Dozens of public commenters told the Batavia Board of Education on Tuesday that the district should adopt a policy to bar immigration-enforcement activity from school property.

At least six speakers urged the district to go beyond state law and create explicit local protections. “I read through your mission statement…we commit to a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students,” said Casilda Cuevas, who introduced herself as deputy mayor of Aurora and said she was speaking on behalf of families with children in Batavia schools. “If you pass an ordinance or a resolution to keep ICE from your property, you’d be in line with the trust act.” (Casilda Cuevas).

Parents and students joined Cuevas. Jeremy Danidio told trustees he supported the district’s exploration of an “anti-ICE” or “ICE-free” school zone and urged them to adopt policies that expand protections beyond the upcoming Safe Schools for All Act. Fourteen-year-old Spencer Dimitio described wanting to feel safe at school and asked the board to “give my friends…security going to school” (Spencer Dimitio).

Board discussion after public comment focused on next steps. Several trustees said they wanted to adopt a policy aligned with the recently issued Press templates and the language in HB 3247 (the Safe Schools for All Act), then let the administration produce administrative procedures for implementation. Trustee Raquel (last name on roll call) suggested the board could expedite the policy’s first reading at an upcoming meeting and adopt the policy at the next regular session.

Administrators and trustees agreed to convene the board policy committee on Dec. 2 to review draft language and to circulate a redline copy in advance so trustees who cannot attend can submit comments. The board’s legal counsel and administration indicated they would use Press-recommended procedures as a base and crosswalk them with current district practice; the administration said many of those protocols are already in place.

The board did not adopt a policy that night. Trustees directed staff to prepare a draft policy and supporting administrative procedures, and to bring a public-facing communication plan so families and staff understand what would change if the policy were adopted.