Dear community member,
As I’ve shared here before, there is nothing more important to us than the safety of our school community — and we know students cannot learn when they live in fear.
That is why I am proud to report that last night the Santa Cruz County Board of Education adopted a resolution strengthening existing protections to make clear the following: effective immediately, immigration enforcement agents are not permitted to use facilities, parking lots, or any property under the control of the Santa Cruz County Office of Education for any reason. This includes a prohibition on use of parking lots as staging areas for activity in the surrounding area, something we have unfortunately seen happen in communities elsewhere in our nation.
The County Board’s resolution strengthens existing policy and protections, both locally and statewide, that prevent schools from collecting or sharing immigration status, restrict access to non-public areas of campus, and ensure families are kept informed.
While this resolution is among the first in the TK-12 public education system, it follows in the footsteps of similar actions taken by the Watsonville City Council, Cabrillo College and a growing list of other jurisdictions.
Policies are only one step, but they are an important part of the blanket of resources, support and training. I continue to be grateful for the proactive, consistent approach our school districts and partners have taken here in Santa Cruz County to ensure schools remain places of safety for all students and families.
Yours in education and equity,
Dr. Faris Sabbah
Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools