The potential for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to visit public schools has understandably sounded many alarm bells within our community. Henrico families are worried, and confused about what this means for our neighbors and community. Know that we, as a school division, hear you and value our students safety and care.
Please be assured that division leadership and building administrators are here to help, and will enforce any and all protections we can under current law. The school division will continue to follow division policies and safety protocols that protect student information, and set parameters on who is allowed to have contact with students during the school day.
While this may not sound like much, I’d like to assure folks that these policies are vastly more restrictive than meets the eye. For example, if two students are in a fight at school, both sets of parents/guardians are not allowed to be made aware of the other student’s punishment nor even their identity. This is something that often frustrates parents, but is current federal law and must be followed. In a situation where ICE is involved, the same type of student privacy would apply. This also includes following all HCPS visitor and entry protocols (photo ID, reason for visit, weapon scanners, etc.); thoroughly reviewing any legal documents presented by law enforcement seeking information or access to students or staff (warrants, subpoenas, etc.); and following our existing protocols for contacting parents if law enforcement of any kind seeks access to or information from their student. Additionally, HCPS will continue to ensure compliance with all student privacy laws and protect their information from unauthorized disclosures. In fact, our Central Office Team and our School principals spent all last week reviewing those safety protocols together to ensure everyone was familiar with the proper process.
Principals in each building have been given a step by step process for what to do for any given situation and they have trained school staff on these processes as well. Staff knowing what to do when a situation arises is of top priority, and why they were quickly informed of what they should do if they interact with ICE.
I will also note that the HCPS website has been updated with immigration-related resources in the county for families that may have questions or need additional support. All of our administrators and school-based mental health teams (including counselors and social workers as well as Henrico CARES) are available and ready to assist any family member or student that may be seeking resources, information, or struggling with anxiety on the topic.
I want you to know that we prioritize a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for every member of our school community. We will do everything in our power to ensure our schools remain a safe place for each and every student to find their passion and reach their potential. It doesn’t matter what you look like, where you’re from, who you love, or who you worship. You are valued, you belong here, and you are loved.
Madison Irving, M.S.Ed
School Board Member
Henrico County – Three Chopt
