CCSD board trustees vote to declare district an immigration ‘safe space’

The Clark County School Board voted 6-1 on Thursday night to declare district campuses as safe spaces for all students, regardless of their immigration status.

The move, proposed by Trustee Carolyn Edwards, comes after a heated presidential campaign over immigration during which President Donald Trump noted his desire to end the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program.

Hispanic students make up roughly 45 percent of the district’s population, according to the latest available state numbers.

Edwards clarified on Thursday that the proposal is not a plan to make district schools sanctuary campuses, but to reaffirm the protections already provided to students under federal law.

“We are attempting to reassure our students that they are safe and welcome in our schools, and that they will be protected in terms of the privacy of their situations,” she said.

Trustee Chris Garvey was the lone dissenting vote on the resolution, which won strong support from the crowd.

The resolution designates schools as a “safe space” for students, restricting access to their immigration status without parental consent or a court action.

The federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act already prohibits schools from disclosing personal information without a student’s consent, with a few exceptions for judicial orders, subpoenas or criminal proceedings.

The vote came after a round of public support in which former students, parents and staff spoke of the climate after the presidential election.

History teacher Michael Shea said he had multiple students out of school the day after the election, all of whom were Hispanic.

Carolina Chacom, a graduate of the district, said she was an undocumented immigrant but that her parents brought her here to give her the best chance in life.

“During my many years in the district I received an excellent education and never once felt afraid for my safety while attending school,” she said.

But her younger sister, she said, is afraid for her family and future. She argued that her sister deserves the same opportunity.

Congresswoman Dina Titus showed up to support the resolution, saying that her office phones have been ringing with immigration questions since the election.

“I think the resolution will ensure families that their children are not going to be treated like pawns,” she said. “They’re not going to be targeted while they’re in school.”

Parent Adriana Martinez directed her comment to Trustee Kevin Child, who has come under fire in the past for Facebook posts about children who can’t speak English.

She said he had personally told her that illegals cause the problems in the school system because the women have so many children.

“I respectfully ask you to open up your heart … and instill your Christian values and pass this resolution for all of the children,” she said.

But Child voted in support of the motion, with only Garvey voting against it.

Garvey said after the meeting that she voted against the resolution because of the lack of fiscal and other information.

“We’re already in a stretched budget, and the staff are stretched to their limits too,” she said. “I voted no, knowing we still have (rules) in place to protect all students.”

Henderson resident Ellen Shaw questioned the need for a resolution if there is already a federal law in place.

She argued that a high proportion of children in school illegally in Nevada is draining taxpayer money and taking away resources from American children.

“Taxpayers aren’t here to fund the education of everybody who decides to go across the border illegally,” she said in a telephone interview.

The Trump administration signaled this week that ending the federal act is not a priority, but the president did sign an executive order to begin construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Contact Amelia Pak-Harvey at 702-383-4630 or apak-harvey@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AmeliaPakHarvey on Twitter.