By Michael Bielawski
A new policy at the Winooski School District would designate it a “sanctuary school” for foreign students whose families are not legally in the U.S. It would prohibit cooperation with federal agents regarding immigration enforcement, and potentially compromise access to any federal funds used to run the school.
At the school’s next board meeting, Superintendent Wilmer Chavarria is expected to present a draft policy.
The policy can be read here. It will be discussed at their next school board meeting on Jan. 8 meeting at 6 pm.
The policy states that it is:
“In fulfillment of its obligation to provide a public education free of barriers, regardless of a child’s or family member’s immigration status, absent any applicable federal or state law, state regulation, or court decision, the Winooski School District site shall establish itself as a safe place for its students and their families if faced with fear and anxiety about immigration enforcement efforts.”
The ‘status’ is not just in name as actions would be taken including the Superintendent would assign a “district officer and respective office to be established as resource and information site for immigrant students and families.”
These officers will seek to, “increase and enhance partnerships with community-based organizations and legal services organizations who provide resources for families facing deportation.”
It says that any information obtained by the school regarding immigration – or gender identity – will be kept confidential.
“Any communication to federal agencies or officials initiated by a school or school personnel concerning confidential information about a student or a student’s family member, including but not limited to: information about gender identity; sexual orientation,” it states.
Legal precedence?
The statement cites legal precedents. It states,
“The United States Supreme Court held in Plyler v. Doe (1982) that no public school District has a basis to deny children access to education based on their immigration status, citing the harm it would inflict on the child and society itself and their rights to equal protection and due process enshrined by the Fourteenth Amendment;”
Not all the judges agreed on the 1982 decision. The decision summary states, “apparently the view of the dissenting Justices, [is] that the undocumented status of these children vel non establishes a sufficient rational basis for denying them benefits that a State might choose to afford other residents.”
Feds’ money in question?
According to a 2019 report by the Federal Congressional Research Service, Vermont public schools that year received 8.3% of all funds from the federal government. It is anticipated that the incoming Trump Administration policies will challenge the sanctuary status of communities – and potentially schools as well.”
Newsweek on Dec. 7, 2024, noted federal money can become compromised if municipalities choose to take on activist causes. Gabe Whisnant wrote, “In addition, [legal expert Robert] Turley wrote that the federal government also has the leverage to restrict funds to non-cooperative cities, impacting their budgets severely.” The story does not specifically address school funding and activism.
VTDigger wrote that immigration advocates anticipate new challenges from the incoming administration. Auditi Guha wrote, “The Trump administration responded by waging legal challenges [during his first administration] and attempting to withhold federal funding from those places — something his new ‘border czar’ Tom Holman has again pledged to do.”
“Equity & Antiracism”
The school website’s “Equity & Antiracism“ section reveals that the school has been involved in politicized efforts to address alleged racism.
“The purpose of this site is to organize the work around a common vision of equity and antiracism and to provide clear, transparent updates about what is happening and how the community can get involved,” the page states.
It continues, “During public comments [in 2020], over a dozen students [from the group ‘Winooski Students for Antiracismor’ or WSA] and alumni shared personal testimonies illustrating the long history of prejudice and racism within the Winooski schools and community.”
The author is a writer for the Vermont Daily Chronicle