In the absence of data on the illegal immigrant population, if any, in Worcester County, the public might wonder whether public school Superintendent Lou Taylor or county Sheriff Matt Crisafulli was right to assure parents of their children’s safety considering the federal government’s aggressive deportation program.

On one hand, Taylor reassured parents that protocols are in place to protect children in the event of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid on local schools. Sheriff Crisafulli then seemed to counter that assertion by stating that ICE has no intention of going inside schools in search of illegal immigrant students.

These two public announcements would seem to conflict, leading parties who are following this issue to wonder which of these two institutions, the board of education or the sheriff’s office, is right.

Both are correct, given what little information is available, as both seek to allay any fears that federal agents will be turning up in the classroom.

From the school board’s perspective, the situation is so uncertain these days that coming out with a statement to ease concerns is hardly out of place.

The same rationale applies to Sheriff Crisafulli’s response. If he has been advised by ICE authorities that the agency has no intention of targeting school bus stops or the schools themselves, that’s just as important for the public to know.

The greater problem is that given the dearth of information on illegal immigrants, or the American-born children of illegal immigrants, in this county, no one really knows much of anything and are therefore susceptible to opinions, speculation and rumors.

Because of that, these anxiety-reducing efforts seem to agree that regardless of what anyone thinks, when it comes to schools, the kids are alright.