers told the board the presence of enforcement agents in schools deters attendance and participation and causes emotional distress. Parent and community speakers recounted personal or historical experiences and cited broad concerns about constitutional and civil‑rights impacts. Student speakers and arts‑magnet students said removing block scheduling and other programmatic supports, combined with enforcement concerns, would harm instruction and graduation prospects.
Lee Bryant, president of the Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association, urged enforcement of a negotiated contract clause limiting mandatory meetings in the five work days before grades are due and proposed a school safe zones resolution; he told the board teachers fear retaliation when administrators label meetings "mandatory" in practice. Several speakers asked the district to post and distribute a safe‑schools resolution in parents’ home languages.
Board Chair (Madam Chair) acknowledged the comments, said district leadership (superintendent, school board attorney and chief of school safety) is aware of the issue and that the district has not had an ICE officer at a school, according to the chair’s remarks. Chair Hines invited the public to contact state and federal representatives as well, and staff said guidance has been provided to principals. No formal board action on a safe‑schools resolution or ICE policy was taken at the meeting.
Ending: Speakers asked for continued engagement; the board directed staff to remain involved and said it would continue monitoring legal developments and community concerns.
