A moral imperative: National news inspires residents, trustees to call for safety of all students

“To educate, inspire and empower all students to pursue their aspirations and contribute as responsible members of society.”

The Northport-East Northport school district mission, as stated above, is read aloud by a member of the board of education (BOE) at the beginning of each meeting, following the Pledge of Allegiance. The BOE also has four education goals posted on the district website, one stating that the board “will ensure that systems are in place to support the belonging and safety of all students and employees.”

A rapidly changing political landscape, however, has some questioning if the district’s mission and goals will remain intact amidst federal directives that could impact local educational policies. 

Soon after the second inauguration of President Donald Trump on January 20, several executive orders related to schools, child safety and educational programs were issued. Concerns about the local impact of these orders were brought forth by community and board members at the January 23 BOE meeting, with intentions to deliver on the district’s mission reinforced by some trustees. 

Removal of “sensitive areas”
On January 20, President Trump issued an executive order revoking the previously held guidance defining certain places as “sensitive areas” where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were restricted from conducting enforcement actions. This revocation allows ICE agents to carry out arrests in locations such as schools, places of worship and hospitals. 

A statement made by the Department of Homeland Security about the order reads, “This action empowers the brave men and women in [Customs and Border Protection] CBP and ICE to enforce our immigration laws and catch criminal aliens – including murderers and rapists – who have illegally come into our country. Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest.”

When asked if ICE agents would be able to enter district schools under this new executive order, Superintendent of Northport-East Northport Schools Dr. Dave Moyer told the Journal that, based on guidance from the New York State Education Department and the advice of district attorneys, “ICE officers will not be allowed to enter our schools to question or detain a student. If an ICE officer appears at one of our schools and presents a warrant, school personnel will contact district security and central office administration, who will immediately contact our district attorney and work with our School Resource Officers to resolve the matter.”

Recognizing only two genders
Another executive order made by President Trump, entitled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” states that the federal government will recognize only two genders: male and female, based on biological sex at birth. It does not acknowledge gender identities beyond this binary framework.

The executive order reads: “It is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female. These sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality…. ‘Gender ideology’ replaces the biological category of sex with an ever-shifting concept of self-assessed gender identity, permitting the false claim that males can identify as and thus become women and vice versa, and requiring all institutions of society to regard this false claim as true.” 

The order has created confusion among school officials nationwide about providing support and accommodations for students who identify as gender diverse. While New York State law protects gender identity and expression, the federal order poses conflicts between state policies and federal directives, which opponents to the order believe will cause confusion in schools about which guidelines to follow.

When asked how the district will maintain an environment of safety and belonging for all students, given executive orders related to immigration and gender identity, Moyer said the district “will continue to follow district policy, the Code of Conduct, the guidance of the State Education Department, and advice of our attorneys on all matters related to ensuring that students feel safe at school. The recent executive orders do not change that.”

Eliminating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives
A January 23 press release from the U.S. Department of Education declares the elimination of “harmful Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives” as per President Trump’s executive order and calls it “the first step in reorienting the agency toward prioritizing meaningful learning ahead of divisive ideology in our schools.”

“The Department removed or archived hundreds of guidance documents, reports, and training materials that include mentions of DEI from its outward facing communication channels,” the statement continues. Employees charged with leading DEI initiatives were also put on paid administrative leave and federal agencies were tasked with submitting a written plan by January 31 for dismissing said employees. ​​All websites and social media accounts associated with DEI-related offices and programs were also removed.

According to the New York State School Boards Association, DEI policies are put into place to ensure all students have equal educational opportunities. “Equity and inclusive education aims to understand, identify, address, and eliminate the biases, barriers, and disparities that limit a student’s chance to graduate high school prepared for college, for a career, and for life,” the NYSSBA website reads. 

Despite the dismantling of DEI programs at the federal level, Moyer told the Journal that the district’s belonging work will continue as planned and the executive actions “have no bearing on our commitment to ensuring a culture of belonging in our schools.”

A moral imperative
At the first board of education meeting after President Trump’s executive orders were declared, residents asked members of the board to focus on ensuring the safety, both emotional and physical, of all district students. 

Joseph Dragone, a Northport resident who has worked over five decades in public education, urged the board to adopt the “Safe Schools” resolution and board policy, of which he provided copies to the district clerk. Dragone said that the resolution would ensure that due process is followed if an ICE agent comes into a district school. “This is not just a policy decision, it’s a moral imperative,” he said. 

“Every child deserves the chance to learn in an environment free from fear. Unfortunately, immigration enforcement near schools has created a climate of anxiety and instability for immigrant families in our community,” Dragone said. “Parents may be afraid to drop their children off at schools, students are distracted and distressed, unable to focus on their education. These are not hypothetical situations. They are happening here, now, in public schools throughout the United States.”

Dragone asked the board to send a clear message to the community that the district values safety, inclusion and the right to an education, for students of every background. 

Northport resident and parent Joanne Kountourakis (an editor at the Northport Journal), also spoke, asking that, during a period of intense political division within the community, the members of the BOE remain constant in their support for “the one thing we will always have in common: wanting the best for our children.”

“I realize that the implications of many of these executive orders are impossible to predict. I also know that many of our kids feel less safe now than ever before. I ask you that no matter what side you are on, you recognize that our kids are feeling vulnerable, and that many are sad and scared. Immigrant children, children who do not identify with their gender at birth, are in danger of being erased, dismissed, attacked,” Kountourakis said. 

She added that she remains hopeful that the board’s first priority will remain giving the district’s children a safe place to learn and grow as individuals who are “valued for being just that – contributing members to a family, to a community, and to society. Unique individuals with boundless potential.” 

A few BOE trustees followed the speakers with comments of alignment. Trustees David Badanes and Larry Licopoli both said they would support a policy that reflected their mission to ensure all district schools are a place of safety and belonging for all students. 

“To me the issue is one of humanity and compassion. I think we have to grapple with these types of things, with that as our guiding light,” Licopoli said. 

Trustee Allison Noonan said that as a teacher in another district high school, she knows that her students are scared. “They’re scared for themselves as well as their family members,” Noonan said, adding her support of a policy that reflects the board’s mission. “If we’re really, truly committed to creating a culture of belonging and dignity for all, then this is a great starting point for us.” 

The latest executive order: “Ending Racial Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling”
On Wednesday, January 29, another executive order was signed by President Trump, entitled “Ending Racial Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling.” The order aims to eliminate educational practices that the administration sees as promoting “radical, anti-American ideologies,” particularly those related to race and gender. It targets curricula that allegedly divide students based on their race, gender or identity, and emphasizes “patriotic education” rooted in America's founding principles. 

The order will “prevent or rescind Federal funds, to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law, from being used by an ESA, SEA, LEA, elementary school or secondary school to directly or indirectly support or subsidize the instruction, advancement or promotion of gender ideology or discriminatory equity ideology,” it states. Curriculum, programs and activities for K-12 students, as well as teacher employment, training and certifications that promote or support these ideologies will be subject to scrutiny, and any violations could result in the loss of federal funding, the order states. 

Video of the January 23 BOE meeting can be found here; community members begin speaking at 1:33.