SAN ANTONIO — In less than a month, president-elect Donald Trump will be sworn in. Trump ran on promises of taking a different approach to execute mass deportations of people in the United States illegally, an estimated 11 million people.
"I think the first thing we're hearing is, is the school system going to be executing in terms of, informing or alerting, authorities with regard to anybody who may be in a status that, is not considered traditional or what the president is or the president elect is stating at this point," said Dr. Eduardo Hernandez, superintendent of Edgewood ISD. "That is not something that we do in the educational system."
Edgewood ISD is made up of 94 percent minorities, the majority of them Latino.
"I have had kids tell me I worry about my parents," Dr. Hernandez said. "I decided a long time ago that the best thing that I could do was to educate children and educate their families and really try to be an example, but also speak in whatever language I needed to. And that I could speak in, to why this country still matters and why it's important that our values matter."
Education, Dr. Hernandez stated is his first priority. It's how he's addressing questions from middle and high schoolers.
"What I remind them to do, is get informed, get involved, and exercise your right to vote when that time comes. We're going to be that location where you can come in and get actual information," Dr. Hernandez explained. "And if we need to bring outside resources who are actually in those arenas that have actual information, we will do so."
As a first generation American, a first generation Texan, the issue is very personal to the superintendent.
"I understand the struggle of working hard and getting to a place where you can achieve your goals," he said. "And so whoever our children are, that's always been my goal, and I'm going to continue to do that."
His concern, is making sure the district remains an open and safe space for students.
"It is also making sure that when children come into the school, they feel loved and welcomed," Dr. Hernandez said.