Public commenters urge stronger school-safety measures and a resolution to limit ICE contact

Two members of the public addressed the Royal Oak Schools Board during the Jan. 9 citizen comment period urging the district to take stronger steps on school safety and to adopt protections for immigrant students and families.

Michael Worcester said national figures for 2024 show hundreds of active-shooter incidents in K–12 schools and urged the district to include specific actions for locating guns intentionally brought onto school property in the June 12 safety presentation. He also praised prior investments in mental-health professionals and asked the board not to remain passive on preventing firearms on district property.

Laura Sayan asked the board to consider adopting a formal resolution modeled on the Chicago Board of Education’s November 2024 action, asking the district to affirm protections for students of diverse immigrant statuses, gender identities and sexual orientations. Sayan asked the district to provide training and support in multiple languages, list local resources for legal and mental-health help and to establish a policy that school staff will not assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or allow ICE to interact with families or staff unless provided a criminal warrant.

Board response: Trustees did not take action during the meeting; the superintendent’s office indicated written communications are received and that questions raised during public comment are referred to the superintendent or designee for review and possible future response.

Ending: No board motion or formal resolution on the requests was introduced during the meeting; public commenters said they would share a copy of the Chicago resolution with the district.