Thread: Kids Back to Class Following Swift Sweep

There's also a video to watch if you click on the link.

http://www.nebraska.tv/news/local/51249 ... kipthumb=Y

Kids Back to Class Following Swift Sweep
Monday 1/8/07 6:15pm

The numbers look good, according to the superintendent of Grand Island Public Schools.

"I think they're looking better than anticipated," Steve Joel said.

Roughly the same number of kids are in school now as started the year.

Dr. Joel said, "We've had quite a few move-ins over the holidays so I think we'll show flat enrollment in terms of where we were and were we'll be now."

Only a few weeks ago, school administrators feared they'd lose dozens if not hundreds of kids after the government rounded up undocumented workers from the Swift packing plant.

"We lost 60 students from November to December in that period. A great deal were students impacted by the raid," Joel said.

Following the ICE raid, school and community leaders met together to plan their response, something they did again on the first day of school following the Christmas break.

"That's what community's all about," Steve Joel said. "It's amazing when times get tough communities pull together and people you don't know come to the forefront and say we want to help."

Groups like the Latino Peace Officers Association of Omaha. They collected toys for kids and raised $4,000 for the school foundation.

"Of the 25 children we have that lost both parents and a large number that lost at least one loved one, we have counseling and agency assistance for basic needs that students have," Joel said.

United Way agencies continue to be part of that. They're trying to get word out to families who need help. If people don't know what's available, they can call the 211 line. That same number can be used by storm victims looking for financial assistance.

Reporter's Notes by Steve White:
Principals in Grand Island will be reporting attendance numbers to the superintendent's office all week, to see if they can find any kids who may have left town during the Christmas break because of the raid at Swift.

United Way President Karen Rathke said agencies continue to work with affected families. She said in one case a 17-year-old boy has no family left in the community.



Story Created: Jan 8, 2007 at 6:09 PM CST

Story Updated: Jan 9, 2007 at 10:34 AM CST

This sob story is another attempt to make the illegal invaders appear to be the victims. Pathetic!

Lost!!!

Those children have not "lost" their parents.

I really resent that statement. I grew up with a lot of kids that lost their fathers in wars. That's just a bunch of drama. Those children need to go home with their "lost" parents. Their parents need to get lost for good and take them with them. If the parents were not criminals and residing in America illegaly then those poor children would not be exploited and upset right now. Don't put that on anyone but their criminal parents.
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

The parents are the ones that should bare the guilt because they did it to them.

Dixie