Dear NKN Community,

Amid complex national conversations about immigration enforcement, our shared values support our steadfast commitment to supporting every student we serve. There are a number of existing laws, practices, and polices that reaffirm our commitment to keeping our students safe. Oregon is a sanctuary state, a distinction that comes with legal protections and responsibilities. Public employees, including school district staff, are prohibited by law from assisting in federal immigration enforcement. This ensures that our schools remain focused solely on providing education and support to all students, regardless of their citizenship status. The Neah-Kah-Nie School District is unwavering in its commitment to providing a first class education to every student. To this end, our district policies (KN series) reflect these key commitments:

1. Prohibition on Aiding Immigration Enforcement

Oregon law (ORS 181A.826) prohibits public employees from participating in federal immigration enforcement. Our district fully upholds this legal standard.

2. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of student education records and restricts the sharing of personally identifiable information without parental consent. This includes data that could reveal a student’s immigration status.

3. Protection of Students

Our policies prevent students from being released to law enforcement, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), without explicit parental permission or a judicial arrest warrant. Each building has explicit instructions to notify me if immigration enforcement officials arrive on our campus. I will be the only school employee permitted to communicate with immigration officials. I, along with legal counsel, will ensure laws are followed and our students remain safe. 

4. Commitment to Safety

We provide training, resources, and transparent communication to staff and volunteers to uphold a secure and welcoming environment.

We are working with our County school districts to prepare a packet of resources for our immigrant families. We have reached out to each of our immigrant families and reaffirmed their students’ safety at school and on buses is our top priority.

If you have questions or need additional answers, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you for your partnership and trust,

Dr. Tyler Reed

Superintendent