Sarah Coffey, new Western Springs superintendent, says she won't cooperate with federal agents looking to arrest criminal illegal aliens. | WS 101
Sarah Coffey, new Western Springs superintendent, says she won't cooperate with federal agents looking to arrest criminal illegal aliens. | WS 101
The superintendent of Western Springs School District 101 says she won't cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents she fears could soon come to the district's three elementary schools and one junior high.
Sarah Coffey sent what she called "an unexpected Friday update" to school staff calling attention to "the recent shift in leadership (that) has brought a wave of executive orders... that deal with immigration status."
"The admin team and I are finalizing practical guidance to share with all of our main office folks in the event that we have an unexpected visit from an ICE agent," she wrote. "If an ICE agent requests to enforce an immigration matter on school grounds, please contact your Principal (or me) immediately. You should not release any student or student information to them."
"If any District employee learns that a student's parent or guardian has been detained by ICE, inform your Principal, and we will work together to report the matter to DCFS," Coffey wrote.
Coffey also warned teachers to be "especially aware" of students who might express support for President Donald J. Trump's enforcment of federal immigration laws.
"Sometimes students like to parrot or talk about the sound bites they hear on TV or social media without fully understanding the impact," she wrote. "Please be especially aware of student conversations or comments that may cause others anxiety or be insensitive."
Coffey, 47, became District 101 superintendent last July, replacing Brian Barnhart, who retired. Her salary is $223,835, according to district records.
Coffey, a native of downstate Olney, Illinois who now lives in Elmhurst, lists her "pronouns" in emails as "she/her/hers." She has worked in District 101 as a teacher, assistant principal and principal since her graduation from University of Illinois in 1999.
Western Springs School District 101 has 1,426 students. According to the Illinois State Board of Education, 88 percent are white, seven percent are Hispanic, and one percent are Asian.
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