To the Portland Public Schools community,

We hope that your family is settling into the rhythm of the school year. For us, this year has been punctuated with waves of uncertainty and fear as we’ve seen continued threats to funding, direct attacks on members of our community, and violence across the nation. We see these attacks not as distant events but as real challenges to the dignity and safety of our students, staff, and families.

Today, we write to reaffirm our steadfast support for, and commitment to, our immigrant, refugee, asylee, and LGBTQ+ students, families, and staff. The strength of the Portland Public Schools lies in the diversity of our community and in our shared belief that every student should have access to a challenging, relevant, and joyful education, regardless of the identities they hold.

Our commitment is demonstrated in the following ways:

Policies that protect our students

●      The Board affirms that our district policies, named below, align with Maine’s Human Rights Act and with legal protections for gender identity and student data. We will not adopt measures that undermine the rights of any of our students, even under external pressure.

○      JB: Transgender and Gender Expansive Students

○      ACA: Equity Policy

○      JRA: Student Education Records and Information

○      KLGB: Law Enforcement in Student Matters

Policies and protocols around law enforcement

○      Our protocols, available here, provide guidance to PPS staff to safeguard students’ well-being in the event of enforcement action on or near Portland Public Schools’ grounds, buses, or events.

○      All staff have been trained on these protocols.

○      We have also engaged with Portland Police, and they have agreed that if they learn of any enforcement action planned at a school, they will work to ensure that it does not occur there.

○      We commit to transparent and timely communication with the community when there is confirmed law enforcement on or near school grounds.

New and existing resolutions

●      The Board reaffirmed our commitment to a resolution that was passed in 2017, Affirming Our Commitment to the Education of All Children & Making Portland Public Schools a Safe Haven for Students and Families.

●      We supported the City Council in passing their own resolution on September 15, 2025, that directs the city’s Health & Human Services & Public Safety Committee to work with us on further actions.

Student- and family-centered practices

○      Our incredible Multilingual Center continues to work with students and families to connect them with the resources they need.

○      Our social work and counseling teams continue to provide counseling and spaces for students to process fear and anxiety.

○      We uphold clear procedures for reporting and addressing harassment or discrimination.

○      We encourage each member of our community to know your rights and our schools have information on hand in multiple languages for those who may need added support. These resources are also available online.

Funding contingency plans

●      We continue to review contingency plans to protect funding for essential services (meals, special education, language support, services for students experiencing homelessness) in the event of federal disruptions. We will do everything in our power to uphold these vital services.

Our core mission is to provide a world-class education to every student in our district. We will not back down and will continue to provide resources, support, and information to protect our staff, our students, and their families – and we will use every tool at our disposal to advocate for their safety and well-being.

To our immigrant and LGBTQ+ students, families, and staff: We see you. Your presence, perspectives, and dignity enrich this district. Our commitment to you is unyielding. Even when external forces seek to erode protections, we will stand with you and defend your right to be fully present in our schools.

With resolve and solidarity,

Sarah Lentz                                                   Micky Bondo
Chair                                                               Vice Chair

Portland Board of Public Education          Portland Board of Public Education