Educators in the Woodburn School District have proposed adding specific protections into their employment contract to address interactions with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The move comes after a series of immigration arrests in the area, including one involving a parent from the district, raised concerns among staff, students, and families.
The Woodburn Education Association, the union representing over 300 teachers, presented the new contract article during a negotiation session. The proposal aims to formalize procedures for school personnel if federal immigration officers arrive on campus, seeking to create clear guidelines for protecting both students and staff.
Key Takeaways
- The Woodburn teachers' union has formally proposed a new contract article titled “Immigration – Safety & Related Protections.”
- This proposal was prompted by recent ICE operations in the Willamette Valley, which have directly impacted the school community.
- The new rules would define how staff should interact with immigration officers and add protections for employee leave and privacy.
- The district has a student population that is 87% Latino or Hispanic, and the community has expressed significant fear over immigration enforcement.
A Response to Community Fear
The push for contractual protections follows a recent incident where a parent of a Woodburn student was detained at their home in what Superintendent Juan Larios described as a targeted ICE operation. In a message to staff, Larios acknowledged the potential for future events and reaffirmed the district's commitment to its diverse community.
Tony Salm, president of the Woodburn Education Association, explained that the impact is being felt directly in the classroom. “One of my students said, ‘I saw this happen,’” Salm stated, referring to witnessing an arrest in their neighborhood. This firsthand experience highlights the daily anxiety faced by many students.
The situation in Woodburn is not isolated. Across western Oregon, reports of increased immigration arrests have surfaced. In Portland, educators reported that some families were too afraid to send their children to school after parents were detained. Similar events in Salem and Wilsonville have prompted school districts to review and reinforce their safety protocols.
Demographics of the Woodburn School District
The Woodburn community has a large immigrant population. According to district data, approximately 87% of its 5,200 students identify as Latino or Hispanic. Additionally, about 42% of the district's staff share this background. These demographics underscore the community's heightened sensitivity to federal immigration policies and enforcement actions.
Details of the Proposed Contract Language
On Thursday night, the teachers' union presented the new article during a bargaining session attended by dozens of supporters. The proposal, titled “Immigration – Safety & Related Protections,” aims to turn a previously passed school board resolution into binding contractual obligations.
The proposed language includes several key components:
- Specific roles for staff: It outlines clear steps for district employees and union members to follow if immigration officers arrive on school property.
- Protocols for interaction: The article details how any engagement with federal agents should be conducted to ensure student and staff safety.
- Employee protections: It includes provisions related to educator leave, privacy, confidentiality, and safeguards against retaliation for upholding the policy.
“We believe that having stated specific means of protecting our students and our families from these types of actions is very important,” said Tony Salm. He noted that the union was inspired by similar protective measures taken by educators in other major cities like Los Angeles and Chicago.
The union also emphasized the importance of protecting Woodburn's status as a pioneering dual-language district, offering programs in Spanish and Russian. Salm argued that strengthening these programs is crucial in a national climate where multiculturalism is facing challenges.
Change in Federal Policy
Earlier in the year, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security rescinded previous guidelines that discouraged immigration arrests at sensitive locations, which included schools, places of worship, and hospitals. This policy change has contributed to increased anxiety in immigrant communities nationwide.
District and State-Level Support
While the school district's bargaining team did not immediately comment on the specifics of the proposal, Superintendent Larios has verbally supported the union's goals. He also reiterated the district's adherence to Oregon's existing “sanctuary state” laws.
These state laws prohibit public resources, including school staff and facilities, from being used to assist with federal immigration enforcement. Larios reminded staff that under these protections:
- Immigration officials are not permitted on school grounds beyond the main office without a judicial order.
- The district does not collect or store information about a student's immigration status.
- Student records are protected by federal and state law and will not be released without a judicial subpoena.
The effort in Woodburn has drawn support from the statewide teachers' union. Enrique Farrera, president of the Oregon Education Association, attended the bargaining session to show solidarity. “Everybody should feel welcome to come to the classroom... and learn,” Farrera said. “When we have attacks by the federal government and troops and ICE raids… that is an environment that’s disrupting learning conditions.”
Next Steps in Negotiations
The proposal marks the beginning of a formal negotiation process over the new article. The previous spring, the Woodburn school board initially rejected a symbolic “safe and welcoming schools” resolution, only to pass it later after significant community pressure. The union's new proposal seeks to make such protections a concrete and enforceable part of their contract.
The school district is expected to review the proposed language and provide its response, including any edits or counter-proposals, at the next scheduled bargaining session on October 30. The timeline for finalizing the article and the overall contract remains undetermined as negotiations continue.
