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Students must prove residency
Published Friday, June 6, 2008
VIDALIA — Residency is once again an important issue in Concordia Parish, but this time the issue does not have to do with voter registration but with student registration.
All Concordia Parish students moving from one school to another — for example, from Vidalia Upper Elementary to Vidalia Junior High School — had to provide proof of residence for their school district.
In other words, the parents of all students entering the third, fifth and ninth grades, including at the Monterey and Ridgecrest Schools, had to prove residency by providing at least two of five proofs of residence.
The Concordia Parish school district previously required students who registered in the district for the first time to provide proof of residence, but that changed after a visit from the U.S. Justice Department.
“We are still under a desegregation order, and this is just a follow up to show we are doing everything we can to follow the guidelines,” Superintendent Loretta Blankenstein said. “The representative was very pleased with the facilities and the programs being offered, but this was one thing she asked of us.”
The acceptable proofs of residence included property tax statements, internal revenue forms, utility bills, a driver’s license or the voter’s registration card of the parent or custodian.
Originally, the representative from the Justice Department wanted to require that every student starting school in the fall have to prove residency, but district officials were able to convince the representative to compromise and agree to what is currently in place.
“After talking and explaining the amount of work and paperwork it would generate to require that of every student, the representative agreed to limit it to those registering at the schools for the first time,” Blankenstein said. “We were very appreciative of that.”
Should a significant number of students from the Concordia Parish school have to enroll in the Natchez-Adams schools because that is where their true residence is, there won’t likely be any problems absorbing the students into the system, Natchez-Adams School District Superintendent Anthony Morris said.
“We are not to capacity by any means,” Morris said.
The district has not received a final report about the number of students providing proof of residence, but most students were able to provide their information, Blankenstein said.
Even though the registration period ended Friday, those parents who have not provided proof of residence will have to before the school year begins.
“This must be done prior to the student being placed in a class for next year,” Blankenstein said.
Comments
Posted by grrbrts (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 1:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Children attending school in THEIR place of residence (city, state, district, etc.) helps the integrity of the same.
Posted by jerrip (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 7:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Where I live every chid must prove their residency every school year. It is not a big deal either. They have forms and when you register your chld you show mortgage papers, contract to buy (requires further documination). light bill, renters or lease papers, property tax docouments, etc. and the school personel check off which one was shown.
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 7:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My children attend Vidalia schools and I love it so much, I wouldn't accept a free house in Natchez for that reason alone. I refuse to send them to private school ( I can't afford it anyway) and Vidalia suits us fine...good teachers, more attentive students, parents who care...administration who cares...I could continue but I think you get the message. If there wasn't a problem with Natchez or Ferriday kids coming to Vidalia, I'd say "open the doors wide to all who want it". I'm proud of our schools in Vidalia.
Posted by johndeereboy (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 8:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Only 2 items to prove residency, that will not catch them. They use a relatives address and get the cable bill put in their name, boy thats hard. It would be easier to catch them if they sat in line after school and looked at their licencse plate.
Posted by saywhat (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 8:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's about time. Now maybe the kids will have smaller classrooms. Hopefully, kids that need help can actually get it instead of getting lost in the system.
Posted by jch (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 8:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with you johndeereboy, there are MS plates all over when waiting in line. I realize some of these may be the one who keeps them after school and picking them up, but my guess is 90% of them live in Natchez. I also think more than a cable bill should be shown because that is very easy to have put in your name as you say. It says a bill of the parent or custodian, just what do they have to do to have or prove custodianship? Have never understood what that means exactly. That is the reason my husband and I moved from Natchez to Vidalia so we could send our kids to school here and be LEGAL!!
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 8:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
johndeereboy...the way I've seen it, there are Adams County liscense plates on a large number of cars dropping their kids off every morning. These kids parents are probably divorced and are using mama or daddy's Vidalia address to go to school, even though their primary home is in Natchez. I can understand not sending their kids to Natchez public schools. Everybody knows Natchez schools are suffering right now for lots of different reasons, mainly because parents don't care anymore. If they don't care, the kids won't care. Nope, can't blame good parents for wanting a better education for their kids.
On the other hand, it does congest our Vidalia schools. Some little ones can't go to the pre-K programs because there isn't enough room.
Posted by johndeereboy (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 8:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
kpage, do you think its ok to lie? We had people voting in an election that lied about residency. I was brought up better than that. People are teaching their kids its ok to lie as long as they get a benefit out of it. If your school is failing, move.
Posted by Yeahuhuh (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 9:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If it is not necessary to prove residency for voting, and employess of the sheriff's office were shown to be guilty of misrepresentation, then why would it follow that school students be held to a higher standard?
So now we know the students are supposed to prove their residence. Has anyone done anything about the voter rolls?
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 10:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's not OK to lie and I was surely not insinuating it! All I said is that I understand the parent's feelings. If the kid's primary residence is not in Vidalia, then the kids shouldn't go to school here. It's not fair for my kids to try to make do in congested classrooms. I resent the ones who lie, understandably, but I do FEEL for their predicament. Some hearts are softer than others, I guess.
While I'm on the subject, my girls play softball with lots of Natchez girls. Our taxes make it possible, not Natchez's. Why should they be able to play ball here?
Yeahuhuh made an excellent point...only in Louisiana will folks scream for fairness in elections and then lie to get their kids in the "right" school.
You've got me tapped all wrong, johndeere.
Posted by picture_music101 (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ahhh this dont concern me cause i failed BLAH!
Posted by kilabe (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 12:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I know for a fact that a cable bill or phone bill will not be acceptable at VLE. They have to take the Voter Reg.card. Don't forget this is a small town and most everyone knows everyone or someone who knows them. Kids talk too. I do know that last year there were a few students that had to be drop b/c they lived in Natz or Ridgecrest/Ferriday areas. Since Mr.Jackson passed away there wasn't anyone over that area until Dr. Moore took over, and she is on it! Viking Pride!
Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 2:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Uh Oh! I know some Natchez kids who live here and go to vidalia.
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 3:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
One of our children went to Vidalia, when we lived there. Then we moved to Natchez after her graduation. It didn't take long to sell that house. Good schools will increase property values.
Everyone thinks the Vidalia school is better, I think that perception is due to the way the teachers pile on homework . Plus, the Vidalia schools don't have the discipline problems the Natchez schools do, and you don't hear much about drugs or sexual harrassement either. My other daughter was harrassed sexually at the NHS, and when I visited that school I felt like I was walking into a dangerzone everytime. I came very close to getting in a fight a couple of times I entered the principal's office because the kids were out of control and there isn't much space in there for kids to be jumping around when parents visit. The kids are loud and you hear obscene language everywhere. The black kids are hostile to whites and basically discoureous and unkind. It's not a good school environment, there's not a friendly attitude amongst the school kids.
At Vidalia High School I hear a lot of gripes about excessive homework, from parents and kids. Everyone is scared to death of those annual achievement tests. The kids in Vidalia are stressed big time due to excessive homework. I wonder if all that homework has improved the overall academic capabilities of the students, or is it just a lot of hooplah to make the teachers look good by piling on a lot of unnecessary homework. I mean the kids are doing more homework than classwork, making their lives miserable because there is no time for the kids to play anymore. I don't think it's a healthy way to raise the kids.
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 4:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The very basics needs of the children in Natchez have failed to be met for many years, so I understand why people would zone jump to Vidalia to get their kids a better education. I used to deliver products to the Jefferson County High Scool sveral years ago and it was an almost suffocating environment for whites that I hated to go there. I imagine that a white kid going to Natchez Schools would feel the same now because the racial make-up would be the same.
I hope Vidalia will continue to keep its school system above par for the children that attend there. AS FOR NATCHEZ, get your kids to quit trying to be the next basketball player or football star and tell them to get an education...and lose the damn attitudes that are evident in almost every meeting I have had with your students....teach them to respect each other and themselves enough to cover up their underwear....wear a belt...buy clothes that fit, and most of all.....STUDY WHILE AT SCHOOL.....
ENOUGH PREACHING TO DEAF EARS....people in Natchez, peel the skin off of your eyes....and see what is holding down your society. Pick yourself up by the bootstraps, and then, pick up your neighbor and help all people in Natchez by putting aside stupid petty differences, educate the next generation, and pray that the Lord will forgive all of us for our sins of the past and start moving forward.....together.
Posted by blackwood (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 8:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Gosh, thanks y'all. Now I'm gonna feel like everyone is looking at me and judging me when I have to drive over and pick up the grandkids.
Marc
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on June 7, 2008 at 9:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think they should crack down on the Natchez,Ridgecrest, and Ferriday kids going to Vidalia school... It hurts the Vidalia students by other children going to the school out of there district.
Posted by latechmom (anonymous) on June 8, 2008 at 12:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's about time they check students to see if they reside in Vidalia.I had to move just so my child didn't have to go
to Ferriday or live with my mom.I don't think it's right that Ferriday kids,Kids in Green Acres who technically reside in Ferriday and Natchez kids can go to Vidalia but still live out of Vidalia.If I had to move then I think they should have to move also.
Posted by natchezlady1 (anonymous) on June 8, 2008 at 3:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Krogers and Redusmfan.....Quick question: Unless you are a student or frequent visitor/observer, how would you know how the black children are treating the white ones? Have you come to this conclusion by your own personal examination or is this what you have heard from a student there or friend of a friend of a friend? The point made about whites feeling uncomfortable because of the racial make-up can also be felt among black kids at Cathedral, Trinity, AC and similar schools. This is not anything I have heard. This is what my son and I have experienced. There aren't too many schools that a pre-k student will attend in which he comes home and ask what a n****r is because that is what a 4 year old white child called him. So while you mumble away at how rude and disrespectful black children are, why not address how hateful and cruel some of the white ones are, especially those who feel they are priviledged (and Natchez is crawling with them). Every story that has a black/white angle you people run with it. It is pathetic!!! As for rudeness, I have seen some of the worst in BOTH races. If we are going to single out one group for their behavior, then be fair and acknowledge that everything saintly is not white.
Posted by LdyBreez (anonymous) on June 8, 2008 at 8:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
NHS is a war zone where children run ramped and have no fear of consequences for their unacceptable behavior. Our own government has taken away the schools ability to dole out true consequences! There is no fear of Suspension and Expulsion; those children don't want to be there in the first place! Those are just rewards.
I can tell you that in a world where there is a fear of being paddled; there would be a whole lot less unacceptable behavior. Parents who don't want your children spanked, tough teach them not to do things that would land them in that position. It's called following the rules! Just think when they get out of school there are adult laws they will have to follow or land in jail.
I think rather than sending our kids out of state to school, we should model our school after the system we are all clamoring to get them into! Change our laws to fit what is working in Louisiana because what Natchez, Mississippi has is not working.
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on June 8, 2008 at 9:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sing on, LdyBreez! Bring back the paddle. It scared the heck out of me in school! And we didn't act like kids do today, either. It's scary the Natchez public school system has come to this...with supposed ADULTS running the show! The kids act out however much the adults in the system allow them...and how much the government allows. Shame.
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on June 8, 2008 at 9:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with bringing back the paddle..I guarantee if they did the first one to get paddled there would be a parent there singing my little angle did nothing. I do not spank my angel why should you blahblahblah....Parents are scared of there kids these days. Let me repharse that some parents are most of them are.. Look at how they act in wal mart if we would have acted that way in public OMG , I bet you we would have done it 1 time and 1 time only...
I also think they should put GOD back in the school...Look at how it has fallen since GOD was taken out.....
Natchez School probably are the worse i have ever saw including Jackson schools...
Posted by Doobee (anonymous) on June 8, 2008 at 9:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think ALL parents of the students of Concordia Parish Vidalia schools should have to prove residency, for many reasons. For one, there are alot of people that live in Natchez, Ferriday, and alot of other close area's that use friends and family's addresses to get their kids in Vidalia school system. Yes, Natchez and Ferriday need to improve their school, but until they do, why should the Vidalia school have to enroll so many kids that doesn't reside here. I also think the parents should need to prove they reside here by paying taxes to the City of Vidalia, if they work, and also show your Voters Registration card.
The Superintendent got it approved that they wont have to do so much paperwork for "every student", just those entering the schools. Every year we have to do paperwork for the school anyway, what more could it cost the school system to ask for "Proof of Residency" included with the paperwork they send home with the students the first day of school? That is up to the parent to get copies of their Voters Registration, Utility Bills, Drivers License, and send it back to the school by the next day...
I know there are quite a few people that use the Vidalia school system and they don't even reside in Vidalia. If it was my child, they would be kicked out of school because of residency.... What do we do about this???? I don't want to hurt anyones feelings, but I think if you live here and pay taxes here, you have every right to send your child to school here, and if you don't, you don't have the right to send your child to a school system out of your area without reimbursing the school.
Maybe we could get the School district to put a charge for kids that DO NOT reside here. I know that's what Franklin County Mississippi does for out of County Tuition. They had charged (10 years ago, or so) $500 per child, "OUT OF COUNTY TUITION". Parents had to go to the School Board to get the approval for their kids to attend a different County school and pay $500 Out of County Tuition for each child to go to Franklin County School District.
I honestly think this may be a way for the Vidalia School District to go about legally allowing other area's children into the school system, and to get funds for even the students that their parents doesn't actually reside here.... In this case, everything will work out right for everyone.
Posted by cooper3k1 (anonymous) on June 8, 2008 at 9:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was raised in Natchez and graduated from South Natchez (way back then). I now live in McComb and my oldest son just graduated from McComb High. The school requires 2 forms of proof of residency or you can pay to have your child attend in the McComb School district (unsure of the amount) if you live outside of the district. It seems to work well here. Maybe Vidalia needs to have something similar there. I am sure that parents outside of this school district would rather pay for their children to attend Vidalia than lie and set a bad example...!
Posted by PollyG (anonymous) on June 10, 2008 at 1:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree totally, bring back the paddle. I worked for my generation and we continue to obey the laws of God, city, state, and nation. There has been a role reversal, who's the parent. Read the book of Proverbs.
Posted by quest (anonymous) on June 10, 2008 at 1:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If discipline is returned to the home setting, then discipline would improve in the school setting. I'm a firm believer that a major problem of our school (no matter if it's Ferriday, Vidalia, Natchez, Ridgecrest, Monterey, or any other public school) is that the parents don't have control at home. But I digress and am off topic of the article.....students should have to provide proof of residency every year in all grades. Just because they "prove" residency in the 6th grade doesn't mean they will stay in the correct zone for 7th grade, etc.
Posted by Doobee (anonymous) on June 11, 2008 at 5:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I believe that is the only way to resolve this Residency Problem in Vidalia, is to PROVE your a resident by Drivers License, Voters Registration, and MOST OF ALL: Vehicle Registration and tags... If you don't have these Documents, then you pay an "Out of Residency Tuition" to reimburse the school system and help to get more teachers for smaller classroom numbers so there's more "one on one, teacher to student help".
Posted by jms123 (anonymous) on June 14, 2008 at 5:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree it's about time, we live in a Vidalia School District. My child rides a school bus, I know the bus driver personally, and he knows this is my child. I know so many children from Ferriday, Ridgecrest, Clayton, & Natchez, who go to Vidalia illegally, they lie to the school about where they live, they teach their children to lie about where they live. Some I know for a fact have rented a spot at a trailer park for their camper, for a couple of months, and claimed that as their residency, for the following several years. When our Vidalia children graduate, who is getting the scholarships? If they do not legally live in a Vidalia school district, where they can ride a school bus to school, I say move to Vidalia, if you want your children to go to Vidalia, don't teach them to lie, so soon in their young lives.
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