This morning I had a thought: What about those kids from Central America? Whether you agree or disagree with them being here, they ARE here. And for me, I want them in school rather than running around the streets or sitting in a room playing Call of Duty for 7 hours straight.
When kids are in school, they are less likely to get into trouble and/or be injured. Because they are in a relatively safe environment, being watched over, educated (even fed breakfast and lunch) and cared for by adults who care about them (yay Teachers!).
But ARE these new kids going to be in school or not? School starts here in 8 weeks. Elsewhere in the country, sooner.
California law says they have 90 days from start of school to get their School Entry Health Examination Requirement met. There is also an Oral Health Requirement that says kids are supposed to get checked out by a Dentist. Do the health screenings being done at the Border Patrol facilities and various ‘detention/shelter in place’ facilities meet the the California law requirement?
I decided to ask my Congressional representatives this question specifically (after I told them my name and where I lived):
ME: What is the process and/or mechanisms in place to make sure all these kids coming to San Diego (and elsewhere) are ready for school that begins in 8 weeks, and do the HHS screenings meet California requirements?
I now offer you the responses I received from their Staff Assistants (SA) when I called their offices:
Congresswoman Susan B. Davis D-San Diego
Me: What is the process and/or mechanisms in place to make sure all these kids coming to San Diego (and elsewhere) are ready for school that begins in 8 weeks, and do the HHS screenings meet California requirements?
SA: These kids are here because of a law passed in 2008 before Obama was president.
Me: Ok well I am not concerned about their legal status I am concerned about how all these kids are going to get processed within the next 8 weeks so they can start school. What is Congresswoman Davis’ position on whether they will be in school in 8 weeks?
SA: She’s talking with all of the appropriate people to find a resolution that works best.
Me: What people is she speaking with exactly?
SA: Border Patrol, people like that.
Me: Okay well do you know if the Federal Health Screening process meets the California requirement and what about the Oral Health care requirement?
SA: No, but she is working with all sides to find a resolution.
Me: Got it. But what about the kids in the detention facilities who are not processed within the next couple of months, how are they going to go to school?
SA: We are trying to determine their legal status right now.
Me: Right. But regardless of legal status, school starts in 8 weeks, what will they be doing in the meantime while you are trying to determine their legal status?
SA: Congresswoman Davis is working hard to find a resolution and is taking feedback from constituents.
Me: Okay well my feedback is that I would like to know if thousands of kids are going to be in school or not in 8 weeks?
SA: She is working hard to find a resolution.
Me: I see. (banging my head on the counter) Has anyone asked this question about these kids and school?
SA: No. You are the first.
Congressman Duncan Hunter R-Alpine
Me: What is the process and/or mechanisms in place to make sure all these kids coming to San Diego (and elsewhere) are ready for school that begins in 8 weeks, and do the HHS health Screenings meet California requirements?
SA: It’s unknown if Federal Health Screenings meet California requirements. As far as we know there’s no plan to integrate the children into the fall 2014 school system though.
Me: So these kids are not going to be in school this fall at all?
SA: That is unknown for sure. Nobody has actually asked that question.
Me: Well, do you think you could bring that up to Congressman Hunter?
SA: Yes, definitely. Can I get your name and contact info?
Congressman Darrel Issa, R-Vista
ME: What is the process and/or mechanisms in place to make sure all these kids coming to San Diego (and elsewhere) are ready for school that begins in 8 weeks, and do the HHS screenings meet California requirements?
SA: Have not heard that question and we don’t know, but Congressman Issa has called on President Obama to reverse his DACA policy, that is the policy that allows (I cut him off)
Me: Yes I know what that policy is but my question is about what happens in 8 weeks when school starts?
SA: Well. I don’t know.
Me: Do you think you could pass along that question to Congressman Issa? Because school starts in 8 weeks.
SA: Yes, yes I will.
Congressman Scott Peters, D-San Diego
ME: What is the process and/or mechanisms in place to make sure all these kids coming to San Diego (and elsewhere) are ready for school that begins in 8 weeks, and do the HHS screenings meet California requirements?
SA: Not sure. Nobody’s asked that question, but they will be released to sponsor families in SD then go through the normal screening process that way.
Me: What about the kids who don’t get sponsors?
SA: I’m not sure.
Me: Do you think you could pass along that question to Congressman Peters? Because school starts in 8 weeks.
SA: Yes, thank you for bringing it up
Congressman Juan Vargas, D-San Diego
ME: What is the process and/or mechanisms in place to make sure all these kids coming to San Diego (and elsewhere) are ready for school that begins in 8 weeks, and do the HHS screenings meet California requirements?
SA: That question hasn’t come up, I don’t have an answer at this time.
ME: Didn’t Congressman Vargas just visit a detention facility?
SA: Yes he did
ME: Do you think next time he visits he could maybe ask somebody about it?
SA: I will pass on your question. Can I have your contact info?
Senator Diane Feinstein D-California
ME: What is the process and/or mechanisms in place to make sure all these kids coming to San Diego (and elsewhere) are ready for school that begins in 8 weeks, and do the HHS screenings meet California requirements?
SA: I have no idea, but if you give me your contact info I will get back to you.
(Still waiting)
Senator Barbara Boxer, D-California
ME: What is the process and/or mechanisms in place to make sure all these kids coming to San Diego (and elsewhere) are ready for school that begins in 8 weeks, and do the HHS screenings meet California requirements?
SA: The HHS has a pretty comprehensive screening process, but I don’t know if they’re up to California standards.
ME: Has anyone asked this question?
SA: Yes, we are asking all kinds of questions.
Me: But so far no answers to it?
SA: Well the children in the Detention facilities will be taught by contractors.
Me: Contractors? Are they certified teachers?
SA: The care of the children in these facilities are being contracted out to various groups, and it is their responsibility to teach them.
Me: What about the kids who aren’t in the detention facilities?
SA: They will be screened and then released and must report to immigration within 15 days.
Me: What if they don’t report back?
SA: Well there are very few children being sent to San Diego.
Me: I just saw busloads of people being processed at San Ysidro which is in SD County.
SA: But very few are going to San Diego compared to other places. There aren’t any Guatemalans.
ME: Excuse me? What do you mean?
SA: Those aren’t Central Americans being processed there, there are very few Guatemalans in San Diego.
Me: I’m not sure what that has to do with anything? And I guess I will let my friends from Guatemala here know they aren’t really here??
SA: I didn’t say there were NO Guatemalans in San Diego, just that there isn’t a large community of them in San Diego like in Maryland.
ME: Ok so the kids at the detention facilities will get taught by contractors while being detained and the rest are just on their own?
SA: We are asking these same questions.
Let’s all bang our heads together…
sayslisalisa 