Kansas City Public Schools and the Mexican Consulate have partnered to offer educational opportunities to Latinos in the district.
The partnership comes at a time when many are worried about raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The partnership is housed at East High School, where the ribbon was cut Thursday.
KCPS Superintendent Mark Bedell spent most of his time assuring Latino parents and students that the district doesn’t care about their legal status. "No matter their legal status we will welcome and nurture these students in our schoolhouses everyday."
Students, he says, are faltering in class because they’re worried about ICE raids.
“I’ve had students cry in front of me worried about that,” Bedell says.
Mexican Counsel Alfonso Navarro-Bernachi says many Mexicans immigrants are worried about deportation and the best thing the consulate can do is provide information.
“It's a growing concern in the community here. We are increasing our outreach and disseminating useful information to know what to do in case of immigration detention. But also to be prepared if they need to relocate to Mexico,” Navarro-Bernachi says.
Bedell stresses that federal officials have not asked the district to help identify undocumented students or their families.
The Communications Plaza at East High will provide both students and adults with educational opportunities. There are 300 such Plazas in 38 states run by the Mexican government. The first one opened in 2002.
Bedell says classes will start at East on March 6 and he hopes to expand services and locations later.
Sam Zeff covers education for KCUR and the Kansas News Service. Sam also hosts KCUR's political podcast Statehouse Blend Kansas. Follow him on Twitter @samzeff.
