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Concordia Parish students must prove where they live
Published Tuesday, July 22, 2008
VIDALIA — The Concordia Parish School District will give parents another chance next week to prove their residency in the school districts their children attend.
Proof of residency will have to be provided at the school where the student will attend between the dates of July 28 and Aug. 1 if parents did not provide proof of residency earlier this summer.
“Sometimes when people get out of school they’re thinking about summertime and summer activities, and when it gets closer to schools they’re thinking about school,” Superintendent of Schools Loretta Blankenstein said. “We just wanted to provide a reminder to parents that students will not be placed in a classroom until their residence is verified.”
The school district is still under a desegregation order, and the residency requirements are part of a follow-up to that order by the U.S. Justice Department.
Though the school district has required proof of residence for first-time students in the past, the new policy requires students who are registering for the first time in any school — for example, moving from junior high to high school — to provide proof.
That means every student moving into the third, fifth and ninth grades will have to meet the requirements.
This includes students at Monterey High School and Ridgecrest School.
After the first round of residence verification, the school district did not find a significant number of students in schools outside their districts, Blankenstein said.
If there is a student whose residence is in question after the verification, the Supervisor of Attendance and Welfare, Brenda Moore, will followup on the verification, Blankenstein said.
The school district defines residence as the primary place of residence for the legal parent of guardian of the student.
Items that can be used to verify residence include a property tax statement, utility bills, federal or state internal revenue forms, a driver’s license or a voter registration card of the parent or guardian.
At least two of the above-listed items will have to be provided for residence to be proven.
The school district will have approximately 4,000 students enrolled this academic year, Blankenstein said.
Comments
Posted by james (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 12:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
IT SHOULD BE AT ALL OF C.P.S. AND ALL GRADES!
Posted by Mucasplug (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 5:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why? Is it a big deal financially to the parish are is this just some kind of agenda based on jealousy or pride? Why not just embrace and educate them? I am 51 and have no children so I think I can post without prejudice. When I read these kind of things it makes me sad that people make a big deal out of things like this. Instead of trying to be mean and throw these kids out, why not embrace, love and teach them that Concordia Parish, La is a wonderful place to live and prosper. It's the "love your neighbor" thing that the Son of Man preached so strongly when he walked the earth.
Posted by vidalia1 (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 7:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Only problem I see is when the excess create overcrowded
class setting, instruction is not as effective for the children who are there legally.I was educated in Concordia and see this as a plus for education.Maybe the other district should model their educational settings so all can benefit.
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 8:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Something tells me if the CP schools allowed everyone in who wanted to attend, regardless of residency, the Concordia Parish schools would eventually segregate themselves...and that's against the law. Think about it yall.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 8:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Curious how the School Board can determine residencey when the District Court cannot.
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 9:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Haaaaaaaaaaaa EnKiKur! Ain't that the truth!
Posted by happybunny (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 9:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The problem is that Natchez residence are not paying taxes in Vidalia/LA. If they want to take advantage of the educational system in Vidalia, they should bite the bullet and relocate or do what the honest folks in Natchez are doing and put them in private school. I wish they'd be a lot more strict. Anyone can go and easily get a LA drivers license.
Posted by saywhat (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 10:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The problem for us was my kids were in a classroom of almost 30 kids. And at least half were from out of state and/or out of the parish.
Le them buy a house in Vidalia. That's what I had to do.
Posted by papajeff (Jeff McClure) on July 22, 2008 at 10:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"The school district is still under a desegregation order, and the residency requirements are part of a follow-up to that order by the U.S. Justice Department."
Pretty simple, really. It doesn't have anything to do with embracing or not embracing anyone. As a couple of others have said, if you want to have your kids educated in Concordia Parish, move here. We welcome new folks and it's a pretty good place to live.
Posted by Jeep (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 10:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I bet that those people from Natchez arn't paying Federal Taxes either where Vidalia is getting most of funding and grants from. Those people from Natchez might as well be from Mexico or China and are not US Citizens like folks from Vidalia.
Posted by happybunny (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 11:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Jeep??? I am confused. What on earth are you talking about.
Posted by Jeep (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 11:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It was ment to be satire. Everbody is is paying taxes for all the children in this country to get an education.
Posted by happybunny (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 11:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Last I checked it was your local and not your Federal taxes that pay for the education system. Paying Federal taxes does not entitle you to illegally enroll your child in a different school system. Sorry still confused by your statement and who you are advocating for, Vidalia residents, or the illegals?
Posted by mcmy (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 12:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
the jr high in vidalia needs help big time....its the kids. they are doing things i never thought kids that age would. i know many of them and their parents obviously arent involved i their lives enough or they would see what is going on. these kids are the future. parents need to pay attention. vidalia school system is definitely better than natchez....at least the lower grades are. i would never send my child to the jr high in vidalia though. open your eyes people..these kids are bringing pills and drugs to school every day. please dont think im just bashing vidalia because im not, im trying to help. its getting out of hand and will soon be as bad as natchez. and by the way these kids do live in vidalia. they arent coming from natchez...cant blame it on them.
Posted by bclord71373 (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 12:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This will probably be just like the voter registraion in this parish all you need for proof is a change of clothes and a toothbrush near the school oyou wish to send your kids to even if you live out of state or in a differet parish, ( look back at the sheriff race we had here people who lived out of state were allowed to vote and addresses that didn't exist were used to prove registration ) So really how do they think this will actually work ?
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 1:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
happybunny, there are a lot of federal money out there for schools to use. Unfortunately it comes with stipulations on what you have to spend it on, and then if you don't spend all of it this year you lose it next year. I think that is what jeep is talking about.
Posted by lambchop (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 1:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This past year I saw a few signs posted in yards of Natchez residents indicating the children residing there were "Ace" students. I don't know, but doubt these people paid out of state taxes or whatever for their children to attend Vidalia public schools. Whether the Concordia Parish schools are better or worse or just different doesn't matter. Students of an area should go to schools assigned to their areas. It is just a shame that schools are still under court orders to do this or that.
Posted by Jeep (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 1:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm advocating for all children. If a Vidalia child wants to go to school in Natchez, they wold be lucky to have that child, and visa versa period. Accomidations should and could be made. The current laws won't allow this to happen, there seems to be a more gang like mentality at the local level.
Posted by happybunny (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 1:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If the parents want the child to attend school in Vidalia, they should move there...case closed. We are not only talking about seperate parishes/counties, but different states. Why should the tax paying citizens of Vidalia have to deal with overcrowding due to Natchez children illegally attending their schools?
If parents had the right to send their child to the school of their choice, do you think Vidalia would be bursting at the seams? No longer would the parents pay the big bucks for private schools, they would all be sending their children to Vidalia. Now how do you resolve that problem?
Posted by Jeep (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 1:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I really dont think Vidalia would be that attractive. It would be less expenisive rent a residense than to pay those big bucks for private schools. I dont believe in throwing the baby out with the bath water for any reason.
Posted by happybunny (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 2:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I know a lot of parents that do pay for private school rather than trying to cheat the system because they will not betray their values and illegally send their children to Vidalia. Furthermore, there are not enough rental units in Vidalia to accomodate all the children from the four private schools in Natchez.
I wish they would post a school official at the drop point of each school and monitor license plates. That would certainly be telling.
Posted by lovemykids (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 3:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why is it okay for a teachers child to attend which ever school they choose just because they teach in concordia parish, but live in Natchez. But someone who lives in the parish has to show proof they live there or they can't attend that particular school.
Posted by geauxtigers (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 4:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
lovemykids because being a teacher is hard, and since you can't afford to pay them very well you have to give them some perks.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 5:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If parents were allowed to send their kids to the schools they wanted to, no matter how much it cost, it might improve the public schools in Natchez. Competition does that I hear.
Posted by lakedweller (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 5:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What about those of us who have a lake house and pay taxes!
Posted by lakedweller (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 5:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We also have a home in Natchez.
Posted by james (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 5:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
(JEEP)JUST HOW FAR OUTTHERE ARE YOU? NATCHEZ TELLING OTHERS WHAT TO DO IF YALL WOULD CLEAN UP YOUR ON SCHOOLS THIS WOULD NOT EVEN BE IN THE PAPER!
Posted by Razzmatazz (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 9:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Lakedweller, the law says primary dwelling. Is this where you vote? No. You vote and have your homestead exemption in Natchez. Just because you own property in LA doesn't make you a citizen of that parish. If you own property on the Lake, your kids would go to Ferriday anyway. I own property in Natchez, but I don't try to vote or send my kids to school there.
Mucasplug, what about lying, cheating, and stealing. That's what you're teaching the kids if you're breaking the law here in LA. Lying about where you live, cheating and stealing from those who honestly live here.
Posted by ksuplady15 (anonymous) on July 22, 2008 at 11:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The proof of residency is a requirement for federal and state funds. During an audit, if it is found 1 student is not legally a resident, it can result in thousands of dollars being taken from the district. School districts are paid a certain amount of money for each child enrolled, and some districts in the U.S. have "padded" those rolls and received money illegally, this is one of the reasons districts are audited and it proves a student is not enrolled in other districts at the same time. The more students enrolled and counted during the month of October means more money for a district, that is what the state and federal funds disbursement are based on.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on July 23, 2008 at 9:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Have Natchez parents been voting with their feet because their is no longer any local control of the school district? It appears so.
Posted by sayaprayer (anonymous) on July 24, 2008 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree that children should not be allowed to attend school out of state or parish but I do think that a student who resides in a parish should be able to go to any school in the parish they reside in as long as the parent is willing to provide transportation for them.
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