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Buckingham County Public Schools sent out a note last week, on social media and through email. Soon after, The Herald started getting email messages from parents, asking what caused it. Some said it raised concerns, but they didn’t feel comfortable going on record with those worries right now. District staff, meanwhile, say it was meant to reassure the community and answer questions, not cause them. 

The note says that “Buckingham County Public Schools (BCPS) remains committed to providing a secure and structured learning environment for all students. While national conversations about immigration policies continue, our school division’s policies and procedures have not changed. At BCPS, we uphold the law, ensuring that all students receive an education, as required by the Supreme Court’s 1982 ruling.”

The district’s statement says its primary responsibility is to focus on education and the well-being of students, allowing them to learn without unnecessary disruption. That part isn’t what worried some parents. It was the next round of key points that triggered the emails. 

“BCPS follows all federal and state laws regarding student access to education,” the statement said. “Schools do not inquire about immigration status and do not share confidential student records without legal justification. BCPS will continue to cooperate with law enforcement agencies while ensuring adherence to due process and legal protections.”

The note also stated that any requests for law enforcement access to school facilities, including from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) “will be carefully reviewed to ensure compliance with established legal procedures. Our role as a school division is to educate and prepare students for success. BCPS remains dedicated to upholding the law, maintaining order, and ensuring that our schools remain a safe, productive place for learning.” 

Nothing changes for Buckingham County Public Schools

The announcement came as ICE officials have been conducting immigration raids throughout the country, arresting and deporting undocumented residents. Buckingham officials said those raids and the discussions surrounding them, made it seem like an important time to release information, but no one case caused this. 

“There was no specific incident that triggered this message,” said Melissa Hanes. She works as Director of Student Services for Buckingham County Public Schools. “Buckingham County Public Schools wanted to be proactive in reassuring our families and community that our policies and procedures remain unchanged. Given the ongoing national discussions surrounding immigration policies, we felt it was important to reaffirm our commitment to providing a safe and structured learning environment for all students.”

Hanes said that the district’s focus hasn’t changed in any way. 

“Our focus remains on education, and we want families to feel confident that BCPS will continue to uphold the law while ensuring a supportive environment for all learners,” Hanes said.