The recent Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in the city is beginning to have a collateral affect on the Lowell Public Schools system and its families.

InsideLowell has learned of a recent email from Superintendent of Schools Liam Skinner notifying school department administration and the School Committee of cases where family members of students have been detained and “even deported.”

In one such case, Skinner notes a Lowell High student ended up living alone after his father was picked up and deported back to his homeland.

Skinner’s note highlighted the work of Alice Legrand and student support staff for coordinating with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to ensure the affected students are cared for and for creating a document that provides detailed information to “support school administrators and clinical staff in navigating these times.” It also notes they’re working on additional guidance and resources.

Contacted Sunday afternoon, Skinner stated he did not know how long the LHS student was on his own after his father was picked up.

Asked whether attendance was beginning to be affected, he admitted to being worried about it and would be digging into the matter. As immigration enforcement ramped up nationally earlier this year, Skinner had told us school officials hadn’t seen any noticeable decline in attendance to that point.

The Superintendent also confirmed that, to date, no ICE activity has been conducted on school grounds, athletic facilities or on school buses.

(click here to view guidance provided by Lowell Public Schools)