District 300 parents and educators urge board to adopt protocols after reported ICE activity near schools

At its Oct. 28 meeting, the Community Unit School District 300 Board of Education heard nine public comments pressing the board to adopt clear safety and communication protocols after multiple reports of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity near district schools.

Stephanie Trainor, an East Dundee resident and parent, said she has "personally witnessed members of this community… being aggressively and violently detained with no warrants or due process," and that the district has "failed in creating comprehensive protocols regarding immigration enforcement activity." Trainor said students are seeing these events in person and on social media and that teachers have been told not to discuss the incidents with students.

Karen Noorani, a Carpentersville resident and retired educator, told the board that students "cannot learn if they are afraid," and urged the district to expand the Oct. 15 email it sent families into multiple communications channels and to adopt protocols that address students' safety traveling to and from school.

Several speakers described alleged ICE presence or enforcement near Lakewood, Dundee Crown, Gulfview, Parkview, Meadowdale and other neighborhood locations. Gloria Cardenas, a parent and former district employee, said the district's Oct. 15 message was "technically accurate" but "lacked compassion and provided no plan of action guaranteeing the safety of our students." She and other speakers asked for fast, clear information about bus, walker and car-rider procedures when enforcement is reported.

Sanjuana Solis, a Dundee Crown graduate and parent, said students have been intimidated by agents with weapons and reported that some students are carrying passports and distributing know-your-rights flyers. Solis urged the board to "pass on a protocol that treats ICE activity as if it was an active shooter" for purposes of communication and safety steps.

Substitute teacher Cheryl Vauxco said substitute staff often arrive without situation-specific information and asked that the district provide simple, laminated guidance or flyers subs can use when students ask whether it is safe to be outside or to go home.

Other speakers — including Daisy Alvera, Patty Macias, Sofia Carapia, Sylvia Risola and Gloria Madera — urged the board to partner with community organizations to distribute know-your-rights materials, to improve two-way rapid communication with families, and to provide emotional supports for students who witnessed or were affected by enforcement actions. Carapia named Centro del Informacion as a free resource for community presentations and materials.

Board members did not take a formal action during public participation. A board member thanked speakers and said the administration would respond to emails and follow up. The board later conducted routine recognitions, approved routine consent items and voted to move into closed session on personnel, negotiations, litigation and security matters.

Speakers asked for specific items the board could pursue, including: quick, multi-channel alerts to families about local enforcement activity; written and classroom-facing guidance staff can use when students ask about enforcement; know-your-rights materials distributed at school lobbies and in backpacks; and rapid-response coordination with village and township partners to protect bus stops and walking routes.

The public comment period concluded at roughly 12:45 a.m. into the meeting (approximately 00:45:29 on the meeting clock); board business continued with several procedural votes and a motion to enter closed session.