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Parents rush to prove residency
Published Friday, August 15, 2008
VIDALIA — There was a sprint of Concordia Parish parents eager to prove their students lived in their respective school districts with the beginning of school.
“There has been a bit of a rush the last week, because a lot of people waited until the last minute to prove their residency,” School Superintendent Loretta Blankenstein said.
As of Thursday, there were approximately 3,900 students enrolled in the Concordia Parish school district, Blankenstein said.
Due to a U.S. Justice Department desegregation order, students beginning any Concordia Parish school for the first time, whether lower or upper elementary, junior high or high school, had to prove they were a resident of that school district, regardless if they had already proven residency for their previous school.
At Vidalia High School, Counselor Cynthia Smith said the enrollment for incoming freshmen was high, but that the vast majority of them were able to prove their residency without any problems.
“There were only three or four students who tried to register who were not able to meet the requirements,” Smith said.
At Vidalia Upper Elementary, there have been 35 students to drop for whatever reason, whether they lived out of zone or had moved to a different school district, Principal Darla Johnston said.
There were a few children who could not be seated in classes Monday because they had not proven their residency, but Johnston said they were blessedly few.
“I had about six kids who didn’t have (proof of residency), and the parents proved residency within the hour,” she said.
Vidalia Junior High School Principal Whest Shirley said he thinks between 20 and 30 students at his school residence is suspect.
Most of the residencies are legitimate, but there are a few that are will be investigated, Blankenstein said.
“Our supervisor of welfare and attendance is going to check those out,” Blankenstein said.
Comments
Posted by stateofnatchez (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 7:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's a total shame against the entire system that parents have to go to these lengths to ensure their children are given the best possible education.
Posted by picture_music101 (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 7:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
blah!
Posted by Yeahuhuh (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 8:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just what is it about Concordia Parish schools that invites parents to defraud the government to take their children there?
Of course quality of education would be the reason stated, but where do the people come from?
Is this mostly because of the Natchez system and the fact that half of the population abandoned the public schools system long ago?
Posted by happybunny (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 8:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It sounds like they are doing a great job at enforcing the residency rules. It's about time! I hope they continue to do so.
Posted by aak1972 (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If parents in the NASD are unhappy with the system simply do like my family!! MOVE!! The tuition for 2 students in a private school equals a very nice home mortgage in Vidalia!!
Posted by ericstratton (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The Natchez system does not provide a safe, behavioral controlled environment conducive to getting a good education. Thats why you have "flight " to Vidalia or Franklin County, where there seems to be accountability by the faculty,administrators,and the families.
Posted by triscuit (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 9:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ericstratton, your first statement should have been qualified with the word "seem" or "appear" the way you qualifed your second statement.
A decade ago, maybe longer, not only was it commonplace for Adams County parents (who wanted to escape NASD without paying tuition) to send their kids to Vidalia, there was also a perception that Vidalia was okay with it and even encouraged it. I think the people paying taxes in Louisiana finally forced their administration to do what was right and fair for them, the taxpaying legal residents.
So now the perception that the Vidalia schools are more desirable is heightened because of the increased residency screening.
Posted by happybunny (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 9:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Seems like there were far fewer problems when they had two Natchez high schools, it wasn't broke but they had to fix it, typical government.
Posted by Fenwick (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 11:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Vidlia will not be such a nice place anymore if they start closing down Dannys two early. I bet a lot of people will be wanting to move away from there. Then the schools will not have anyone left. Some body needs to stop something.
Posted by happybunny (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 12:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have never been there but from what I have heard, Vidalia would be lucky if Danny's patrons moved away.
Posted by MSviaTN (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 12:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
FENWICK - please tell me you are NOT serious!!! I cracked up when I read your comment - please tell me you don't really think that! If someone wanted to move away because they shut down a bar then I say GOOD RIDDANCE. Thanks for the great laugh - needed that today! I am sure parents that are really concerned that their kids have a great education could care less about Danny's.
Posted by dovechase (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 12:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Remember, this comes from the same rocket scientist that thinks it's funny to puke in the back of a stranger's truck for fun.
Posted by MSviaTN (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 12:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Fenwick - you need to go by this motto in life "better to keep your mouth shut and people think you are dumb than to open your mouth and remove all doubt!" :-)
Posted by opinsab (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 12:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My child goes to vidalia schools and i live in MS although his father lives in Vidalia. Its not easy having my child stay with his father during the week, because i have been his sole provider for so long. And I have already with his father proven residence although when i pick my lil boy up from school i was called because i have a MS tag!!! Crazy, it one thing to be strict but its another to over do it.
Posted by happybunny (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 12:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I disagree, they need to be strict. This has gone on to long. You have a valid reason to send you child to Vidalia, his father is a resident. Many do not, they are merely cheating the system.
Who knows, maybe the Natchez schools will improve when people are forced to stop sending their children there.
Posted by dovechase (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 12:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
opin, don't get upset with the people trying to enforce the rules. Get upset with those who have chosen to intentionally and blatantly break the rules.
Posted by happybunny (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 12:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sorry, I meant start sending their children there.
Posted by james (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 3:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
IF YOU HAVE A MS. TAG YOU SHOULD BE ASKED WHERE YOU LIVE!
Posted by onlythetruth (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 4:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't see in the article about monterey students. Wonder how many couldn't prove their residency
Posted by aak1972 (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 5:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
james there is nothing illegal about having a ms tag. not both parents of a vidalia student are required to live in vidalia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by james (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 5:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
NO IT IS NOT ILLEGAL TO HAVE A MS. TAG !BUT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH ASKING EITHER! ask1972!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by aak1972 (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 6:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Im not saying its right for students to attend where the parents dnt pay taxes. Im just saying you cant judge the residency of a student by the persons tag who drops them off or picks them up. my mom picks mine up she lives in natchez i live in vidalia imagine that!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by james (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 6:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OK SO THEY ASK 1 TIME AND WHO DOES IT HURT ? DONE DEAL!
Posted by bestwoman (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 7:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My Opinion….. They should question where the students are living, but it seems to me that they are worried too much on where people live, and not the education of the students. If they put have the effort that they are using to find out where these people live on the education of the students then we wouldn't have to worry about the Vidalia schools being packed with failing students!!
Posted by hollywood (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 8:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Parents teaching their children to lie and beat the system is not a good message to send to them at an early age. This is a residency issue.... ATTEND school where you reside; it's that simple, and it's the law. If you live in Natchez, move, go to a private/prochial school, or change the public schools there.... don't teach your kids to lie.
Posted by ThornInYourSide (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 8:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think it is a good thing that this school system is cracking down on the residence issue. I think that if the Natchez school system is really that bad then it is up to parent's over there to let it be known that they have had it with their sorry school system and want it fixed. WAY TO GO, VIDALIA SCHOOL SYSTEM!!! KEEP CHECKING FOR PROOF OF RESIDENCE!!!!!!!
Posted by Robin58 (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 8:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, get this....My daughter lives in Vidalia and she had a lot of trouble getting her son registered in Vidalia Jr high. She took them proof of residency but that wasn't good enough for the lady that she was dealing with. So she took junk mail with her name and address on it and dumped it on her desk. They finally agreed to let my grandson start school. She has a Adams Co tag on her car, when it goes out she will change to La. When she dropped him off yesterday morning the same lady that she had the trouble with saw her tag. And instead of waiting to ask her about the tag, she stopped my grandson, he is 12 by the way, and said "I knew your momma was lying to me, I saw her tag, I'm am going to call the police on her" Now that is PITIFUL! To say something like that to a child. The lady was also over heard saying something similar to another child.
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 8:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
When I was in school in Natchez, you didn't have this big of a problem or an issue with Natchez parents/students trying to get into schools in Vidalia. As a matter of fact, we thought our schools then, were superior, so to speak. I am not old and it saddens me to see and hear things on these posts about how bad the Natchez school system has gotten. Again, I remember the great principals, assistant principals and teachers and staff who kept the schools in order. High school was definitely much better than I hear of reports now. There are too many students cramed into not enough schools and class rooms in the public school system, especially the high school.
I feel far too many are a waste to the public education system. Free public education during the grammar school years is a blessing. Some of our children should be sentenced to China. There, you don't get to go to school just because you are a child. If your parents are afluent enough and if you are proven smart enough, they want you in school. The others will farm the fields of rice and tea forever, just as their parents do or did. Those students who refuse to learn, want to disrupt class, can't pass their classes should be placed in very strict, boot-camp like environments where they learn welding and various other trades, but they should not be allowed to disturb the classes and the school.
Posted by starla (anonymous) on August 15, 2008 at 9:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What's so great about Vidalia Schools that people will lie to get into them?
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on August 16, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"reason # 2 91% 0f All Blacks in Natchez just Plain dont have any respect for anyone,look at the violence around"
WOW, when was this scientific study to bring about this statistical percentage of Blacks who don't have any respect for anyone, done? What population of Blacks were studied? If you believe that only 9% of Blacks in Natchez have respect for others, then my friend, you need only go back and I suggest you meet some Black folk in Natchez, instead of allowing the thugs speak for them all.
Posted by hollywood (anonymous) on August 16, 2008 at 10:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ACT scores are up in Natchez,,,, stay in Mississippi; leave us alone.
Posted by BostonRedSoxFan (anonymous) on August 16, 2008 at 4:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You know this is not a local decision to force parents to prove residency. It is an order from the US Justice Dept. desegregation order. If the local officials don't do what is asked of them from the "Big Dogs" - then the parish will be in trouble. One reason this is taking place is to avoid overcrowding in the classrooms - which is a good thing. Too many students in a class can interfere with the students' learning process. And I don't want to be negative about any schools, but Vidalia Jr. High is horrible. You have too many students not passing the 8th grade LEAP and by failing they become too old. There are kids there that are 15 and 16 years old along with 11 and 12 year olds. I don't like that mix. There is a huge difference between an 11 year old and a 16 year old kid. I would be real reluctant to send my child there. I would like to state though that I think Whest Shirley is doing the best that he can. It is a very hard school to be a principal at. The other schools are ok.
Posted by theduke (anonymous) on August 16, 2008 at 4:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I thought I had heard ever stupid excuse possible, but Fenwick topped it this time, he shows he's a true Fenwick redneck. He must be Danny's #1 customer! I he think he has already had a little too much to drink of whatever he does.
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Posted by Fenwick on August 15, 2008 at 11:36 a.m.
Vidlia will not be such a nice place anymore if they start closing down Dannys two early. I bet a lot of people will be wanting to move away from there. Then the schools will not have anyone left. Some body needs to stop something.
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I always thought selling booze & drugs (which we all know happens ) can't be that close to a school zone.
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Fenwick, If you like to booze it up in Vidalia at least learn how to spell it!
Posted by hollywood (anonymous) on August 16, 2008 at 10:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree Coach Shirley does a great job... but watch those test score results next month,,,, VJHS is projected to have GREAT scores.
Posted by BeautifullyDefined (anonymous) on August 20, 2008 at 4:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
HELLO EVERYONE I GRADUATED FROM VIDALIA IN 2002 AND I WAS A RESIDENT OF MS. WHAT WE DID WAS HAD LEGAL PAPERS DRAWN UP TO HAVE MY AUNT AND UNCLE'S GUARDINSHIP OVER ME. SO IT WAS NOTHING THEY COULD SAY.
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