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SAFE HAVEN DISTRICT

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Board Votes to Reaffirm District’s Commitment to Safe Haven Resolution
Aaron Belman

The Board approved a resolution reaffirming the recognition of Natomas Unified School District as a Safe Haven School District. The original resolution was adopted in 2017. At the Saturday, February 8, 2025, Special Board Meeting, the Board gave direction to staff to update the 2017 resolution and to place the revised version on the February 19, 2025, Board meeting agenda to be reaffirmed by Trustees. To review the resolution, click here. 
 

 

  • safe haven

We want all NUSD students to know they are safe and welcome, so the Board of Trustees has declared the district a safe haven committed to acting within legal bounds to protect students and families threatened by hate crimes or deportation based on immigration status.

Passed unanimously on February 8, 2017, the resolution is consistent with existing Board-approved commitments that all students have a right to attend public schools and receive equal access to educational programs, diversity is a strength, parent participation is encouraged, and that a key District goal is to create safe and welcoming learning environments.

Our resolution calls for NUSD to act within legal bounds to prevent and mitigate the collection of information about immigration status, the disclosure of such information, and to support students if immigration enforcement authorities seek to visit a school to interrogate or take a child into custody.

On February 19, 2025, the Board reaffirmed their commitment to the Safe Haven Resolution with a revised version. That resolution can be viewed here. This Safe Haven resolution is consistent with our Core Values.

NUSD is one of the most diverse school districts in the United States with more than 85 countries represented among our student population. 

Every NUSD student is a valuable part of our district family, and providing an engaging and safe learning community where all students will demonstrate responsibility, achieve academic and social-emotional growth, embrace diversity, and are prepared to make decisions about their college and career success is NUSD’s mission, regardless of immigration status. 

Reaffirming the Recognition of a Safe Haven School District
Resolution No. 25-08 (Adopted 02/19/2025)                 

WHEREAS, under the law and Board Policy, all students have the right to attend public school and enjoy access to equitable educational and programmatic services regardless of the immigration status of the student (Board Policy 5111.1: Students, Admission);

WHEREAS, in 2017 the Board of Trustees unanimously approved a Resolution recognizing Natomas Unified as a safe haven school district (Resolution No. 17-04), and subsequently in 2018 approved a Board Policy and Administrative Regulation about response to immigration enforcement.  These actions further solidified the Board’s commitment that “every school site should be a safe and welcoming place for all students and their families irrespective of their citizenship or immigration status.” (Board Policy/Administrative Regulation 5145.13: Response to Immigration Enforcement)

WHEREAS, the Governing Board's Vision states, "NUSD will provide an engaging and safe learning community where all students will demonstrate responsibility, achieve academic and social emotional growth, embrace diversity, and are prepared to make decisions about their college and career success," (Board Policy 0000: Vision/Core Values and Commitments) and the Governing Board affirms that this Vision is irrespective of students immigration status, ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, ability, sex and gender identity, socioeconomic status or beliefs;

WHEREAS, in 2016 the Natomas Unified School District was named the second most diverse school district in the nation and first in Sacramento County as reported by The New York Times;

WHEREAS, in 2024 Natomas Unified School District was named the most diverse school district in California and the second most diverse in the nation as reported by Niche.com and outlined in the table below:

  

WHEREAS, the Governing Board embraces the diversity of our students and families and the rich language and cultural assets they bring to our District and strongly supports and encourages the participation of all parents and families in our schools (Board Policy 0410: Nondiscrimination in District Programs and Activities);

WHEREAS, while there are no accurate numbers of how many undocumented children are enrolled in our District's public schools, approximately 31% of our District's students speak a language other than English at home, and approximately 60 native languages are spoken by families whose children are enrolled in our District;

WHEREAS, recently, students, parents, and staff have expressed fear, anxiety, and confusion regarding the ability of the Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to enter District property for the purpose of determining legal status of students and their families and the presence of such an agency may cause disruption in our schools;

WHEREAS, The United States Supreme Court held in Plyer v. Doe (1982) that no public school district has a basis to deny children access to education based on their immigration status, citing that children have little control over their immigration status, and noting the harm it would inflict on the child and society itself, and noting the equal protection rights of the 14th Amendment;

WHEREAS, "The Governing Board shall make every effort to maintain a safe, positive school environment and student services that promote student welfare and academic achievement,"(Board Policy 5000: Students. Concepts and Roles) which is further supported by the Board-approved district goal to, “Create a Safe, Engaging Environment Where Students Connect to School.” (Board Policy 0200: Board Goals); and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the Governing Board declares its ongoing commitment that every District site be a safe and welcoming place for all students and their families and encourages the Superintendent or designee to enhance partnerships with community-based organizations and legal support organizations who provide resources and support for families facing immigration enforcement or hate crimes and/or discrimination related to immigration status;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: in alignment with district practice and Administrative Regulation 5145.13 - Response to Immigration Enforcement, district staff shall take the following actions in response to an officer present on the school campus specifically for immigration enforcement purposes:

  1. Advise the officer that before school personnel can respond to the officer's request, they must first receive notification and direction from the Superintendent or designee, except under exigent circumstances that necessitate immediate action
  2. Request to see the officer's credentials, including their name and badge number, and the phone number of the officer's supervisor, and note or make a copy of all such information
  3. Ask the officer for their reason for being on school grounds and document the response
  4. Request that the officer produce any documentation that authorizes their school access
  5. Make a copy of all documents produced by the officer and retain one copy for school records
  6. If the officer declares that exigent circumstances exist and demands immediate access to the campus, comply with the officer's orders and immediately contact the Superintendent or designee
  7. If the officer does not declare that exigent circumstances exist, respond according to the requirements of the officer's documentation, as follows:
    1. If the officer has an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) administrative warrant, district staff shall inform the agent that they cannot consent to any request without first consulting with the district's legal counsel or other designated district official.
    2. If the officer has a federal judicial warrant, such as a search and seizure warrant or an arrest warrant signed by a federal judge or magistrate, district staff shall promptly comply with the warrant. If feasible, district staff shall consult with the district's legal counsel or designated administrator before providing the officer with access to the person or materials specified in the warrant.
    3. If the officer has a subpoena for production of documents or other evidence, district staff shall inform the district's legal counsel or other designated official of the subpoena and await further instructions as to how to proceed.
  8. Do not attempt to physically impede the officer, even if the officer appears to be exceeding the authorization given under a warrant or other document. If an officer enters the premises without consent, district staff shall document the officer's actions while on campus.
  9. After the encounter with the officer, promptly make written notes of all interactions with the officer, including:
    1. A list or copy of the officer's credentials and contact information
    2. The identity of all school personnel who communicated with the officer
    3. Details of the officer's request
    4. Whether the officer presented a warrant or subpoena to accompany their request, what was requested in the warrant or subpoena, and whether the warrant or subpoena was signed by a judge
  10. Provide a copy of these notes and associated documents collected from the officer to the district's legal counsel or other designated district official

  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Superintendent or designee shall continue to provide teachers, school administrators and school and District office staff with appropriate and adequate training on how to implement this Resolution along with the annual mandated staff trainings; and parents/guardians will receive notification in various languages of this resolution to fully inform families of their rights in the District;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Superintendent or designee shall prepare appropriate updates to the Trustees as this resolution is implemented;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Governing Board instructs the Superintendent or designee to distribute copies of this Resolution within thirty (30) days of the Resolution's enactment date, translated into all appropriate languages, to all school sites (including District­ authorized charter school sites), and the District's DELAC committee and Site ELAC committees; and finally

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: The Governing Board reaffirms Natomas Unified School District's commitment to create a safe educational environment for ALL STUDENTS, serving as a safe haven for students and families threatened by immigration enforcement or hate crimes and/or discrimination related to immigration status, to the fullest extent provided by the law.