School committee adopts revised Safe Schools policy to limit access by immigration and federal enforcement without warrant

The North Kingstown School Committee approved a revised Safe Schools policy on March 18 after a second reading and amendments that committee members said reflected input from the North Kingstown Police Department and district counsel.

The policy clarifies that access to non-public school areas by federal law-enforcement officers such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement generally requires judicial process (for example, a warrant), and that schools are not required to permit entry into restricted areas without appropriate documentation. The committee removed a sentence that had recommended photocopying or scanning an officer’s identification after legal staff raised concerns about federal law regarding copies of certain federal identification documents.

School committee members and district staff discussed training and dissemination to building staff so front-line employees will be able to follow consistent protocols if an officer seeks access to a school. The policy also instructs staff to consult legal counsel and district administrators if an officer requests access that is not accompanied by appropriate documentation. Committee members asked the administration to provide training to staff and to create a district-level protocol, and administration said it would.

The version approved included a title change and a clarifying paragraph about the release of students in the context of immigration enforcement; the committee also agreed that the policy should be published with an explanatory cover letter to the state and local law-enforcement partners to avoid misinterpretation.

Action: The motion to approve the policy as amended passed unanimously.