'Schools Are Protected': Salem Immigrant, LGBTQIA+ Student Fears Rise

SALEM, MA — Salem Superintendent Steve Zrike declared that "schools are protected locations" and that students should not be in fear of how evolving federal policies on immigration and transgender rights will affect them within the district as he said he is seeking further clarification on what it can do to best make sure all students feel safe and secure within classrooms and when participating in school-related activities.

"I know that just today there was some information about the ban being lifted about coming in and around schools — which is very concerning to me as an educator," Zrike said. "At this point, we have guided all of our school leaders to direct all officials to my office."

He sought to reassure and remind families that Salem Public Schools does not ask for any immigration status from current or prospective students and that data is not kept.

"We don't care," he said. "It's not important to us. We enroll who comes to our door and we enroll them as soon as possible into our schools. And we believe that schools are protected locations despite some of the messaging that has gone out.

"We will not allow our schools to be places where immigration officials feel they can take liberties with our students."

Zrike said an information session will be held for some of the newer families in the district in the next week or two.

School Committee member AJ Hoffman raised concerns about field trips and athletics where students go out of state to locations that may be more restrictive when it comes to the rights of immigrant and transgender students.

"How are we going to affect those LGBTQIA+ students who are going to run into problems with bathrooms, locker rooms, or also potentially not being able to be who they are?" Hoffman asked. "How are we going to protect them if they use a different name or go by a different gender? These are all my concerns about being responsible for the students in our city."

"It's just pathetic that we have to have these conversations," Zrike responded. "But you are right. I don't have a good answer for you right now. ... I do believe that many of our staff feel very strongly, and have the same values that we do, and are going to feel very strongly about not putting any of our children in harm's way.

"Obviously, there is more concern when you leave a state like Massachusetts."

School Committee member and State Rep. Manny Cruz said it is "all hands on deck to understand what is going to be coming out of the federal administration" and that there are statewide legal and advocacy groups providing information and services on student and family rights.

"This is uncharted for sure," Zrike said. "Because this feels different than it did the last time around (in 2016)."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)