In his comments prior to the board's vote, trustee Paul Saldaña spoke of a student in the AISD community who lives in fear of raids from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.
"Every morning she volunteers to be the lookout in the front of her house, out the window, while the rest of her family enjoys breakfast to make sure the coast is clear," Saldaña said. "That is the exact fear and anxiety that many folks in our community are facing. No child in our community should have to endure that."
Trustee Jayme Mathias thanked his fellow board members for standing in solidarity with immigrant students and their families.
"I am so #AISDproud this evening that we are choosing as a district to be a light, to be a light and to stand on the side of our immigrant students and employees and families in proclaiming our schools to be places where we want all students, employees and families to feel safe." he said.
The board's special session followed a press conference given by Superintendent Paul Cruz earlier this evening during which he assured the public that AISD would continue to "educate all students," as is its mission and its requirement by law.
The full text of the resolution is as follows:
WHEREAS, the Austin Independent School District is committed to ensuring that every student
develops the enduring knowledge, skills and character to thrive in a changing world; and,
WHEREAS, it is AISD’s commitment to our community that our
schools will create a safe and
caring learning environment so as to foster a culture of trust and respect; and,
WHEREAS, AISD has demonstrated this commitment for years by investing in Social and
Emotional Learning strategies, No Place for Hate, campus-based behavioral health centers, and
other similar programs on our school campuses; and,
WHEREAS, AISD’s Strategic Plan states that we hold as core beliefs that we will create a positive
organizational culture that values customer service and every employee; engage authentically
with students, parents/guardians, teachers, and community; develop and maintain community
partnerships; and that we value Whole Child, Every Child; physical, social and emotional health,
and safety; equity, diversity, and inclusion; and,
WHEREAS, AISD policy FFH (LOCAL), prohibits any acts of discrimination, including harassment,
based on race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expressions, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, or any other basis prohibited by law; and,
WHEREAS, under the 1982 United States Supreme Court ruling (Plyler v. Doe, 457 U.S. 202), all
children are entitled to a public education regardless of their immigration status or the status of
their parents; and,
WHEREAS, every student should go to school to safely learn and engage with their teachers and
classmates; and,
WHEREAS, we want our community to feel that schools and classrooms are safe, welcoming
and inclusive places for all students and all families, regardless of their immigration status;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Austin Independent School District will strive to
create the safest possible environments for its students and employees, providing them
the foundation needed to learn, thrive, seek assistance and information, and reach each child’s
potential in an education-focused environment, free of insecurity and fear, for all its employees,
students and their families, regardless of immigration status.
