New Bedford schools superintendent sends letter addressing immigration worries
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) — New Bedford Public Schools Superintendent Andrew O’Leary sent a letter to staff addressing worries about potential “immigration enforcement” on school grounds.
O’Leary said that the school system’s priority was student safety, and that “immigration enforcement [was] unlikely to occur around…school buildings.”
However, he added that school staff have been trained in protocols of “restricted building access, protecting student privacy, and offering family support.”
“New Bedford Public Schools follows the guidance and protocols stipulated by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office regarding restricting building access and access to information by immigration enforcement or other federal agencies,” he said, linking the state’s guidance webpage on ICE access requests.
New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell had earlier said that in the case of a raid the city would cooperate fully with federal law enforcement.
“Our single biggest concern is with school children,” Mitchell said. “If there are children in our schools whose parents are picked up because they don’t have immigration status, we need to make sure those kids are taken care of.”
The full letter can be read below:
Greetings, New Bedford staff,
I would like to address concerns raised around the topic of immigration enforcement and I want to assure you all that our schools will remain a safe place where our work and service to families will not be disrupted.
We have no greater priority than student safety. Our school buildings are spaces that belong to students, families, and staff.
State and federal policy is very clear that student and family access to schools shall not be disrupted.
Immigration enforcement is unlikely to occur around our school buildings. However, in the unlikely event of such activities, New Bedford Public Schools leadership and school staff have been trained in our protocols for restricted building access, protecting student privacy, and offering family support.
New Bedford Public Schools follows the guidance and protocols stipulated by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office regarding restricting building access and access to information by immigration enforcement or other federal agencies.
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/information-for-schools-on-ice-requests-for-access-or-information
We stand ready to meet family needs. Our district has strong and sustained partnerships with all immigrant serving agencies in our community. Shared training, activities and ongoing collaboration mean we are a collective support for immigrant families that enrich our city and district. Our school leaders are your resource to make such connections and referrals for any families who have need of agency support.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to your school building leadership or to me directly with any concerns. We are here to serve and support you.
We are Your City, Your Students, and Your New Bedford Public Schools! ¡Nosotros somos su ciudad, sus estudiantes y sus Escuelas Públicas de New Bedford!
Thank you for all you do,
Andrew B. O’Leary, MA, CAGS
Superintendent
New Bedford Public Schools
