In my last post, Cold As Ice, I reported on a memo sent to my school district’s principals about what to do if Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents showed up at the door. At Tuesday’s February 4th Board meeting, the General Counsel who issued the memo, Ray Poole, Esq., gave an explanation for why he took that action.

The link to his explanation is below.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19vfFJgS48

“If the federal government were to perceive a school district as being obstructionist and not cooperating with federal enforcement efforts…the receipt of federal funds is tied to compliance,” Poole said. “If we don’t comply, or if someone in D.C. says, ‘I don’t think you’re complying,’ you can lose federal money — which pays for an awful lot here.” –from Jax Today, a local newsletter from WJCT, the public broadcasting TV & Radio outlet

Oh, that explains everything. It’s all about the money.

Not what’s best for students. Not about preserving the rights of immigrant children as the courts have ruled. Not about protecting students.

It’s about protecting the money.

Never mind that the Trump administration has no authority to withhold funds from state and local educational agencies if Congress has appropriated it.

Protect the money at all costs. That’s not a joke although it does sound funny as I say it.

The time is long past when this school board would take a principled stand on an issue if they ever did.

Ray Poole refers to reading guidance from many places like hospitals and it aligns with his before making an equivalency argument that giving ICE agents free access to school property is the same as having a resident School Resource Officer.

For such a wide-read man, he seems to be ignorant of what is really taking place in Washington. All that money he’s protecting that flows from the Department of Education …

Come Monday, there may be no Department of Education as it is the next target on the Doge-man’s list. If he follows his existing practice, he will sic his team on the Department late Friday afternoon after the federal workers have left for the weekend.

In that case, Ray Poole will be left holding the bag, an empty one at that.

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The story goes on. Read Update #2 for the policies six Central Florida school districts have issued to their schools and employees.