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Superintendent: ICE did not visit Westwood Heights; district reiterates visitor and law‑enforcement procedures
Summary
Superintendent Keyes told the board a circulating rumor that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents had entered district buildings was false and reviewed the district's procedures for handling law‑enforcement requests and protecting students.
Superintendent Mr. Keyes told the Westwood Heights Board of Education that a circulating rumor claiming ICE had visited district schools was not true and that the district has procedures to handle law‑enforcement requests while prioritizing student safety.
Key points Mr. Keyes reported: administrators reviewed the district’s visitor and law‑enforcement procedures with Genesee Intermediate School District guidance; front‑office staff and building leaders have instructions on how to verify law‑enforcement documentation; building leaders are to contact the superintendent before allowing law‑enforcement access beyond public entry points; and the district will treat any law‑enforcement visitor as a guest and require appropriate documentation before access to hallways or classrooms.
The superintendent said the rumor had caused parental concern and partly spread because a staff member relayed unverified information. He said the district told families and staff that it would “do everything in our power to make sure that we have the proper balance of following what the law states. But our job first is to protect our children,” and that the district would follow established procedures.
The board and administration discussed that law‑enforcement requests can arrive with differing paperwork (agency documentation versus court‑issued warrants) and staff must be able to read those documents and follow the correct process. One board member noted that the Genesee Intermediate School District had reported no confirmed ICE visits to any school in the intermediate district.
The superintendent emphasized student‑privacy and safety when interacting with law‑enforcement, saying, “Every student has a right to a free and appropriate education, and that’s the business that we’re in. And so we’ll protect them while they’re here.” He also urged building leaders to contact central office immediately if law‑enforcement attempts to access a student or classroom area so staff can verify documentation and follow procedure.
Ending District officials said they will reinforce training for secretaries, security staff and building leaders and communicate the correct procedures to families to prevent future rumors from generating community panic.
