GGUSD Board of Education Approves Safe and Welcoming Schools Resolution

Friday, February 24, 2017

At its February 21 meeting, the Garden Grove Unified School District (GGUSD) Board of Education unanimously approved Resolution No. 20 reaffirming its ongoing commitment to safe and welcoming schools.

The resolution cites the United States Supreme Court ruling that no public school shall deny access to education on the basis of immigration status, which is upheld by federal and state law. The resolution serves as an important reminder that GGUSD schools will continue to educate and support all students regardless of nation of origin or immigration status.

GGUSD serves a diverse population of nearly 45,000 students who speak more than 48 languages and represent a vast array of nations of origin.

“This resolution provides a reassurance to students and families and lets them know that the Garden Grove Unified School District is and always has been a safe place and a welcoming place for all of our students and their families,” said Walter Muneton, Board of Education trustee. “I want all of our students to know that we want them to attend school, every single day, to get the knowledge they need to become good and productive citizens of our great nation, and to go on to college and get good-paying jobs.”

According to the resolution, the district shall: 1) remain safe and welcoming places for students and families; 2) treat all students equitably in the receipt of all school services; 3) refer any families seeking assistance with questions related to their immigration status to community based or legal or organizations that provide resources for immigrant families.

“I want to send a personal message to our students that you matter and we care about you,” said Teri Rocco, Board of Education trustee. “In these moments of uncertainty and fear, you have to hope and believe that you have a brighter tomorrow. Remain resilient and united; we will get through this together. You are our beloved students and the primary focus of our vision, mission, and goals.”

“We take an oath of office to uphold the laws of California and the United States and the law is really clear. It says that from 7:00 in the morning to 3:00 in afternoon, there is no legal or illegal, documented or undocumented, there are just kids and our job is to keep those kids safe and our student records are off limits,” said Bob Harden, Board of Education vice president.

The resolution also instructs district staff to distribute copies of the document, translated in Spanish, Vietnamese, and Korean, to all school sites, the district’s parent leader organizations, and partner community organizations. The Parent and Community Outreach department will offer additional resources to families including parent workshops to keep the community informed of federal policy and its impact on education.