Berwyn South SD 100 reiterates protections under Illinois Safe Schools for All Act and Plyler v. Doe

At the Berwyn South SD 100 board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Mary Havis reviewed the district’s guidance and operational protocols for responding to immigration enforcement and emphasized protections under state policy and the U.S. Supreme Court precedent.

Havis cited the Illinois Safe Schools for All Act and Plyler v. Doe, saying the district will not deny K–12 students access to public education on the basis of actual or perceived immigration status and will not collect or share immigration-status information. She described local procedures requiring judicial warrants or subpoenas for records requests and attorney review before anything could be released.

"We obviously need to follow the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act," Havis said, and added that school staff have been trained in emergency response and that crisis teams, communication protocols and community partner referrals (including West 40) are in place to support families.

Board members asked for clarification about who on crisis teams receives training and how often teams meet; Havis said each building has a crisis team composed of administrators, social workers, nurses, custodial staff and classroom teachers, and that protocols are reviewed annually with West 40 support. The board also approved a policy change to codify that the district will not request or collect citizenship or immigration information under Policy 7150.

Havis reiterated that, under the Safe Schools framework, law enforcement requests for records would require appropriate legal process and that the district emphasizes confidentiality and referrals to community resources when families need additional support.