While concerns over immigration actions were brought up at the Seneca Valley School board meeting this week, school officials in Butler County say there is policy in place for dealing with law enforcement approaching the schools.

One Seneca Valley parent, Serenity Vincent, said at the board’s Feb. 3 meeting that there were other parents in the district who have expressed concern over how the district would respond if Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers showed up to Seneca Valley schools.

Seneca Valley School District, which contains eight school buildings with 7,440 students total. The district encompasses Cranberry Township, where ICE agents have visited Mexican restaurants and an apartment complex, as of Feb. 2, according to a district judge’s office.

Seneca Valley officials said in a statement that officers cannot access the schools without district permission. The district said that if presented with a warrant, the solicitor would review its validity and “advise on next steps.”

“Our top priority is always the safety and well-being of all students, ensuring they can learn without fear or disruption. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is no different than any other outside police agency. As such, we have and will follow our board Policy 225, Relations with Law Enforcement/Department of Welfare,” the district told the Butler Eagle.

Seneca Valley also said its school principals have been trained and “are prepared should any outside law enforcement agency come to our buildings.”

In Butler County, school districts range from rural to suburban, and vary widely when it comes to how many students they serve.

But other districts have also stated that district policy says any school interaction with any form of law enforcement follows a consistent process.

Brian White, superintendent of Butler Area School District, said that he has not been aware of any contact between immigration forces and anyone within the school district. He said he doesn’t even know if the school has students that ICE would be looking for. But school policy, regardless of what agency shows up, remains the same. The district will make efforts to verify paperwork.

“We have a school board policy that dictates our relationship with law enforcement. If they show up, they need a warrant. I can’t just give up a student,” White said. “They need to show a badge. We would need to check in with the police department. If someone came to arrest a student, we’d have to verify and look at their documentation, and we’d have the solicitor review that.”

“Our policy states that we make an attempt to call home when law enforcement shows up,” White added.

Eric Ritzert, Karns City Area School District superintendent, said that while he doesn’t necessarily expect this to become an issue at his district, the district will follow its policy on cooperation with law enforcement and its desire to make students feel comfortable and treated appropriately.

“Policy 225 provides guidance on how the school district works with police,” Ritzert said. “We would adhere to policy and make sure students are respected.”

Policy 225 comes from state law, and outlines relations between schools and law enforcement agencies. The policy says when police request permission to interrogate a student, the principal informs the superintendent, and attempts to inform the student’s parents. In the case of an arrest, the principal informs the superintendent, attempts to tell the parents, and requests and inspects the warrant.

Meanwhile, Vincent implied to the board that a group of parents have already retained an attorney in case ICE shows up on Seneca Valley’s campus. Another gathering of parents have made plans to “park themselves just off campus at the (Interstate) 79 off-ramps during school hours with their binoculars,” to monitor if federal agents approach campus.