San Bernardino City School Passes Safe Haven Resolution

08Feb
by Leticia Chavez-Garcia

Note from La Comadre:

Since San Bernardino City Unified School District passed its resolution to protect its students from President Trump’s policies, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson has again encouraged educational leaders throughout the state to declare their districts ‘safe zones’ to protect immigrant children and to welcome diversity.

On Tuesday, January 10th, 2017, the San Bernardino City Unified School District unanimously passed the Safe Zone for Students and Families Resolution, which cements the district’s commitment to protect its students not only in regards to immigration raids and deportations, but also includes a clause to include religious and sexual identity protection.  

The resolution was meant as a gesture by the district to help ease the stress of students and parents who have expressed concerns over the looming policies of the President Trump as well as include students from the LGBTQ community and Muslim students who expressed fear due to an uptick in violence across the nation. San Bernardino schools serve a diverse population with the majority of its students identified as Latinos.

Board members discussed a Resolution and then voted on the matter with the Resolution passing with a 7-0 vote. The Resolution can be viewed here.

The spirit of the Resolution can be summed up by a portion of what is in it:

Basically it says that the board of education is “committed to the success of all students irrespective of their immigration status, ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, ability, sex and gender identity, socioeconomic status, or beliefs.”

Then further states, “The board of education declares that every district site is a safe place for all students and their families and encourages the superintendent to increase and enhance partnerships with community-based organizations and legal services organizations who provide resources for families facing deportation,” the resolution continues. “Every district site is a safe place for all students including those of diverse ethnic and religious traditions.”

So then why did The San Bernardino Sun, our local paper, report it like this?

“San Bernardino City Unified board to vote on becoming sanctuary district”

Wait!  What?  What just happened here? The shameful way that the local community paper twisted this very important and very responsible action by the San Bernardino Board of Education is completely unacceptable. Welcome to the Inland Empire!

I spoke to Board Member Abigail Medina after the vote, and she was very excited about the opportunity to pass an accompanying policy that would enhance this resolution and make it a policy to protect kids. Let’s see how the media flips that one!

 

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Leticia Chavez-Garcia

Leticia Chavez-Garcia is a Mother, Grandmother, former Middle School Teacher, former Member of a School Board of Education and an Education Advocate for hundreds of parents and students in the Inland Empire. Having become a mother at 15, Leticia knows what it’s like to be a single mother trying to navigate the education system. Leticia received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science and Public Administration from California Baptist University and a Masters’ Degree in Education Technology from Cal State Fullerton in her 30’s. Leticia has used her knowledge and experience to help hundreds of families as an Education Advocate in the Inland Empire and currently works as an Education Specialist.

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