On Monday, the School Committee adopted a resolution which states that the Watertown Public Schools have a “strong commitment to protecting the rights of immigrant students and their families.”
The resolution also ensures certain protections including that the Watertown Public Schools (WPS) will not ask about immigration status, will not coordinate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); will not allow ICE agents on to WPS property without a criminal warrant from a federal judge, and will not share student records with ICE without parent, a guardian or a court order.
In addition, the resolution said, “WPS ensures that staff will only send students home with caregivers/family members or friends who have been approved by the child’s parent or guardian, and encourages parents and guardians to keep emergency contact information up-to-date by contacting their child’s school.”
The School Committee unanimously approved the resolution at the Jan. 26 meeting. See the whole resolution at the bottom of the story.
Superintendent Dede Galdston thanked the School Committee for passing a resolution, and said it comes at a time when the issue of immigration enforcement is at the forefront of many people’s minds.
“We’re here to support our immigrant families, all of our families. I want to say that because that’s important,” Galdston said. “I think right now, what we’re experiencing in the country is very unsettling for everybody, but certainly most importantly for our immigrant families. But I think all of us kind of feel, what do we do? What are we supposed to do?”
Galdston also thanked the School Committee for taking a stand on the issue.
“I completely am just so pleased that you have done this and that you’ve made this resolution, and I feel in the past what you have done in terms of resolutions makes everything easier for us moving forward, because it clearly states what you value and what’s important, and then it helps us to make sure that we’re doing what we need to do within the schools,” Galdston said.
School Committee member Lisa Capoccia said she hopes that the schools will follow up with immigrant families about the resolution, and provide translated information, as much as possible. She added that she would like the district to help families who may be afraid to send their children to school.
“Helping families develop family preparedness plans, and just being really informed about how this may be impacting their attendance and may be impacting their enrollments, so that we can make changes if need be,” Capoccia said. “And if we find that students are not coming to school because of family concerns, and that’s a legitimate concern, maybe we need to look at alternatives for how they’re getting their education for the time being.”
The idea of a School Committee resolution was raised by School Committee member Sheila Krishnan at the Jan. 12 meeting.
School Committee member Jessica Middlebrook said, “It’s wonderful that we have this, and I think it will be amazing for families to see this language out there, but the work is what matters most. So I want to make sure that we’re continuing to put all of these things in place and do our best by our immigrant families.”
School Committee member Rachel Kay added: “I also want to make the point that I am grateful to be working in a district where, while it’s great for us to signal that we support this and send out this resolution, I believe our district is doing the best it can by our students, and will continue to do so and is open to feedback. And I think I know it’s scary times for many families in our community, and I really appreciate that our schools are doing their best to be a safe place for our students.”
City Council President and School Committee member Mark Sideris said he strongly supported the resolution.
“I’m happy that we follow these protocols, even without a resolution, but I do think that this makes it even stronger, and I do appreciate that we do work very hard in support of everything that this resolution stands for,” Sideris said.
As others on the Committee had done, School Committee Chair Kendra Foley thanked Krishnan for her work on the resolution.
“Echoing what a number of people have said, thank you, Sheila, for initiating this,” Foley said. “I really appreciate your work on that. And what others have said, I wholeheartedly agree with the work that the district is doing is really important, and it makes a difference for our families.”
School Committee members also asked what steps the Watertown Schools have taken to help immigrant students and their families. Galdston said the district began taking steps months ago.
“Last year, immediately, we made sure that we purged all of our files of any kind of information that might tie to an immigration status or a nationality or some passports, birth certificates, things like that,” Galdston said.
Staff have also been trained for what to do if ICE agents show up at a school.
“So if you’re in the school, you should not be allowing people in from ICE,” Galdston said.
There are also teachers who have been trained, and have volunteered to stay with students at school, if necessary.
“Especially at the high school level, if we were to think that ICE was in the neighborhood, we have a network of teachers who know that they could stay all night if they are needed, to not let the student exit and be detained,” Galdston said.
The district also has partnered with the Rapid Response Network and other groups hold a monthly meeting with families of multi-language learners to provide information about immigrant rights, and provide support, said Assistant Superintendent Emilys Peña.
Resolution in Support of Immigrant Students and Families
January 26, 2026
WHEREAS, Watertown Public Schools (WPS) is committed to providing an inclusive, equitable, and safe learning environment for all students and caregivers/families, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or immigration status;
WHEREAS, WPS affirms the belief that every student has the right to access high-quality education in a safe environment that respects their dignity and rights;
WHEREAS, WPS prohibits discrimination and harassment based on protected classes;
WHEREAS, WPS maintains a strong commitment to protecting the rights of immigrant students and their families, and ensures the following protections:
- WPS does not ask for families’ immigration status.
- WPS will not coordinate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
- WPS will not allow ICE agents access to WPS facilities without a criminal judicial warrant signed by a federal judge.
- WPS will not share student records with ICE without parent/guardian consent or a court order issued by a judge.
WHEREAS, WPS ensures that staff will only send students home with caregivers/family members or friends who have been approved by the child’s parent or guardian, and encourages parents and guardians to keep emergency contact information up-to-date by contacting their child’s school;
WHEREAS, WPS principals and staff understand their roles and responsibilities regarding protecting and supporting our immigrant families;
WHEREAS, WPS is proud of our strong community collaborations with organizations that support immigrant families, and encourages families to reach out to their school’s family engagement facilitators, counselors, and social workers for any support;
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Watertown School Committee reaffirms its commitment to protecting the rights of all students, including immigrant students, and ensuring a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for all students and families in Watertown Public Schools.
This resolution shall be made publicly available and communicated to all WPS families, faculty, and staff.