East Side News journalist, Daniella Torres, conducted an interview with Plainfield East High School Principal Dr. O’brien and Assistant Principal Dr. Romeli.
From an administration perspective, can you give a basic overview of the current situation as you see it?
(O’brien) We’re going through and we’re operating the school as we would normally operate the school. What I can tell you is that I know there are a number of different avenues throughout the state and federal level of government that are still going through interpreting what this law means. We have had direction from the district office about our response but at the same time, we’re still trying to figure out the actual interpretation of the law through school districts throughout the state of Illinois, through the Illinois state board of education, as well as through the attorneys that go through and work with the school districts.
Through a technical lens, have you seen a change in the school environment since around inauguration times or since election time?
(O’brien) I really have not and I think that that’s a testament to our teaching staff and our students. As a school and a school district – regardless of Democrat, Republican, President Biden, President Trump – we teach all students and we’re respectful to all kids who enter our building. They are going to get a great education in our building.
(Romeli) Dr. O’brien has been in charge of this building through two election cycles, and I’ve been here for four. For me, when I taught social studies, I was here for an election cycle and I’ve been here for two more as an administrator. Our building doesn’t necessarily ever fall into where it gets toxic. There may be opinions shared or something of that nature but I think our student body has always been, and continues to be, very accepting of each other and the opinions that people have.
Would you say that our school demographic is the reason for our school environment not being aggressively outspoken?
(O’brien) We have always said, whether it’s incoming freshmen or talking to parents or talking to student leaders, that our diversity in our building makes us stronger and it’s such an important piece of who we are as a building and going through and building positive relationships. It is a true strength.
What are the standard protocols for ICE showing up at our school? How do we proceed?
(Romeli) Our policy in general is that no law enforcement from the exterior is able to disrupt the school day. ICE would fall under law enforcement. ICE, or other law enforcement agencies, are simply not allowed in our building.
(O’brien) The fact of the matter is, we sent some documents out to our staff. If, for some reason, an ICE agent shows up at the building, myself or Dr. Romeli or an administrator will greet the person but the response is, as Dr. Romeli said, we also go and get legal counsel through the district office.
Personally, as a Principal, how do you feel about the current situation?
(Romeli) Any time a student is affected negatively, I’m affected because I’m in this for students. If there was a student or a family that was affected there would be an emotional connection because we’re in the business of students. For me, personally, that’s what hits me. Trying to – which wouldn’t happen – put myself in that student’s shoes or that family’s shoes and realize that there is something that they are dealing with different than me.
(O’brien) We’re both parents. I have a seventeen and fourteen year old daughter. Dr. Romeli is exactly right. Kids come to school, young adults come to school, and it’s a safe environment. That’s what we are going to uphold on our end. To continue to make sure that our students are safe, feel safe, and not have to deal with some of the outside noise that’s going on. Young adults are going to come and their first obligation is to one, feel safe, and second, to learn. Then you grow socially and emotionally as well.
Are there any people that administration or the district have met with to talk about the safety of students?
(O’brien) Dr. Romeli is part of the district safety committee, so that is one component.
(Romeli) Basically, the district safety committee, we look at all aspects of school safety and that was a part of a discussion that we had as a committee to bring back to buildings. I do know that parents have called and we’ve worked with families and we’ve made it clear that this is a safe place for students to come and learn and for students to grow. Outside of that there are some other things going on with C.A.P.E. at the district.
(O’brien) I know that Dr. Wood [superintendent] has been open to discussion through different parent panels. He has addressed this with the building principals district-wide and he has sent out guidance on how to respond if something like this happened. The one thing that I would put caution to are rumors. There have been a number of issues on social media, one saying that ICE already showed up at Plainfield East High School which could not have been further from the truth. So, caution aside, you have to break through some of the outside chatter and you have to number one, report facts. We hope that our community, who is also very supportive of us as a building and what it is that we do, continues to inform us when there is chatter out there that is not truthful.
Is every teacher required to follow the same protocols or are they teacher/building based?
(O’brien) If somebody shows up at the building it won’t necessarily go through the teacher’s hand. I don’t know how ICE is showing up or if they are contacting people or anything like that. In the few cases where ICE has shown up to schools, it’s been a front door situation and they haven’t been allowed entry.
(Romeli) And that’s not in District 202. That is, nationally.
(O’brien) They have not been allowed to enter any building.
(Romeli) There was one in CPS that was reported, but nobody really knows.
(O’brien) As far as we know, through what we read or if it’s a news outlet or something, no entry has been made to a school building nationally. If they received information through an email, which I wouldn’t imagine, they know to direct that information to an administrator. Even still, we have to follow our protocols, too. Like I said earlier, I’ve had to get Dr. Wood involved and we would have to consult our legal team, too. There are so many layers to this and a lot of it goes back to people still trying to decipher what all of this is because there is nothing specific.
