Dear East Prairie families,
We know that many members of our community are feeling increased anxiety and concern regarding recent actions and changes in immigration enforcement policy. Our priority is—and always will be—to ensure that East Prairie remains a safe, welcoming, and protective environment for every student, family, and staff member. Please make sure that your emergency contacts are updated. We want to continue to clearly outline our commitment to you and share the resources available during this challenging time.
The Law and School Protocol
All students in the United States have the right to a free K-12 public education, regardless of their or their family’s immigration status. Our school is classified as a “sensitive location,” and our first priority is the well-being of your children.
What Happens If Immigration Officials Visit the School?
Our staff is committed to protecting the privacy and rights of all students. We continue to update staff on our current processes and procedures.
School officials will not grant access to school grounds or student information to immigration enforcement agents unless they present a valid judicial warrant signed by a federal judge.
Immigration administrative warrants (signed only by an enforcement officer) do not compel the school to allow entry or share student information.
We do not track or record a student's or family's immigration status.
Should enforcement activity be reported near the school during the school day, we will immediately activate our existing recess/PE safety plans. If activity is reported at dismissal time, we will strictly follow our centralized dismissal process to ensure the safe, controlled hand-off of every student. These distinct protocols reflect our continuous commitment to student, family, and staff safety.
Available Resources and Support
We consistently partner with families throughout the school year to provide connections to resources. We are now intensifying these efforts to ensure every family is supported.
Emotional and Mental Health Support
We understand this situation creates stress for both students and adults. Our school social work and related service teams are available for support.
For Students: Our social worker and psychologist are available to talk with students and address anxiety in a confidential and supportive setting.
Staff Contact: Please contact Mrs. Butera (abutera@eps73.net) or Dr. Schmeisser (hschmeisser@eps73.net) if you believe your child needs to speak with someone or you are interested in learning more about community partnerships to support emotional well-being during this time.
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): We are continuing to develop age-appropriate lessons to integrate into our morning meetings and dedicated SEL time. These resources empower our educators and students, providing them with the necessary tools to effectively understand and respond to complex and evolving situations.
Additional Resources: visit ISBE’s School Wellness/Mental Health webpage. It includes information about Beacon, which has resources available in several languages.
Financial and Community Resources
Connecting our families with financial resources and general support is an essential part of our partnership every school year. While we haven't noted an unusual surge in need yet this year, we are committed to being fully supportive. We can connect you with:
The Niles Township Food Pantry, Community Clothing Closet, and more.
Skokie Health and Human Services.
Utility and housing assistance programs through the Niles Township Government.
Legal aid and "Know Your Rights" resources available through our community partners.
Please contact Mr. Boule, Dr. Schmeisser, or our main office for a confidential referral.
Additional Resources and Information
Additional resources and information can be found on the Illinois Immigration Information Hub, a comprehensive website designed in partnership between leading immigrant-serving organizations and local and state government to empower immigrants with reliable immigration-related information and guidance. Among other resources, the site offers:
The Illinois Immigration Information Hub “Know Your Rights” Toolkit.
A comprehensive overview of free and low-cost immigration legal services.
A family emergency plan template, with step-by-step guidance.
Organizational preparedness resources for businesses and employers.
The true strength of our community is our collective care and willingness to act. We are here to support your child and family in every way we can. Please do not hesitate to reach out to any member of your child’s team if there is anything we can do to ensure their safety and well-being. We will continuously adapt and update our plans to meet the evolving needs of our families.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership.
