At the end of the academic year, Fridley schools assess setbacks from ICE surge
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Tuesday is the first day of summer for students in Fridley Public Schools. The sendoff brought mixed emotions.
“It’s just an odd closure to a very trying year,” Fridley Superintendent Brenda Lewis told Minnesota Now host Nina Moini.
The small suburban district of about 2,800 students saw major disruptions due the surge of federal immigration agents to the state. Lewis said ICE activity took place on school property. The district was part of a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security looking to restrict immigration enforcement on school properties.
The activity led to Lewis herself patrolling streets and parking lots surrounding school buildings.
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The immigration enforcement near schools led some families to leave the district. Fridley Public Schools said they had a net loss of 91 students this school year. That compares to a net gain of 102 students last school year. Lewis said at its peak, they had a net loss of 112 students.
Lewis said some families moved to districts where there wasn’t as much ICE activity nearby, some students deported, some self-deported and some moved out of state.
“I'm a mom of three, and while that choice is so sad to me, I 100 percent understand choosing a different district that isn't as impacted,” said Lewis.
While the district was able to recover 40 students, Lewis said there are some whose whereabouts are unknown.
Lewis believes the disruptions did lead to learning loss in the district. She shared that she saw Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments. The test is a statewide assessment for reading, math and science. While they are currently embargoed and not released until August or September, Lewis said results backtracked.
“We are not seeing the same levels that we have seen,” said Lewis. “We have different results than we saw my first two years.”
The district, like many others, offered a virtual learning option, which 463 students took advantage of in Fridley schools. It was offered from Jan. 20 to the end of the school year.
Lewis hopes students take advantage of summer programming the district offers.
As for staff, Lewis hopes they are able to take some time for themselves, after having to show up in extraordinary ways for students, “that level of resiliency isn't normal, yet we normalized it.”
