Board adopts revised 'Response to Immigration Enforcement' policy as superintendent highlights student essay

The Mountain View School District Board of Education approved a substantially revised policy on the district’s response to immigration enforcement and heard a superintendent reading that framed migration as a human-rights issue.

Board President Jacqueline Salvana called for approval of the packet of policy revisions that included the new Board Policy 1445, "Response to Immigration Enforcement." Vice President Adam Carranza moved the motion; the board carried the item in a roll-call vote announced as 5-0.

Superintendent Dr. Andre used his report to read aloud an eighth-grade student’s essay describing migration as "an act of survival" and urged the board and community to view arriving families with dignity. He also described local activism related to immigration enforcement, saying protesters followed a vehicle that he identified as a Department of Homeland Security vehicle and stressing that community protest is part of civic life while noting the emotional impact on students.

Dr. Andre said district staff worked to limit dissemination of sensitive student information and highlighted practical changes already in place, including limiting access to the district student information system (Aeries) and making it easier for families to opt out of directory information during data confirmation. "We intentionally added that to the data confirmation and made it very easy for families to even opt out of directory information," Dr. Gomez said during the discussion of implementation steps.

The board discussion clarified that an earlier policy (BP 5141.5 / 5145.13 in the packet) was repealed and replaced by the new numbered policy because the changes were substantial. The motion to approve the identified items was made and seconded and carried by a 5-0 roll-call vote.