Ocean View board tightens response-to-immigration-enforcement policy, requires staff training

The Ocean View School District Board of Trustees on Feb. 10 approved revisions to its policy and administrative regulation for responding to immigration enforcement on district property, adding a mandatory staff-training requirement and clarifying staff conduct when enforcement officers appear on campus.

Board President Gina Clayton Tarvin proposed a substitute motion to amend the draft regulation so that district staff “shall not physically impede an officer or employee of an agency conducting immigration enforcement” and so that the superintendent “shall provide training to staff on interactions with an officer or employee of an agency conducting immigration enforcement.” Clayton Tarvin said the changes align district practice with California law and Office of the Attorney General guidance and reduce the risk that staff—unfamiliar with legal subtleties—might inadvertently violate students’ rights or district policy.

Clerk Souders and other trustees supported the training requirement as a safety measure for staff and students. The board discussed specific procedural steps staff should take before granting access to students or nonpublic areas: request and record an officer’s identification and badge number, insist on a judicial warrant or court order when required by law, retain copies of authorizing documents, and contact district legal counsel or the superintendent for direction. The superintendent confirmed the proposed administrative regulation includes those procedural details.

Trustees voted to approve the substitute amendments and later rescinded the district’s older policy (AR 5145.13) so the new provisions are codified under the updated policy and administrative regulation. All votes on the policy changes were unanimous among trustees present: 4–0, with Vice President Singer absent.

The board tied the policy change to an implementation deadline for training and the need for clear staff guidance to prevent improper disclosure of student or employee records. The district’s clerk reported that closed-session business earlier in the meeting included a settlement in a separate special-education matter (not related to the immigration-policy item).

The policy changes now move to implementation. The board directed the superintendent’s office and legal counsel to finalize procedures and to schedule staff training to meet the new “shall” requirement.

The board adopted the amendments by roll call; the motion and details about required training and staff procedures will be reflected in the revised administrative regulation.