Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Safe Schools Resolution topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ogden board reaffirms 'Safe Schools' resolution, asks legal to review wording
Summary
The Ogden City School District Board of Education voted to reaffirm a 2017 “Safe Schools” resolution urging advance notice to the superintendent for ICE or related law-enforcement visits; the board approved the reaffirmation after brief debate and asked district legal counsel to review the text for any legal concerns.
The Ogden City School District Board of Education voted to reaffirm a district "Safe Schools" resolution originally adopted in 2017, signaling the board's intent to reiterate policies aimed at keeping students and families informed and supported in cases of federal immigration enforcement on district property.
The resolution, read aloud by Vice President Anderson during the Jan. meeting, asks that "any employee of Immigration and Customs Enforcement or a state or local law enforcement agency acting on behalf of ICE . . . notify the superintendent or designee" at least seven days before attempting to access district property so the district can provide support and ensure the educational setting is not disrupted. Vice President Anderson read the text of the proposed reaffirmation in full.
Board members said the resolution is intended to reassure families and staff that the district will support student safety and equal access to education. Board member Jennifer Dailey-Provost raised concerns that portions of the draft could be read as asking staff to take actions that are not legally binding or might conflict with law; she suggested the document be reviewed by legal counsel before final publication. Several board members agreed and asked that the district attorney review the language and report back.
The board moved to approve the reaffirmation. Vice President Anderson made the motion and Board Member Brunell seconded it. After a brief roll-call exchange the board approved the reaffirmation; one board member recorded an abstention. Members of the district's Equity Council attended the meeting for the item; an Equity Council representative told the board the resolution aligns with the district's mission to keep students safe and to support educational access for all.
Board members emphasized the resolution does not change statutory obligations. Jennifer Dailey-Provost said aloud that she did not want the resolution to create an impression that district employees should break or ignore the law; other board members asked legal counsel to confirm the resolution's language is consistent with applicable law before the document is uploaded to the district website with updated letterhead and current board names.
The board directed staff to post the reaffirmed resolution if legal review finds no issues and to return to the board with any recommended edits or clarifying language.
The board will not circulate a revised document until legal staff has reviewed the text; the district indicated the 2017 resolution has remained on the district website since its original approval.
