By Richard L. Gaw
Staff Writer

On Feb. 4, in a letter to the members of the Kennett Consolidated School District and in response to the community’s concern about how the school district will respond to the possibility of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation efforts of undocumented residents, Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Rizzo Saunders issued the following public statement on the district’s website: 

“At the heart of our work in the Kennett Consolidated School District is the unwavering commitment to the safety, well-being, and dignity of every student, staff member, family, and community member,” Saunders wrote. “We believe that each of you deserve a school environment and a school district where you feel supported, valued, and cared for. We welcome every child who steps through our doors today, tomorrow, and for as long as we have the privilege of serving the community. 

“The recent changes to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) ‘sensitive area’ policy, which affects schools, hospitals, and places of worship, has caused worry and anxiety for many in our community. We want to reassure you that we see and hear your concerns, and we are deeply committed to keeping you informed. Our top priority remains the safety and well-being of everyone in our schools. 

“The Kennett Consolidated School District Administration has been proactive in planning and preparing for any potential challenges this situation may bring. We shared these plans with our staff on January 24, and we are prepared with procedures and protocols that align with our standard practice of keeping our school community safe. We are here to support our students and families and will act with the utmost care, respect, and attention to their safety and rights. 

“We want to emphasize that we will continue to uphold all procedures and protocols designed to ensure safety and privacy, prioritizing the well-being of both our staff and students. We will also strictly adhere to any requirements, including those that may require a judicial warrant before entering schools.

“Your voice and partnership are invaluable to us in ensuring that every member of our district feels safe, supported, and respected. Together, we embrace each child, working side by side with their families to nurture their dreams, guide their growth, and celebrate their learning journey.”

Following “long established” protocols

At the school board’s Feb. 10 meeting at the Mary D. Lang Kindergarten Center, Rizzo Saunders addressed the district’s updated stance on how the community will address enforcement actions in or near “sensitive areas” at schools in the district.

The purpose of the district’s original implementation of its practices was in response to an Oct. 7, 2024 letter of understanding by the Office of Homeland Security that stated a limitation of enforcement of ICE’s authority on school grounds, places of worship and hospitals. On Jan. 21, the department rescinded the letter, claiming that the department now has the authorization – supported by an affidavit -- to pursue action due to probable cause.

In outlining the school district’s upgraded safety protocols, Rizzo Saunders said that all students in the district are protected by the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which supports the privacy of student education records and states that district employees, volunteers and contractors – anyone who has information about students in the district – is prohibited from sharing information about students, according to law.

If ICE officials do visit any one of the schools, Rizzo Saunders said, the district will follow “long established protocols” which have been in place for several years. The protocols, while not shared with the public, will be followed by every district employee, she said. 

“We reviewed who may enter the building and for what purpose they may enter,” Rizzo Saunders said of the communication it shared with its entire staff. “You can’t just show up and say, ‘Hey, I want to come in.’ We discussed how our buildings will respond to those who come onto campus who are not identified. We talked about what we do if someone approaches a staff member outside the building asking for student information.

“We discussed how to respond if an ICE officer approaches an individual staff member and wants to gain entry to the building.”

In addition, Rizzo Saunders said all district employees were appraised on how to comply with the rights contained within the Family Rights and Privacy Act, and how the district will manage the removal of the [customs authority] to minimize exposure to students and staff.

“I want to emphasize that these processes and protocols are things that we have in place presently, and we will continue to do,” she said. “No one can come to any school building and simply remove an adult or a child without very specific paperwork and very specific reasons.”

Rizzo Saunders said that if ICE comes to any of the district’s buildings, the district will share that information with the community, and if there are any changes to the protocols based on any policy changes on the federal, state or board level, the entire district community will be informed. 

“I will share that the board asked the Board asked Dr. Rizzo Saunders to make this presentation tonight, based on the level of concern within our community,” said Board President David Kronenberg.  “KCSD bases its policies and protocols base on what is best for our students, for our educators and for the greater community, in that respect. KCSD is prepared but KCSD does not look forward to any specific actions. 

“Given those circumstances, I want to say that KCSD has been working on this plan since December. We will take and follow any legally required action, and as we are required to do, we will follow the law.”

Rizzo Saunders said that while the school district continues to communicate with the entire KCSD community about the issue, “I just want to be clear that we have been trying to maintain the status quo and behave in as normal way as possible,” she said. “I understand why parts of our community are very concerned, and we also want to make sure that we are not increasing the anxiety of either our community and/or our students.”

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email [email protected].