Board updates Safe Schools policy to add SRO safeguards, forms immigration enforcement response team

The Board of Trustees voted Feb. 25 to adopt revisions to the district's Safe Schools policy that add technical edits and new procedures governing school resource officers (SROs) and interactions with immigration enforcement.

Director Hare presented the changes and described two principal policy additions: first, the policy broadens the definition of "school official" to include contractors and volunteers engaged by the district; second, it adds language and procedures about school resource officers and how the district will respond if local law enforcement were ever required to carry out immigration enforcement.

Hare read a new policy paragraph explaining the district's annual memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Central Falls Police Department: "The school district and the Central Falls Police Department acknowledge that the school resource officer remains responsive to the command of the Central Falls Police Department, yet respectful of the operations and policies governing the schools where SROs are stationed," the policy states. Hare said the policy instructs the district to review and adjust the MOU if the city's or CFPD's posture toward immigration enforcement changes.

The policy also requires that the district's immigration enforcement response team maintain detailed response protocols and make them digitally available to school officials at the start of each school year. Hare told the board the response protocols include guidance on verifying legal documentation, scripts for school staff, procedures for documenting interactions and links to legal resources such as ACLU guidance on lawful recording.

Following discussion, the board approved the policy changes by voice vote. The meeting record shows no opposed or abstentions.

Immediately after the policy vote, the board considered the superintendent's recommendation to name members of an immigration enforcement response committee. The board approved the slate unanimously after trustees discussed the committee's role: to serve as a district‑level liaison when an immigration enforcement agent appears at a school, to consult with district legal counsel, and to support communications with families and the city. Trustees asked for additional safeguards and documentation; the superintendent said the district will work with counsel to prepare protocols and consider a memorandum of understanding for committee members to confirm roles and liabilities.

Board discussion included repeated assurances from district leaders that, to date, ICE has not approached district schools and that the team is meant to ensure rapid, legally informed responses and family outreach if incidents arise. Trustees emphasized training, documentation and legal review before any district personnel take action that might expose them to liability.