Dear MAPS Staff and Families,
Recent news about immigration enforcement throughout Minnesota has raised understandable questions and concerns, and we know some individuals may be feeling anxious. With this in mind, we wanted to take a moment to reaffirm Moorhead Area Public School’s commitment to providing a high-quality educational experience and a safe, welcoming environment for every student.
Our district follows all applicable laws when it comes to protecting the privacy, safety, and educational rights of our students. As part of our enrollment and registration process, we do not request or maintain information about the immigration status of our students or families.
District protocol prohibits an outside agency from entering our schools without permission or a valid warrant or court order. In addition, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) limits the sharing of personally identifiable information from student records without written parental consent or a lawfully issued order. Our staff are trained to safeguard student records and to direct any external requests to district leadership so they can be handled through the appropriate legal channels.
Our priority is to ensure that students feel safe, supported, and welcome in our schools so they can attend regularly, remain engaged and stay focused on learning and growth.
Finally, I ask all of us to extend kindness and understanding to one another during this difficult time. Our strength as a school community comes from treating everyone with dignity and respect so that every child can learn, grow and thrive in our schools.
As always, thank you for your partnership.
Sincerely,
Brandon Lunak, Superintendent
