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Student board representative wins unanimous vote for resolution affirming protections for students regardless of immigration status
Summary
A student‑led resolution asking the board to reaffirm that all students have safe access to education regardless of immigration status passed unanimously; the board asked staff to draft a formal policy for future consideration and to translate and distribute the statement to students and families.
City Schools of Decatur student representatives urged the board on April 14 to adopt a formal public statement and requested policy language protecting students and families from immigration‑enforcement actions on school grounds. The board unanimously adopted a resolution reaffirming the district’s commitment to safe access to education for all students regardless of immigration status and directed staff to develop written policy language for later board consideration.
Student representative Mia (Botra) framed the resolution as a timely response to national developments and local concerns, saying the district should provide clear protections and communications to reassure students and families. The resolution was presented in the meeting’s late agenda and seen by the board as an urgent affirmation of district values. Members agreed it must be accompanied by actionable policy language; the board asked administration and legal counsel to prepare draft policy language and translate communications into multiple languages for students and families.
Board members praised the students’ leadership. Board member Aria said the district should turn the resolution into enforceable policy language; others offered immediate practical steps, including making the resolution available in translated notices and coordinating with school staff during arrival and dismissal times to reinforce record‑privacy protections.
What happens next: administration will prepare proposed policy language (drawing from an existing template cited by trustees and from state guidance) and bring it to the board for consideration at an upcoming meeting. The board also asked staff to craft multilingual communications aimed directly at students and families.
The vote: The motion to adopt the student‑introduced resolution passed unanimously.
