On Sunday, March 26, residents gathered at St. Catherine Church in Morgan Hill to receive educational information about immigrant rights. Morgan Hill Unified School District Superintendent Steve Betando was asked to speak about the district’s stance on the national immigration discussion and what MHUSD is doing to help students and families. Here is a portion of that speech, which can be read in its entirety on mhusd.org.
<
Our community and our schools are rich, not because of money or property, but because of the diversity and differences that we all have. We are here to support one another in a commitment to protect all people from discrimination and other forms of mistreatment.
<
My job here is to tell you that I, and the Morgan Hill Unified School District Board of Trustees, support all of our children. We also support those who support our children. Students deserve a fighting chance at academic success regardless of their religion, race or legal status.
<
I believe that students best achieve when they can learn without fear—without fear of someone entering campus to take them away, without fear of coming to school feeling that it could be the last time they might see their mother or father… and without fear when another child or some stranger says to them that they must leave the country or are not welcome because of who they are.
<
To allow the deportation of students and the revoking of visas for our talented community members, including our teachers, would be a devastating loss. Such contributing adults have given and will continue to give so much back to our community. Together, we make up the rich character of Morgan Hill.
<
There are Supreme Court cases that guarantee the right for our students to have a free and public education in our school system. When children come to our schools, they are coming to a safe place that values and celebrates the heritage of each person. We will protect immigrant rights in our schools.
<
We are placing immigrant rights information materials at all of the Morgan Hill schools, in the front offices as Immigration Resource Centers. The centers will include information about immigrant rights, how to get noticed of news of ICE action, preparation materials, and legal resources.
<
I am making it clear that we never ask for a child’s legal status, and never ask the status of a parent or other family members. We will not turn over any of our students to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and will do everything we can legally do to protect them while on our campuses.
<
On Jan. 17, the Governing Board passed a resolution declaring our schools Safe Places for All. MHUSD does not tolerate any form of discrimination, harassment or bullying. We believe that this safe and inviting environment would be disrupted by the presence of the ICE employees, Therefore, the board established by this resolution that ICE agents are not allowed on school sites, facilities or material property without the prior written approval from the superintendent.
<
We need all of our students’ parents to participate in their children’s education. Our campuses are safe zones for our parent volunteers.
