National immigration enforcement policies become topic at school board meeting
The inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump has seen an increased enforcement of immigration enforcement across the country, leading to increased discussion about the status of immigrants living in America. One of the places where that discussion turned was Monday night’s Manchester Board of Sch
MANCHESTER, N.H. – The inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump has seen an increased enforcement of immigration enforcement across the country, leading to increased discussion about the status of immigrants living in America. One of the places where that discussion turned was Monday night’s Manchester Board of School Committee Meeting.
Ward 5 Board of School Committee Member Jason Bonilla referenced the subject, following an email sent on Friday from Superintendent Jenn Chmiel to district families.
Bonilla reiterated the commitment placed in the letter to supporting and protecting every student in the district and said, “We agree here, and I hope it echoes across. We talk about centering each other’s humanity, but all of the sudden it feels like (immigrant children) are being treated less than.”
According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, almost 2,000 people were arrested or detained on the day of this meeting.
A copy of the letter can be found below.
Dear Families,
The Manchester School District takes immense pride in the rich diversity that defines our community. Our students’ unique backgrounds and experiences contribute to a vibrant and inclusive environment where learning, growth, and success thrive. Every day we welcome over 12,000 students into our schools. We are steadfast in ensuring they feel safe, supported, and focused on achieving their best—whether that’s in the classroom, on stage, in athletics, or pursuing their passions.
In light of recent changes to national immigration policies, we want to take a moment to reassure our community and emphasize our commitment to protecting and supporting every student and family in our district.
We wanted to reach out in response to the recent announcements shared in local and national news about changes to national immigration policies regarding undocumented citizens that could impact students and families in our schools. Over the last few days, a number of families have reached out to district staff with questions and concerns about these changes. While new information is coming in each day, we want to affirm that our number one priority is to create a safe learning environment that makes students feel welcome regardless of their real or perceived immigration status. We also want you to know that we have shared this same information with all staff.
When it comes to our students or families’ immigration status, please know that the Manchester School District (MSD) maintains the following protections:
Access to Education for All: Every child residing in Manchester has the right to a quality public education, regardless of immigration status, race, ethnicity, language, or neighborhood. This is a core value and legal mandate of our district.
- Resource Review:
- Joint Guidance from US Office of Civil Rights & Department of Justice, “Confronting Discrimination Based on National Origin and Immigration Status A Resource for Families and Educators”
- Privacy Protections: Manchester School District does not require or request information regarding immigration status or citizenship from students or guardians. Additionally, we do not share personally identifiable student information with law enforcement or federal immigration agencies unless required by a court order or lawfully issued subpoena, as outlined by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
- Resource Review:
- Joint Guidance document from DOJ & USED-OCR: Information on the Rights of All Children to Enroll in School: Questions and Answers for States, School Districts and Parents
- US Department of Education, FERPA 101 Training Video Link
- Review MSD Policy 104: Personnel (FERPA Policy)
- Resource Review:
- Commitment to Safety: In order to maintain safe learning environments in our school buildings our district has a visitor policy to ensure that we are properly vetting visitors and their purpose for visiting our schools.
- Resource Review:
Resources for your consideration: In addition we have included local resources for your review and use if you…
- Welcoming NH: List of support services available to immigrant and refugee families.
Our team continues to monitor the situation and will provide further updates as new information becomes available. In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns we would remind you to reach out to your student’s school administration, guidance counselor, multilingual liaison or a member of the district team.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Chmiel, Amadou Hamady, Wendy Perron
