The discussion on immigration enforcement protocols was a key topic. The committee reviewed procedures designed to address encounters with immigration enforcement agencies within school premises. These procedures, developed in collaboration with school administrators, aim to educate front office staff on appropriate responses if immigration enforcement seeks access to students or records. The protocols underscore that while schools are public entities, access by immigration enforcement requires proper legal authority, distinguishing agency warrants from judicial warrants under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The superintendent stressed the importance of schools as safe havens, emphasizing, “Nobody wins by keeping kids out of school.”

The committee also received two documents regarding immigration enforcement in schools—a policy and a resolution from national organizations. The policy, intended for further discussion in a subcommittee, aims to formalize existing procedures to ensure consistency despite administrative changes. The resolution was seen as a public affirmation of the school’s stance on immigration enforcement, though concerns about its relevance to the local context were noted, prompting calls for revisions.

Training front office staff was deemed critical, especially given the potential rapid developments related to immigration enforcement. The superintendent noted that no recent ICE raids had occurred in area schools, but stressed the importance of preparedness. The committee agreed to draft a policy providing a framework for handling immigration enforcement inquiries and to prepare the resolution for future consideration.

Simultaneously, the meeting addressed the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The level service budget, primarily allocated for wages, included only minimal funds for non-wage accounts. Concerns were raised about the reliability of rural aid from the governor’s budget, with committee members expressing skepticism about its consistency. The committee discussed using current year funds to cover next year’s expenses, avoiding dependency on potentially unstable revenue sources.

The budget proposal also included allocations for musical instrument replacement and playground maintenance, with a total proposed increase of approximately 3.59% over the previous year. The committee considered potential savings from unplanned leaves of absence, which could provide a buffer for expenditures without increasing the budget. However, the uncertainty of such savings was acknowledged, as no leaves were anticipated next year. The committee was reminded of the upcoming public hearing scheduled for March 5th and the school committee vote on March 20th.

School choice remained a central issue, particularly in light of its impact on class sizes and budget considerations. The committee faced a decision regarding the number of school choice students to accept, with a particular focus on the kindergarten class. The possibility of having a single section for kindergarten raised concerns about disrupting teaching staff and managing class sizes effectively.

The committee weighed options, including maintaining one classroom with no school choice admissions or creating two classrooms to accommodate additional school choice students. The latter option was seen as beneficial for managing student needs, including addressing interpersonal issues among students. The superintendent noted, “If we didn’t have school choice, our resident numbers are high enough that you would still need two sections in every grade level,” underscoring the reliance on school choice revenue to maintain staffing levels and avoid program cuts.

The committee also examined the dynamics of school choice in relation to neighboring districts, most of which have reached capacity for school choice students. This positions Deerfield favorably in attracting students from nearby areas. The committee aimed to expedite decision-making on school choice to provide clarity for families, proposing a decision by March 15th. A motion was put forward to select an option that proposed accepting school choice students while maintaining two classes in kindergarten.