January 24, 2018

Dear NUSD Community,

As the issue of immigration continues to remain uncertain, I want to again share our position so everyone is clear about the issues of immigration at our campuses and administrative offices.

On December 20, 2016, the Board of Trustees passed Resolution 19/2016-2017, “Commitment to the Education of All Students and Making All Campuses a Safe Zone for Students and Families Threatened by Immigration Enforcement.”  The full resolution can be found on the NUSD website here.

This Resolution declares the Board’s and district’s commitment that every Novato school is a safe and welcoming place for all students and their families and that all students have a right to attend school regardless of the immigration status of the child or of the child’s family members.

In addition, the Resolution reaffirms that district personnel shall treat all students equitably in the receipt of all school services and shall not inquire about a student’s immigration status.

We are committed to protecting the right of every student to attend public school, regardless of the immigration status of a student or of a student’s family members.

It is our duty and responsibility to provide each child in our schools with a high quality public education in a safe and nurturing environment, I am providing the following directions to staff at our schools:

  • Our staff will not request information or make a record of information on the immigration status of a student or family member. Furthermore, students and families will not be required to provide a social security number for school forms.
  • If the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency asks for access to a school or for access to student information, they will be referred directly to me who will refer the matter to NUSD’s legal counsel for a determination regarding whether such access is required by law.
  • Anyone in our schools seeking answers to questions about immigration will be referred to local non-profit immigration organizations, such as the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the San Francisco Bar Association, or the Canal Alliance. In addition, the Marin County Office of Education has set up a web page for resources at http://marinschools.org/MCOE/Pages/Immigrant-Student-and-Family-Resources.aspx

Our immigrant families are not the only ones who are concerned about recent changes in federal policies. We want to send the message that NUSD rejects all discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, immigration status, disability and sexual orientation.

I want our community to be assured that we will adhere to our core values: that public schools are the foundation of our democracy, that every person has intrinsic worth, that we believe in treating people with dignity and respect, that high standards and expectations foster greater achievement, that each of us shares responsibility for the welfare of our community, that diversity is an asset in our community, that honesty and integrity are essential in building relationships, that schools must provide access and equity, and that people thrive in safe environments.

I also want our community to know that NUSD is a law-abiding organization and will follow all applicable state and federal laws.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or your child’s principal.

Thank you.

Respectfully,

 

Jim Hogeboom

Superintendent