Emergency Guidance (ICE)

1. All media questions or inquiries sent via email or by phone are to be directed to Dr. Stacy Hodoh, Director of Strategic Communications, Media, and Community Relations and Outreach (shodoh@apsleans.org) and Joanne Isaac, Assistant Director of Communications (jisaac@apslearns.org).  
2. Please refrain from engaging in communications around the merit of the policy.  
3. Please do not communicate with the media unless cleared by Dr. Hodoh or Ms. Joanne Isaac. 
4. Please do not share information regarding a student.

If an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Officer/other law enforcement agent (“Agents”)  comes to the school:

1. Require the person to sign in and follow the school visitor policy.
2. Request ID/business cards in order to notify the building administrator.
3. Contact the building administrator (confidentiality).
   1. Contact the APS Safety & Security Services @ 330-761-2735 for Officer Good or Alan Jones (330-761-2735). 
   2. Contact your immediate supervisor or another Executive Director of Schools. 
   3. Alan Jones will notify Heidi Muica, Legal Secretary @ 330-761-2991, who will call Legal. 
4. Take the government official to a confidential space in or near the main office.
5. The building administrator should ask the government official the following questions: 
   1. Which agency are you with? 
   2. What is your name and badge/ID number? 
   3. What is the purpose of your visit? 
   4. Do you have a warrant or a court order? 
      1. If they DO have a warrant or court order, Request the physical copy of ID and warrant or court order from the government official and make copies or take clear photos. This should include:
         • Government official’s identification.
         • Any warrants or subpoenas. 
      2. If they DO NOT have a warrant or court order, ask the government official to leave and to contact Legal with any questions. 
         • Email Heidi Muica, Legal Secretary, hmuica@apslearns.org, Alan Jones, Director of Safety and Security, ajones@apslearns.org, and Wanda Lash, Director of Family and Student Services, wlash@apslearns.org, Angela Carter, Chief of Staff, aharper@apslearns.org. 
6. Document the interaction.
   1. Use an interpreter, if needed, to help communicate with the scholar. For translation services, contact the ESL Dept. at (330) 761-7974 or (330) 761-3114.
   2. Email Heidi Muica, Legal Secretary, hmuica@apslearns.org, Alan Jones, Director of Safety and Security, ajones@apslearns.org, and Wanda Lash, Director of Family and Student Services, wlash@apslearns.org, Angela Carter, Chief of Staff, aharper@apslearns.org.

• Remain calm and professional.
• No school personnel should disclose any information regarding the student or family in the absence of legal advice. For the safety of the student and the family, confidentiality must be strictly maintained.
• Family and/or emergency contact should be contacted immediately after legal advice is obtained.
• Do not physically impede, interfere with, or obstruct a government official in performing their duties. 
• If the government official does not comply with APS process, the Executive Director should notify Legal Secretary, Heidi Muica, Ella Jenkins, Safety and Security Secretary, and the Director of Safety and Security, Alan Jones, immediately.
• Do not allow officials to enter classrooms or other restricted areas without a warrant.
• Do not provide officials with any student or staff information without a warrant.

APS-owned buses are considered school property and school guidelines apply, however, bus stops are considered public places.   

If ICE comes to the bus stop in the morning:

• Remain calm and professional.
• If the student is already on the bus, the bus driver should follow his/her normal route and deliver the student to school.
  • The bus driver should radio dispatch and inform transportation that ICE is there to detain student(s).
  • Transportation should contact the school and inform the building administrator.
  • The building administrator should meet the bus at the school, escort the student into the building, then follow office guidelines (on this document).  Additional personnel should be available to take all the children to a safe, secure space.  ICE should be taken to and remain in the office area.
• If the student is taken at the bus stop prior to getting on the bus in the morning as reported by students, parents, or other family members:
  • The bus driver will signal 911 on the radio dispatch.
  • The bus driver should radio dispatch with the name of the child and the estimated time of detainment if known.
  • Transportation should contact the building administrator.
  • The building administrator should contact a supervisor.
  • The family or emergency contact of the student(s) should be notified.

• If a student goes home to find the family unexplainably absent and returns to school:
  • Attempt to contact the parent/guardian at least 3 times.
  • Attempt to contact emergency contacts.
  • If at least 3 attempts to contact the family within a reasonable amount of time or if information is received regarding the family that causes concern the family may be experiencing an emergency:
    • Notify immediate supervisor.
    • Contact the APS Safety & Security Services @ 330-761-2735 for Officer Good or Alan Jones.   
    • Contact Summit County Child and Family Services.  As an employee of APS, you are a mandated reporter.
• If a family or community member notifies the school that the family unit is unavailable due to an emergency: 
  • Attempt to contact the family per procedure
  • Verify the person contacting the school is an authorized emergency contact or notify the authorized emergency contact
  • Contact the APS security desk for Officer Good or Alan Jones
  • Contact Summit County Child and Family Services depending on the nature and severity of the emergency.  As an employee of APS, you are a mandated reporter.

• Refer families to community resources to support changes in financial situation, food, toiletries, rent, gas, counseling, etc.).
  • International Institute of Akron: (330) 376-5106, iiakron.org.
  • Community Legal Aid Services: (800) 998-9454, communitylegalaid.org.
  • Summit County Children Services: (330) 379-9094, summitkids.org.
  • Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank: (330) 535-6900, akroncantonfoodbank.org.
  • Asian Services in Action: (330) 535-3263, https://www.asiaohio.org.

The plan aims to ensure the safety, well-being, and educational access of all students, regardless of immigration status, during any emergency, including immigration-related enforcement actions. This plan adheres to all applicable federal and state laws and district policies.

APS prioritizes student safety and well-being. Our existing policies already protect all students, regardless of immigration status, and ensure a safe learning environment. We have clear protocols for building access and law enforcement presence on school grounds, designed to minimize disruptions and protect student privacy. We work with legal counsel to stay informed of policy changes and maintain compliance. Our focus remains on providing a safe and welcoming environment where all students thrive.

APS has a comprehensive plan, developed in consultation with legal counsel, that aligns with federal and state laws, including FERPA and Plyler v. Doe. This plan includes procedures for staff to follow if government officials or ICE agents are present at a school, prioritizes the confidentiality of student records, and establishes protocols for releasing data only when legally required. We proactively engage with families, providing information about their rights and available resources, including translated materials. Staff training emphasizes student rights, confidentiality, and responding to immigration enforcement actions.

Our sole priority is to educate and support all students regardless of their immigration status.

While we regularly communicate with state and federal agencies on student well-being and best practices, we have not received specific guidance on immigration matters. Our focus is ensuring our policies comply with existing laws and court rulings, such as FERPA and Plyler v. Doe. We consult with legal counsel for updates and will adjust our policies as needed as more information becomes available from federal and state officials.

We actively collaborate with other districts, regionally and nationally, to share information and develop best practices. These collaborations focus on aligning our policies with federal and state laws. We work together to refine strategies for protecting student data, providing family resources, and training staff to meet the needs of our diverse student population.

Yes, absolutely. We actively seek feedback from our immigrant communities and all families to understand their needs and address their concerns. We use several methods, including:

• Regular meetings and involvement opportunities for families.
• Partnerships with community organizations serving immigrant populations.
• Translated materials and interpretation services.
• Multilingual surveys and feedback forms.
• Direct outreach and communication by staff.

We are committed to using this feedback to inform our policies and create a supportive and equitable educational experience for all students.

ICE agents can access the public areas of school property, such as parking lots, lobbies, and reception areas, just like any other member of the public.  These are areas generally open to visitors without restriction.  Preventing an ICE agent from accessing these public areas could be considered obstruction of their lawful duties.

School officials are not obligated to allow ICE agents into private areas of school property unless the agents have a judicial warrant authorizing their entry. Private areas are defined as any area where public access is typically restricted without explicit permission (i.e., school hallways and classrooms during school hours when students are present).

ICE agents are permitted to question students they encounter in public areas of school property, like parking lots, lobbies, or reception areas.  However, it's important to remember that anyone questioned by law enforcement, including ICE agents, has the right to remain silent and refuse to answer.

Because ICE agents are barred from private areas of a school without either permission from school officials or a judicial warrant, they would not have the opportunity to question students in those private areas.

Local school officials cannot be forced to participate in ICE enforcement activities, such as finding and detaining students for questioning.  Without a judicial warrant requiring them to present a student to ICE agents, school officials are not obligated to do so.

No school personnel should disclose any information regarding the student or family in the absence of legal advice from APS legal representatives. For the safety of the student and the family, confidentiality must be strictly maintained. Do not provide officials with any student or staff information without a warrant.

Unless there is a judicial warrant, there is no legal authority compelling a school district official to answer a question of an ICE Agent as to whether or not a specific student is located on school property.