ICE Procedures In Place At Centennial Schools

WARMINSTER, PA —If ICE happens to arrive in the Centennial School District, school officials have policies and procedures in place.

Centennial Schools Superintendent Dana Bedden said the school district shared information with the Centennial community —which represents Warminster and Upper Southampton townships — assuring the public it has protections in place for students and staff if Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials should appear.

CSD administrators have received guidance and procedures for responding to immigration officials at school sites, the superintendent said.

"These procedures reflect the district’s commitment to student safety and our legal obligations while upholding our district's core value of being 'committed to the health and welfare of all of our students, staff, and families," said Bedden in his email last week.

The resolution was adopted by the Centennial School Board on Feb. 14, 2017.

Commitment to Students and Families

This commitment includes maintaining clear procedures for any situation where outside officials request access to our schools or student information.

As outlined in the resolution, the school district remains dedicated to:

• Maintaining high standards of behavior for adults and students
• Being non-discriminatory
• Creating a safe and inclusive environment
• Treating all constituents with respect, compassion, and tolerance

School Access Procedures

When any law enforcement or government officials request access to our schools, we
follow these established procedures to ensure student safety and privacy:

All visitors, including officials, must:

• Report to the main office
• Present proper identification
• Sign in and receive a visitor's badge
• State their purpose for visiting

School administrators will verify credentials and review any documentation presented and parents and guardians will be notified if their child is the subject of any official request (if
possible).

Student Records and Privacy

Federal law provides specific protections for student privacy.

The district's procedures regarding student records are as follows:

• We maintain student records in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
• Access to student records requires either a written parent/guardian consent, or a valid court order or judicial warrant.
• We do not collect or maintain information about immigration status in student records.

Building Principal Authority

The district's building principals, by School Board Policy 907, have the authority to:

• Limit visitors to designated areas
• Restrict the number of visitors
• Modify visiting procedures when necessary to protect student safety