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Parents urge Sycamore School Board to review lockdown policies after ICE-related incident near schools
Summary
Multiple parents told the Sycamore School Board they are worried about an ICE facility located near district schools after recent lockdowns, asking the board to review lockdown response protocols, clarify parent communication, and press state and federal officials to change operations at the site.
Several parents told the Sycamore School Board on public comment that a nearby Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility raised safety concerns after recent school lockdowns.
Resident Donnie Naman — who said his daughter attends Montgomery Elementary — told the board that during the lockdown students were placed in a "soft lockdown" and urged the district to review policies for incidents with a large law-enforcement presence or multi-agency response. "Bullets can travel a long distance," Naman said, and asked whether students should be moved away from exterior windows and into interior spaces during such events. He also said it was inappropriate for students to be released from lockdown to attend a Veterans Day event and asked the board to explain the decision-making process during lockdowns.
Other commenters echoed those concerns. Ellen Owens said she thought the ICE facility should be moved because of its proximity to schools. Sarah Troy, a parent who said her daughters attend Maple Day, asked the district to publish clear protocols for families about how staff should respond when ICE or other federal agents are on or near school property, including whether agents may enter school buildings and when parents will be notified. Jean Phillips asked specific procedural questions about whether agents must remain in administrative offices and whether they are required to present full warrant names when seeking students or staff.
Board members responded by saying the district has a plan in place and administrators have been briefed. "We do have a plan," one board member said, noting the district has discussed response protocols with legal counsel and that administrators are aware of procedures. Trustees also discussed whether detailed procedures should be made public; staff said they would consult legal counsel before releasing operational security protocols to the broader community.
The public commenters asked the board to contact federal and state representatives and other agencies to press for operational changes at the facility; the board did not indicate it would take direct action beyond reviewing internal protocols and discussing communications with legal counsel. The district acknowledged the community's concern and pledged to consider how best to communicate safety protocols to families.
The board did not vote on policy changes during the meeting; public safety protocols and any changes to parent communication were referred to staff and legal counsel for follow-up.
