BALDWIN PARK – Baldwin Park Unified School District is committed to the success of all students regardless of their immigration status, ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, ability, sex and gender identity, socio-economic status or beliefs by declaring all school sites and facilities as safe zones.

Baldwin Park Unified’s Board of Education on Oct. 10 unanimously adopted a District resolution that pledges to ensure a safe educational environment for all students by reminding families about laws that protect them and their students’ records from questions about immigration status.

“The Board of Education and the District are here to ensure that our students learn and we will do whatever it takes to make sure our children receive the best education in a safe and supportive learning environment,” Baldwin Park Unified Dr. Froilan N. Mendoza said. “I have heard firsthand the experiences and concerns of the parents in our community and, as a District, we will maintain a welcoming environment for all students and their families.”

Baldwin Park Unified’s Board of Education decided to declare all District schools as safe zones after receiving numerous reports from students, families and staff who were concerned about deportation. The concerns grew out of intolerant rhetoric made over the course of the national presidential election of 2016 and the recent decisions at the Federal level to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

The resolution includes promoting tolerance and acceptance over hate speech, restricting the sharing of student files that may be used to determine the legal status of students and maintaining that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shall not be allowed to enter District properties without proper legal written authority.

“School should be a place where, regardless of what else is happening in the world, students feel safe,” BPUSD Board President Christina Lucero said. “Our top priority is to educate.”