As fears mount in northeast Lakie County and other places in the area over the activities of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents seeking undocumented residents, some parents are worried about their children waiting at school bus stops.
North Chicago School District 187 Superintendent John Price said principals at the district’s schools are receiving calls from parents who are afraid to have their children wait outside before school.
Price said school officials are making an effort to allay those fears by finding alternatives for children of concerned parents to get to and from schools. A more widespread effort is not necessary at this time, he said.
“We are trying to get them rides with other families in their neighborhood who are taking their kids to school and bringing them home,” Price said. “Primarily our principals are doing it at this point.”
Area school districts continue on an ongoing basis to find ways to help parents worried about Operation Midway Blitz in Waukegan, North Chicago, Zion, Round Lake and other areas to make families feel safe and allay their fears.
Theresa Plascencia, the superintendent of Waukegan Community Unit School District 60, said in an email that concerns expressed by parents about children waiting at bus stops are not common, but “it has been mentioned occasionally at some of our schools.”
“We are certainly mindful of this issue and know that weather and safety are always important considerations for families,” she said.
New this year in District 60 is a bus-tracking app available to all families. It gives the precise location of a child’s bus. Though the app was acquired for general reasons to help parents, Plascencia said it can help parents worried about children at bus stops.
“The app will give parents real-time updates and a more precise window of when to expect the school bus in the morning and afternoon,” she said. “We believe this will help reduce wait times at bus stops and provide families with greater peace of mind.
There were reports of ICE agents in the vicinity of North Elementary School in Waukegan on Sept. 15. District 60 officials made it clear shortly after the November election, again in January and several times since that its schools are a safe haven. ICE agents will not be allowed to enter without a warrant signed by a judge.
Dulce Ortiz, the executive director of Mano a Mano Family Resource Center, said she has heard from parents worried about taking their children to school or bringing them home, though not nearly as much about waiting at bus stops.
Ortiz urges all parents and others to remain vigilant. If they see what appears to be ICE activity, they should call the Family Support Hotline at 855-435-7693 and report what they see. It will activate a rapid response team to investigate.
Cynthia Moreno, a spokesperson for Zion-Benton Township High School District 126, said in an email that district parents have expressed broad concerns from information they hear around the community about ICE activities.
“We have seen conversations among parents, students, teachers, and staff marked by uncertainty, urgency and confusion about the scope of the situation,” she said. “In response, District 126 has been proactive in providing education and support to families, faculty and staff.”
Moreno said District 126, “will not support actions that disrupt the learning environment or create fear for students based on immigration status.” Administrators, teachers and staff have received training on protocols pertaining to ICE.
Donelle Staples, the director of communications and strategic initiatives for Zion Elementary School District 6, said in an email that no concerns have been expressed about fears of students at bus stops pertaining to ICE. Immigration status is not a question asked of any District 6 families.
Sarah LeBlanc, the communications coordinator for Round Lake Area School District 116, said in an email that so far there has been no evidence of ICE detaining people around any of the district’s schools. Families received updated information on dealing with potential ICE issues last month.