Post by novillero on Nov 7, 2008 6:40:08 GMT -5
District wants to stop fraudulent enrollment
Friday, November 07, 2008
BY RYAN TRACY
Special to the Times
HAMILTON -- Continuing a crackdown on public school students who do not live in the township, Hamilton could soon pass a law targeting residents who pretend to house students who actually dwell elsewhere.
An ordinance pending before the township council would require any resident who hosts a Hamilton student from another family to register with the school district, then inform school officials if the student moves to another household.
Public school officials here have complained that families who live outside Hamilton's borders have enrolled students using false residency information, costing local taxpayers nearly $10,000 per pupil each year.
The school district has already hired a team of investigators to bust violators, and those who fail to register or notify the district a student has moved could be fined $2,000, plus restitution for education costs.
Already, school district investigators are actively probing at least five families, though no official complaints have been filed, according to Michael Gilbert, the school district's director of secondary education.
Several of the monitors are former law enforcement officials who use on-site surveillance as well as license plate numbers, school paperwork, and other clues to conduct their inquiries, Gilbert said.
"They will get tips, returned mail, suspicious tips from the schools themselves," Gilbert said. "We don't have an 'I got you' attitude .... We're not looking to have an investigation on someone who is here as a bona fide resident, but we do want to find non-residents and have them be accountable for their education."
The new version of the student residency ordinance, which puts the school district in charge of the registration process, could be adopted after a public hearing at the council's next scheduled meeting Nov. 18.
The monetary penalties were already established by a council ordinance approved earlier this year.
Proponents of the new rules believe they have been a deterrent to non-resident students.
"When you put that kind of onus and teeth into something, you hopefully stop people from doing it," said council president Dennis Pone, who supports both the school measures.
The school district is handling the non-resident investigations, but the council must put the new rules into law.
"The ultimate goal is to get people not to do it," Pone said.
Gilbert said the law has been an effective deterrent. He noted the district has denied enrollment to between 25 and 30 families already this school year.
"We're in pretty good shape right now with fraudulent enrollments," he said.
Information on the number of residency officers employed by the school district and their salaries was not immediately available.
Hamilton's "non-resident student enrollment prohibition," passed by the council this summer, makes it illegal for someone over the age of 18 to assist a non-resident student to enroll in Hamilton schools.
It also makes it unlawful for a Hamilton resident to knowingly allow his or her name or address to be used on fraudulent enrollment documents.
If the school district forwards the matter to the municipal court, the court can fine violators $2,000 plus restitution, which may include tuition costs and attorney fees.
Hamilton budgeted about $9,975 per pupil during the 2007-08 school year, according to data on the state Department of Education's website.
Times staff writer Carmen Cusido contributed to this report. Contact Ryan Tracy at (609) 989-5723 or rtracy@njtimes.com.
www.nj.com/news/times/index.ssf?/base/news-5/1226034365272860.xml&coll=5&thispage=2
Friday, November 07, 2008
BY RYAN TRACY
Special to the Times
HAMILTON -- Continuing a crackdown on public school students who do not live in the township, Hamilton could soon pass a law targeting residents who pretend to house students who actually dwell elsewhere.
An ordinance pending before the township council would require any resident who hosts a Hamilton student from another family to register with the school district, then inform school officials if the student moves to another household.
Public school officials here have complained that families who live outside Hamilton's borders have enrolled students using false residency information, costing local taxpayers nearly $10,000 per pupil each year.
The school district has already hired a team of investigators to bust violators, and those who fail to register or notify the district a student has moved could be fined $2,000, plus restitution for education costs.
Already, school district investigators are actively probing at least five families, though no official complaints have been filed, according to Michael Gilbert, the school district's director of secondary education.
Several of the monitors are former law enforcement officials who use on-site surveillance as well as license plate numbers, school paperwork, and other clues to conduct their inquiries, Gilbert said.
"They will get tips, returned mail, suspicious tips from the schools themselves," Gilbert said. "We don't have an 'I got you' attitude .... We're not looking to have an investigation on someone who is here as a bona fide resident, but we do want to find non-residents and have them be accountable for their education."
The new version of the student residency ordinance, which puts the school district in charge of the registration process, could be adopted after a public hearing at the council's next scheduled meeting Nov. 18.
The monetary penalties were already established by a council ordinance approved earlier this year.
Proponents of the new rules believe they have been a deterrent to non-resident students.
"When you put that kind of onus and teeth into something, you hopefully stop people from doing it," said council president Dennis Pone, who supports both the school measures.
The school district is handling the non-resident investigations, but the council must put the new rules into law.
"The ultimate goal is to get people not to do it," Pone said.
Gilbert said the law has been an effective deterrent. He noted the district has denied enrollment to between 25 and 30 families already this school year.
"We're in pretty good shape right now with fraudulent enrollments," he said.
Information on the number of residency officers employed by the school district and their salaries was not immediately available.
Hamilton's "non-resident student enrollment prohibition," passed by the council this summer, makes it illegal for someone over the age of 18 to assist a non-resident student to enroll in Hamilton schools.
It also makes it unlawful for a Hamilton resident to knowingly allow his or her name or address to be used on fraudulent enrollment documents.
If the school district forwards the matter to the municipal court, the court can fine violators $2,000 plus restitution, which may include tuition costs and attorney fees.
Hamilton budgeted about $9,975 per pupil during the 2007-08 school year, according to data on the state Department of Education's website.
Times staff writer Carmen Cusido contributed to this report. Contact Ryan Tracy at (609) 989-5723 or rtracy@njtimes.com.
www.nj.com/news/times/index.ssf?/base/news-5/1226034365272860.xml&coll=5&thispage=2