Heartfelt recommendations from Canton Community Mutual Aid Coalition

By Guest

Dear Canton Citizen Readers:

Recently, in response to heightened concerns raised, including experiences of families and students in the district, Canton residents met to better understand the impact of current federal policy and the role of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in carrying it out in order to help ensure community safety and well-being.

To that end, the overall goal of the discussion was to identify and prioritize needs and to coordinate resources and information to members of our town and immigrant neighbors. Additionally, we learned of related safety guidance on the matter promulgated by the Police Chief’s Advisory to all Massachusetts police chiefs, which states: “Local police have no supervisory authority over federal agents, including ICE. However, if any individual, including a federal agent, commits a clear and articulable violation of Massachusetts criminal law, and a local officer has lawful jurisdiction and probable cause, local police may investigate or respond, as they would with any other individual.”

Based on what we learned, on February 10, the group sent the following letter to Canton’s Superintendent of Schools, the Canton School Committee, Select Board, Police Chief, and the Director of Elder & Human Services under the banner of “Canton Community Mutual Aid Coalition.” The letter was also sent to the principals of Canton High School and the Galvin Middle School.

Dear Superintendent Folan,

As we are all painfully aware, this has been a devastating and stressful time for immigrant families in our town, state and country. I was impressed to learn that you sent a deeply thoughtful message to all staff last week to help ensure that Canton Public Schools are a safe, welcoming environment for all students.

Given current federal policy and the role of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in carrying it out, many Canton residents want to help ensure community safety and wellbeing. A group of Canton community members met recently to see how we can better understand and meet the needs of our immigrant neighbors. We have become aware of some possible experiences and concerns of students that could impact equal access to public education. Some of those concerns include:

* Absenteeism based on fears of ICE raids at school or at the bus stop.

* Attendance (participation and performance) affected by food and housing insecurity due to impacts of (threatened) federal policies and/or related fear of leaving one’s home.

* Incidents of inappropriate hallway remarks directed at immigrant students, such as exclaiming “ICE!”.

The Canton Community Mutual Aid Coalition has three heartfelt recommendations:

* Email all parents a statement (this could also be added to our town website.) The statement can convey your important message and inform Canton residents that the Canton Public Schools, in conjunction with our Community Resource Officers, shall act in accordance with AG Guidance and Executive Order to work exhaustively to ensure the safety and protection of all students and their right to equal access to education.

* Schedule and convene an assembly for CHS students to educate the CHS learning community on how students and staff can help make a safe and welcoming learning environment in these particularly challenging times. This can include a discussion of what kind of comments are unacceptable along with a review of our rights to equal access to education and constitutional rights, particularly as it relates to the current moment.

* Make resources/links publicly available to the Canton Helpline Food Pantry and Elder and Human Services to support families in need.

Thank you, Superintendent Folan, for the opportunity to allow us to provide suggestions on how we can all stand beside our students and families during this uncertain time.

With care and solidarity,

Dorian Kotsiopoulos, on behalf of Canton Community Mutual Aid Coalition

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