October 25, 2017: Santa Clarita Valley STF students urged administrators in the William S. Hart Union High School District to protect the human rights of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program recipients on their campuses. Leaders from Academy of the Canyons, Canyon, Golden Valley and Valencia high schools asked district officials to: 1.) Draft an official statement of district policy to protect undocumented children raised in the U.S.; 2.) Write a letter to parents assuring the protection of all students from interview or detention by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials on school sites; and 3.) Provide counseling resources for students encountering anxiety or depression due to fears of deportation.
After the meeting, District Superintendent Vicki Engbrecht said she was very impressed with the students and that she learned a lot about DACA. Most importantly, she said that the Administrative Council of the Hart District would revisit the DACA topic and discuss further possible action by the district. With the help of Greg Lee, Director of Equity Services, STF leaders will continue to encourage their school administrators to stand up for undocumented youth in their communities.
