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District 59 details attendance impacts and supports as immigration enforcement incidents rise locally
Summary
District staff said recent local immigration enforcement activity has not halted school operations but has led families to cite safety when calling students absent; staff outlined multi‑tiered attendance supports, social‑work and SEL resources, community outreach efforts and planned optional staff training.
District 59 leaders told the board they have seen an uptick in local immigration‑enforcement incidents and laid out the district’s communications, attendance data and supports for affected families.
A district official opened the discussion, saying, "To date, we have not had any incidents that have interfered with the functioning of our schools," and summarized ongoing work dating back to 2017 along with updates after recent Illinois State Board of Education guidance.
Why it matters: staff provided attendance data and described how parents sometimes use a 'safety' code when they keep children home. The district reported 95 students absent for 301 student‑days so far this year for the safety reason, compared with 792 students for 873 days last year; staff cautioned that attendance categories are not a direct measure of ICE exposure and said the raw counts are small relative to district enrollment but still represent real family concerns.
District responses and supports included:
- a central web hub and repeated family communications with Know‑Your‑Rights resources and referral links; - optional staff training and ongoing job‑alikes for social workers and principals; - community outreach that pairs willing parents to walk children and deliver groceries when needed; - mental‑health supports including social workers in every building and telehealth through a recently adopted provider.
Ashley Robertson, director of SEL and student support, described community outreach and in‑district resource coordination: "We've had several Amazon packages roll through," she said, noting community donations and local groups helping families in need.
Board members pressed for a formal feedback loop after optional staff training and emphasized clarity about what the district can and cannot do in the face of enforcement actions. One trustee underscored that some requested actions (for example, interceding with federal agents) are outside district authority; staff said the district’s role is to provide safe spaces, stable routines and linkages to outside legal and community supports.
What’s next: staff will keep the board updated, keep an open feedback form for staff questions, run optional staff training sessions, and continue cross‑departmental coordination among safety, student services and communications teams.
