Herald-Tribune Executive Editor Mark J. Rochester correctly recognized that the passage of Sarasota County School Board Chair Bridget Ziegler’s resolution on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency matters more than you think (“Why ‘symbolic’ ICE resolution in Sarasota matters more than you think,” Jan. 24).
Why would our School Board want to pass a resolution supporting ICE’s potential visits to our schools, but not include a statement that ICE’s unconstitutional behavior will not be tolerated?
Ziegler’s resolution reassures the government, but it shows no support for families.
Courts have already deemed many of ICE’s enforcement strategies as unconstitutional, yet Ziegler’s resolution threatens district personnel and students if they don’t obey ICE.
Agreeing to this resolution has consequences for our school district, students, staff, parents and community.
We know that students will stop attending school.
Parents fear being stopped by ICE while bringing their kids to school or having them detained while sitting in classrooms.
Is this consequence intentional?
Will it create more unused seats to be grabbed by private charter schools for Schools of Hope?
An ICE presence will disrupt all students and cause emotional distress, negatively affecting their attendance, focus and academic performance.
School attendance is a factor considered in the state’s school funding formula – if attendance is down, Sarasota’s district schools will lose money.
Is this Ziegler’s intention?
Chronic absenteeism will significantly harm the Sarasota County Schools’ ratings by impacting student achievement measured by test scores and graduation.
Parents will look elsewhere for educating their children – perhaps opting for vouchers and private schools.
Is bringing down our ratings Ziegler’s intention?
Teachers are also affected.
They may feel conflicted about their roles, balancing their duty to educate with the need to protect vulnerable students. They may not teach as well or may leave the profession altogether.
Surely increased teacher shortages will be a consequence of this resolution.
Is this intentional?
The passage of Ziegler’s resolution will harm community-school relations, with fewer families trusting that educators have their best interests at heart.
Whether intentional or not, this will be a consequence.
Members of the School Board repeatedly claim they are pro-parent.
But those who voted for this resolution send a very different message.
It ignores the board’s responsibility to protect students; in fact, it tells parents that our schools will not be safe.
Following a February 2025 forum where board members and Schools Superintendent Terry Connor spoke, one local news headline read: “Sarasota Schools Prioritize Safety Amid ICE Enforcement.”
Clearly this is no longer true.
Three members of Sarasota’s school board have prioritized pleasing Florida’s current administration over protecting students.
Shame on them.
Jill Lewis-Spector, Ed.D., Sarasota
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Ziegler’s ICE resolution hurts Sarasota schools, students | Letters
Reporting by Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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