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Parents press West Orange schools on air-conditioning timeline and protections for immigrant families
Summary
Parents urged faster air-conditioning plans for elementary classrooms and pressed the district on how staff will respond if immigration enforcement appears on campus; Superintendent Moore said transformers and electrical upgrades are underway and that the district will coordinate with West Orange PD and counsel to protect student confidentiality while complying with the law.
Parents and residents used the West Orange Board of Education meeting on Jan. 27 to press for faster air-conditioning installations in elementary classrooms and to ask how the district will respond if immigration enforcement appears on campus.
Parent concerns and district timeline
Margarita Sanoto, whose child is in kindergarten at Redwood School, asked for a clearer timeline for cooling her child's classroom and for temporary measures during hot weather. Superintendent Moore said Redwood requires electrical upgrades that push a full installation to 2026; he explained the work is being done in phases without a referendum and that some transformers already ordered can take up to a year to arrive.
"It will be coming because there's already been ordered for them but it will take us a little bit of time to get everything online," Moore said when describing the equipment lead times.
Temporary measures and building-level responses
Parents asked whether temporary cooling plans exist for the coming year. Moore said the district has used portables, fans and room reassignments in hotspot situations but could not commit to a districtwide temporary solution immediately and suggested principals and buildings-and-grounds staff will handle site-specific responses.
Immigration enforcement and school protocols
Resident Rochelle Alves described fear among families after the administration rescinded a long-standing practice limiting arrests at hospitals, churches and schools and asked whether front-office staff can recognize warrants and whether staff know rules for sharing student information. Pamela Beerley later recounted a personal experience with family separation under immigration law.
Superintendent Moore said the district has met with attorneys, West Orange police and school leaders to review protocols. "We would not let anyone take action and we would protect the confidentiality of our students and families," Moore said, adding that the district must act lawfully and will involve counsel and West Orange PD to determine next steps if enforcement actions occur on campus.
What was requested and what the district will do
Parents asked for clearer emergency-contact procedures and reviewed pickup protocols; the district said it has checked and updated emergency contacts and will continue coordinating with principals, legal counsel and West Orange PD. Moore emphasized that staff are trained in empathy and student safety and said the district will not obstruct lawful actions but will seek legal guidance and involve law enforcement as needed.
Next steps
The board did not adopt new policies at the meeting; Moore and board members said they will continue meetings with counsel, police and principals and will provide updates as procedures and training are finalized. The next regular meeting is Feb. 24, 2025.
