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Community speakers urge protections for immigrant students and call for review of ESE practices
Summary
At the Jan. 27 Polk County School Board meeting, Cassandra Blanco urged protection for immigrant students after recent state funding to local immigration enforcement; Monica Williams and others urged investigation into alleged ESE (special education) compliance failures and possible conflicts of interest.
Several community members used the Jan. 27 Polk County School Board public‑comment period to raise concerns about student safety and district oversight.
Cassandra Blanco, a Polk County native, told the board that a Jan. 15 posting from the Florida Department of Financial Services showed $1,006,985 provided to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office to assist with immigration enforcement. Blanco said Latino students make up nearly 42% of the district’s student body and asked how the board will maintain trust, citing federal…
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