Looks like reconfiguration has finally forced CSD to get serious about families who lie about their addresses – sometimes even falsifying documents – to get their children into Decatur’s school system.

Here’s a letter by Dr. Edwards that was sent out to select parents on March 30th.  The meatiest paragraphs follow…

For several years now, under my tenure, we have made efforts to implement residency procedures. Try as we might, we still have people that have resorted to lying about their address, falsifying documents or asking others to do so for them. You may have seen in the newspapers where some systems are actually taking legal action against people who perpetrate fraud of this type.

Right after spring break, your child’s school principal will be sending out communication asking for verification of residency. If you receive this type of letter, we ask you to understand why we have to ask you again to provide proof of residence. We will also be auditing the records randomly to see if we have missed some pertinent information.

Finally, there are some individuals whose residency has been in question for some time. I am directing the principals to send out notification to these families with the intent that the children be withdrawn and sent to their home schools. We will be providing enough time so that families can withdraw their children and get them settled into their new school for the next school year. We will be asking our attorneys to look closely at affidavits and leases provided in questionable circumstances.

While this certainly sucks for the kids caught in the middle, that’s not the school system’s fault or problem.  Parents should lead by example and play by the rules.

Special note to the AJC: Since this is something I could see you following up on, I’d just like to go on the record and point out that it was reported here first.  Thanks.