Sarasota school board adopts resolution affirming cooperation with law enforcement, including ICE, after hours of public comment

The Sarasota County School Board voted 3–2 on Jan. 20 to adopt a resolution reaffirming the district’s cooperation with law enforcement agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a measure that drew hours of public comment from students, parents, teachers and local advocates.

Board Chair Bridget Ziegler introduced the resolution as a statement of the district’s commitment to the rule of law and to keeping campuses focused on learning. In response to sustained public concern, Superintendent Connor and Chief of School Police Enos both told the board that existing legal protections remain in force: law-enforcement personnel must show proper identification and, when required by law, present judicial warrants before entering classrooms or taking custody of a student.

The vote followed a daylong hearing in which dozens of students said the item would inject fear into classrooms and could reduce attendance. "Why am I here at 10AM on a school day?" said Alessandra Smith, a Riverview High School student who urged the board to reject the resolution and to avoid moving meetings to hours that suppress student participation. Multiple student speakers warned the measure could chill participation and harm learning, and several parents and psychologists testified that the resolution would cause trauma and attendance declines at a critical funding-counting period in February.

Supporters of the resolution said it merely clarifies that the district will comply with lawful requests from federal, state and local agencies and that staff and volunteers cannot create ad hoc exceptions. "When any law enforcement agency presents a lawful warrant, the district must comply," said Lieutenant Colonel Duff Smiley, who spoke in favor of the resolution, calling it "responsible, reasonable, legally sound." Board member supporters argued the measure restores certainty about legal compliance and accountability for staff who might otherwise impede lawful actions.

Chief Enos described typical local procedures for a lawful juvenile pickup or warrant: law enforcement notifies district police or school staff, warrants are verified, staff escort the student to a private office, and parents are contacted promptly. "We make sure we do everything that's the least traumatic," he said, describing steps to avoid public confrontations in hallways or classrooms.

Opponents repeatedly cited Plyler v. Doe (1982) and federal protections guaranteeing access to education regardless of immigration status. They argued that, even if the resolution does not change policy on paper, it changes the atmosphere and could deter families from sending children to school. Several speakers asked that the board delay action, hold a community workshop, or adopt narrower language that explicitly protects student privacy, clarifies FERPA limits, and distinguishes civil immigration matters from criminal conduct.

Board members split along expected lines. In the roll-call vote the resolution passed with Chair Ziegler, Mrs. Rose and Mrs. Marinelli voting yes; Mrs. Barker and Mr. Edwards voted no. Before the vote, Mr. Edwards—who had spoken publicly at a rally opposing aggressive ICE tactics—said he did not trust ICE but also did not support the chair’s approach; he later voted against the resolution.

The superintendent said the resolution does not alter day-to-day operations: schools will continue to protect student privacy, require judicial authority for warrant-based entries, and prioritize student safety. The board asked administration to communicate procedures to families and staff to address community fear and to remind principals and counselors to support students who may feel anxious.

Next steps: the district said it will share clearer, districtwide communications about how lawful warrants and campus safety protocols are handled, and board members signaled plans for future engagement on student-centered priorities.

Quotations used above are drawn from public comments and the meeting record.