The Natchez Democrat

Posted on June 11 at 5:04 p.m.

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".

On Students must prove residency

Posted on June 8 at 9:15 p.m.

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.

On Students must prove residency