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Residents urge Cheltenham School District to adopt clearer 'welcoming' immigration policy; administration offers follow‑up meeting
Summary
Several residents asked the board to formalize and better communicate a district 'welcoming' policy about immigration enforcement and student protections; administration said it will reconvene meetings with community representatives and aim to publish communications before the school year ends.
Multiple residents used the public‑comment period May 12 to press the Cheltenham School District for a clearer, better‑communicated policy on immigration enforcement and student protections.
Tom Peterson, speaking for a citizen group called Cheltenham Immigration Response, said his organization submitted a draft welcoming policy and a set of 11 questions to the superintendent months earlier and has not received a substantive response. "We submitted that draft about 3 months ago, along with 11 questions...we really haven't gotten a concrete response to those questions or to the draft document," Peterson told the board.
Other residents echoed that concern. Randy Libros said parents reported they had not seen a February 2025 letter and that the district’s communication did not reach many families. Amy Fried urged the district to support state‑level "welcoming schools" legislation and to communicate policies in languages understood by families. Pam Albright noted the land acknowledgment earlier in the meeting and urged that district values be reflected in both curriculum and policies.
Administration response: the superintendent acknowledged prior meetings with representatives of the group and said he would have the communications director follow up to gather contact information and to reconvene with the group. "We will reconvene and have another meeting with you...and attempting definitely to get a communication out before the end of the school year," he said.
Why it matters: residents said uncertainty about enforcement and unclear communications at schools has created fear among students and families and requested explicit procedures, translated materials and clarity on supports available to students. Speakers also asked the board to consider pending state legislation that would require districts to adopt procedures responding to immigration enforcement.
Next steps: administration committed to a follow‑up meeting with community representatives and to attempt a communication before the school year ends; no formal policy vote or board directive was recorded at the May 12 meeting.
