Duluth Public Schools issues ICE‑interaction protocols to school bus drivers
DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth School District has provided its bus and vehicle drivers with a list of protocols should they have interactions with ICE or other federal law enforcement.
The protocol obtained by FOX21 shows step-by-step instructions for drivers during both morning routes and evening routes, as well as what to do if the bus gets pulled over, boxed in, or rammed by agents.
Drivers are given a protocol sheet that states it is not to be removed from the vehicle.
The Protocol states that in all of the hypothetical interactions that driver should get students in the bus, close and lock the doors, and wait for the school administrators to come before interacting with agents.
The Duluth School District recently joined a lawsuit against the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, plus other people and agencies, in an effort to stop most immigration enforcement actions near schools.
SEE PREVIOUS: Inside the lawsuit: Duluth School District sues Kristi Noem
The lawsuit explains how these policies are impacting the Duluth School District and students.
It claims, “Duluth Schools has seen increased absenteeism among its students from immigrant communities because, due to the threat of ICE enforcement near school grounds and bus stops, they do not feel safe coming to school. Duluth Schools is left with the decision to either expand online learning options for students, or risk that students will accrue more than 15 consecutive absences and be unenrolled from the school.”
The full protocol for drivers:
If ICE is at a bus stop during AM Routes
1. If you are currently loading students when ICE shows up, finish getting the students on the bus safely.
2. Once students are on the bus, either drive away or close and lock the door.
a. If you close and lock the door, open your driver’s window and tell the agent, “I must wait for my supervisor/school administration to arrive before opening the door.”
3. Radio to central dispatch and inform them of ICE activity and location.
a. If you are a Voyageur bus driver, have your dispatch call ISD 709 Transportation Manager
4. The Communications Officer will send a message through ParentSquare to that route informing them of the route disruption.
5. If you feel safe to do so, please continue the route.
a. If you don’t feel safe, proceed to the nearest school and inform dispatch of your location.
b. Keep students on the bus.
c. Wait for further instructions from Transportation administration or school/district administration
If ICE is at a bus stop during PM Routes
1. If you see ICE at a bus stop when dropping students off, continue driving and drive back to the school students came from.
a. If you are not able to continue driving, close and lock the door and inform the agent through your window, “I must wait for my supervisor/school administration to arrive before opening the door.”
2. Radio to central dispatch and inform them of ICE activity and location.
a. If you are a Voyageur bus driver, have your dispatch call ISD 709 Transportation Manager
3. The Communications Officer will send a message through ParentSquare to that route informing them of the route disruption and asking parents to pick up their students at school.
4. Keep students on the bus.
a. Wait for further instructions from Transportation administration or school/district
administration
5. Staff should ask for an ID from parents/guardians before releasing the student.
If ICE tries to pull over a bus
1. If you feel safe enough, continue driving and head to the nearest school.
a. If you are not able to continue driving, close and lock the door and inform the agent through your window “I must wait for my supervisor/school administration to arrive before opening the door.”
2. Radio to central dispatch and inform them of ICE activity and location.
a. If you are a Voyageur bus driver, have your dispatch call ISD 709 Transportation Manager
3. The Communications Officer will send a message through ParentSquare to that route informing them of the route disruption and asking parents to pick up their students at school.
4. Keep students on the bus.
a. Wait for further instructions from the Transportation administration or school/district administration.
5. Staff should ask for an ID from parents/guardians before releasing the student.
If ICE boxes in a bus
1. Close and lock the door.
2. Open your driver’s window and inform the agents “I must wait for my supervisor/school administration to arrive before opening the door.”
3. Radio to central dispatch and inform them of ICE activity and location.
a. If you are a Voyageur bus driver, have your dispatch call ISD 709 Transportation Manager
4. The Communications Officer will send a message through ParentSquare to that route informing them of the route disruption.
5. Keep students on the bus.
a. Wait for further instructions from Transportation administration or school/district administration
If ICE tries to HIT a bus
1. Find a safe place to pull over.
2. Close and lock the door.
3. Open your driver’s window and inform the agents “I must wait for my supervisor/school administration to arrive before opening the door.”
4. Radio to central dispatch and inform them of ICE activity and location.
a. If you are a Voyageur bus driver, have your dispatch call ISD 709 Transportation Manager
5. The Communications Officer will send a message through ParentSquare to that route informing them of the route disruption.
6. Keep students on the bus.
a. Wait for further instructions from Transportation administration or school/district administration.
If ICE is present during dismissal or arrival
1. Get or keep as many students as possible on the bus.
2. Immediately, close and lock the door.
3. Keep students who are on the bus there until further instruction from the building administrator.
4. Radio to central dispatch and inform them of ICE activity and location.
a. If you are a Voyageur bus driver, have your dispatch call ISD 709 Transportation Manager
5. The Communications Officer will send a message through ParentSquare to that route informing them of the route disruption.
6. Keep students on the bus.
a. Wait for further instructions from Transportation administration or school/district
administration.
