Thread: MD: Thompson wants count of IAs in school system

Thompson wants count of illegal immigrants in school system
April 23, 2008 - 7:43am

Frederick County, MD Commissioner John L. Thompson is proposing that the county school board count how many illegal immigrant students attend local public schools.

In an e-mail he addressed Tuesday morning to Frederick County Board of Education President Daryl Boffman and Frederick County Commissioner President Jan Gardner, Thompson wrote that a portion of the school board's fiscal 2009 operating budget should be withheld on the condition that it supply the commissioners with the number.

Thompson asked that the commissioners discuss the proposal in a May meeting with the school board.

"The results would be useful to the BOCC for future legislative proposals at the state and federal levels concerning those who are in the country unlawfully," Thompson wrote. He said he believes requesting such a count was within the county commissioners' authority to place conditions on school system operating budgets.

The amount withheld would have to exceed that required to complete the study, Thompson wrote, otherwise the school board could decline to gather the information and forgo the funds.

Boffman said Tuesday he believes federal authorities have the responsibility of determining students' legal status.

The purpose of the school board, he said, is to educate any child in the county, as long as parents provide proper documentation, including immunization records and proof of age.

Boffman said he was appalled that Thompson would consider withholding school funds, because that would impact all students, regardless of legal status.

The loss of quality teachers to other counties and cuts in extended learning programs could be other unintended consequences of such a measure, Boffman said.

"I'm really irritated by all this activity," he said.

Donna Crook, a school board member, said she had no problem discussing the matter.

"It would be interesting to get that information, to know how many illegal immigrants we have in our schools," she said.

As far as she is aware, Crook said, federal law requires the school board to provide an education for children in the county, regardless of immigration status.

In addition, she said she does not believe local taxpayers are being compensated by state or federal agencies for these costs.

"It would be nice if they would consider reimbursing us for doing this," she said.

Guy Djoken, president of the local branch of the NAACP, wrote in an e-mail that he believes the proposal a political scare tactic at a time when people are worried about the rising costs of health care or losing their homes or life savings.

"I think it is a pity to play politics with the education of our kids," he wrote.

Copyright 2008 The Frederick News-Post. All rights reserved.

by Nicholas C. Stern @ The Frederick News-Post

Frederick County Commissioner John L. Thompson is proposing that the county school board count how many illegal immigrant students attend local public schools.

In an e-mail he addressed Tuesday morning to Frederick County Board of Education President Daryl Boffman and Frederick County Commissioner President Jan Gardner, Thompson wrote that a portion of the school board's fiscal 2009 operating budget should be withheld on the condition that it supply the commissioners with the number.

Thompson asked that the commissioners discuss the proposal in a May meeting with the school board.

"The results would be useful to the BOCC for future legislative proposals at the state and federal levels concerning those who are in the country unlawfully," Thompson wrote. He said he believes requesting such a count was within the county commissioners' authority to place conditions on school system operating budgets.

The amount withheld would have to exceed that required to complete the study, Thompson wrote, otherwise the school board could decline to gather the information and forgo the funds.

Boffman said Tuesday he believes federal authorities have the responsibility of determining students' legal status.

The purpose of the school board, he said, is to educate any child in the county, as long as parents provide proper documentation, including immunization records and proof of age.

Boffman said he was appalled that Thompson would consider withholding school funds, because that would impact all students, regardless of legal status.

The loss of quality teachers to other counties and cuts in extended learning programs could be other unintended consequences of such a measure, Boffman said.

"I'm really irritated by all this activity," he said.

Donna Crook, a school board member, said she had no problem discussing the matter.

"It would be interesting to get that information, to know how many illegal immigrants we have in our schools," she said.

As far as she is aware, Crook said, federal law requires the school board to provide an education for children in the county, regardless of immigration status.

In addition, she said she does not believe local taxpayers are being compensated by state or federal agencies for these costs.

"It would be nice if they would consider reimbursing us for doing this," she said.

Guy Djoken, president of the local branch of the NAACP, wrote in an e-mail that he believes the proposal a political scare tactic at a time when people are worried about the rising costs of health care or losing their homes or life savings.

"I think it is a pity to play politics with the education of our kids," he wrote.
http://www.wtop.com:80/?nid=598&sid=1391958

Guy Djoken, president of the local branch of the NAACP, wrote in an e-mail that he believes the proposal a political scare tactic at a time when people are worried about the rising costs of health care or losing their homes or life savings.

"I think it is a pity to play politics with the education of our kids," he wrote.

That's precisely WHY we need to know. Illegal aliens charity care is ONW of the many reasons our costs are so high! They are also dumbing down our own kids, so it effects their education in a bad way. If we're forced to pay for them, we want to know who they are. How many of them will end up dropping out, because education isn't "cool"?

"I think it is a pity to play politics with the education of our kids," he wrote.

Since whan are illegal alien' children "our kids"???

That's right, they are not our kids. If we accept this nonsense then ALL kids in the entire world are our kids too and we need to fund their education. What, there is a distinction? These are our kids because the parents managed to game the system and be here? WOW that's fantastic. Let me think how i can subvert anything else that way to get what i want.

Shouldn't we know in each school system in every state of the country how many illegal alien kids we are paying to educate? The government is intent on hiding it but you can bet we'd have an uprising from taxpayers if this information was available.

The law says we have to educate these illegal alien children, and I think LaRaza should have to pay for it.

Originally Posted by tinybobidaho

The law says we have to educate these illegal alien children, and I think LaRaza should have to pay for it.

OR, WE CAN SEND THE BILL TO THEIR CONSULATES. LOL.

Commissioner Demands Illegal Immigrant Count in Schools posted 3:46 pm Wed April 23, 2008 - Frederick, Md.

A Frederick County commissioner wants to count how many illegal immigrants are in the schools, even though federal law requires counties to give all kids an education, so he's turning to the county's school-aged kids.

With 42,315 students in Frederick County schools, Commissioner John Thompson wants to know how many of them are legal residents of the United States. The school board president thinks it is a bad idea, but the commissioner is threatening to withhold some school funding until he gets an answer.

The proposal basically says, if you want to look at a community and understand illegal immigration, look at people's children. "Are they lawfully in the country, or are they not?"

Commissioner Thompson said he wants the schools to count how many students are illegal immigrants, hoping that information will help the county make future laws and influence federal immigration laws.

"The only way you're going to get reform in Washington is from the bottom up, grass roots up."

School Board President Daryl Boffman said the schools don't have that kind of information and he's worried what happens if the county commissioner gathers it. "Is he planning to take these kids out of the school system, go into the homes and deport the parents? What is he intending to do with that [information]?"

Immigrant Lucy Nobel said, "I don't know how they're going to go to schools and say are you legal here? I think it's unfair."

One parent said some kids at her first grader's school have classes in the hallway and the lunchroom. She thinks the commissioner has the right idea. "I think they need to do something because the schools are getting way too overcrowded," said parent Nicole Goodwin.

Commissioner Thompson said the school proposal is just one in a series meant to address illegal immigration. On Thursday, the county is scheduled to vote on whether English should be the official language.
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0408/513843.html

School Board President Daryl Boffman said the schools don't have that kind of information and he's worried what happens if the county commissioner gathers it. "Is he planning to take these kids out of the school system, go into the homes and deport the parents? What is he intending to do with that [information]?"

If we are required by law to educate them and are forced to pay for them, we should have the right to know how many we're paying for. Out of those, how many will drop out therefore wasting our tax dollars? Once they graduate, where can they work without documentation?

Miguelina, very insightful and on the money! Scary how much common sense your statement makes and yet...our schools and government can't or won't answer these simple questions?


"If we are required by law to educate them and are forced to pay for them, we should have the right to know how many we're paying for. Out of those, how many will drop out therefore wasting our tax dollars? Once they graduate, where can they work without documentation?"