Do I tell on a cheater? What would you do?

[swanmom]

As a background, our school district is one of the top in our state and the problem of 'out-of-district' families trying to get their kids in without living in town is a significant one. They are putting two 'portable' classrooms - costing about $250,000 each - onto my DD's school property to handle the overcrowding until they can build. We've been told that my DD's class is right on the edge of the state limit ... meaning one or two more kids and they'll need have to add another third grade in order to be in compliance. We taxpayers have had our rates increased to pay for all this. Now don't get me wrong. We moved here, in part, because of the good schools and I am a firm supporter of public education. BUT ....
Here's the dilemma. The woman who owns the dry cleaners where we've been going for years tells me her son is going to DD's school next year (same grade.) Since the cleaners is not in our town, I ask her if they moved. No, she says, she's using the address of a friend to register her kid. I have to tell you that this mild-mannered mom is furious! No wonder we don't have room in our classes. I recognize that they want a good education for their kid but then... you should buy or rent in our district! Or do it legally and pay the out-of-district tuition fee. A friend says that she's surprised I'm so angry and that I'm being pretty hard on someone whose just trying to get the best education for their kid. So now I'm conflicted. I don't want to act out of anger but I do think the school should know before this kids starts next week. What would you do?

 

[fireplug]

I would tell in a new york minute. That person is stealing an education from the taxpayers of your district and should be fined. They should also fine the 'friend' who let her use their address! That is not the way to get a good education.


Steve

 

[JerseyJanice]

Do you live in Ridgewood? (j/k--don't tell me!)

I'd want to tell if I were you, but it would bother me to "rat" on somebody.

I don't know what I'd do!

 

[danacara]

I don't think I would say anything. There is really no way to go about it without looking like a rat, and one kid is not going to make a considerable dent in the overall school framework. Short of some wild set of circumstances, it won't directly affect your child's education. Let me say this, though: if you do tell, I would make sure to get all your clothes back from the dry cleaner FIRST! (Lest some "uncleanable stains" appear on your clothing with one of those "sorry" happy-face tags)

 

[disykat]

It would bother me to rat, but I think I'd feel obligated to do it anyway. I can't believe she just volunteered that information as if it was an acceptable thing to do!

In our area you can get on a waiting list to open enroll in the school of your choice, but neighborhood kids get first choice and with overcrowded schools you're out of luck. I wanted my children in the neighboring district and realized my chances on the wait list were slim and would vary year by year - so we moved.

 

[swanmom]

Danacara,
You're right.....although if she was so free to tell me, I can't be the only one who knows. So I'm not sure she'll be able to pinpoint who told. I do disagree that one kid doesn't make much of a 'dent.' See below.....
Disykat,
I think the reason she was so willing to tell is that, unfortunately, it is fairly common in certain circles to literally exchange information about exactly how to pull off this scam. I'm guessing that she is not at all the only one of her friends who are
engaging in this. The climate seems to be that it's not that difficult to get away with - if you know how to pull it off.

 

[DVC-Don]

I'd turn them in. If you do not, it'll come to haunt you when you make out your school tax check.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

Our district is facing a similar problem.
And because our school building is on a Septic System that is at capacity....adding the portable classrooms is not an option.

Thankfully we have hired a Compliance Officer this year to address the issue. The fact that the child's name did not match the legal resident's of the house would trigger an investigation for our school.

I'm not sure what I would do -- is there any way to alert the school officials anonymously?

 

[CarolA]

We had a simular situation here. I would turn them in NOW. Otherwise you run the risk of the school finding out in January and kicking the kid out! Also, it sounds like they have a way to pay the out of district amount to make up the tax difference.

And yes, ONE Kid makes a difference. This kid is being asked to lie on his school forms etc. Personally I would be just as mad as you are!

I would be asking the school board what they are doing about this kind of thing. I have heard of instances where when the school actually started investigating it turned out that LOTS of kids were out of district!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

If the school does not have proper ways of verifying a childs address then really it will be pointless to "tell" on one child.
Also I am looking out for the well being of your child. In the off chance the gal might figure out it was you YOUR kid will be the one suffering the consequences. Who knows what reprecussions could come from this. I wouldn't be willingly to risk that with my child.

I think the best solution is to speak with the school about their "verification procedures". If it truely bothered me, that is what I would do.

 

[brerrabbit]

Having similar problems here our school district requires all transfers that are new to the district show a valid lease agreement or closing papers on a residence within the school district, otherwise the child cannot attend any school in the district. Since school taxes vary so greatly by district the impact of those additonal children are felt by the better districts. We are opening one new elementary, one new Jr. High and a 9th grade campus this year alone with a new middle school next year and thats just from the legitimate growth in the area. Don't feel bad about saying something.

 

[MerryPoppins]

Send an anonymous letter if you don't want to look like a rat. I bet they'd be glad to check into it if they are overcrowded.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

In our district if they think a kid is not legal, they will see if they get on the correct bus. If they don't, they ask questions. We are on the border with a big city school district and lots of parents would rather see their kids go to our school than a city school. I pay big taxes to live where I do, however, and if a kid was sneaking in without paying tuition I would be ticked.
Also, if she told you about it, she isn't being very smart. She's probably told others and anyone could turn her in. If she wants her child to go to that school, she can move in and pay the taxes like everyone else.
Robin M.

 

[EROS]

I'd let it go . My philosophy is live and let live UNLESS I feel that someone is a danger to the community. There are always those in life who cheat and cut corners; I don't feel that my role is to be the "community cop" for them. I had a friend who historically registered his cars in New Hampshire where he had a vacation home to escape the high Mass. insurance rates. Should I have "dropped a dime" on him???? I don't think so .....................

 

[disykat]

But Eros, in that case the guy did own a home in that area so that is a different scenario.

 

[NHAnn]

I think if you ARE going to say something you should do it before school starts. It's a tough call as to "should I tell" and one that only you can make, and you've gotten a lot of different perspectives on it.
A woman in my office did something like this -- when she moved to a different town (bordering her old town) she told the school that she'd moved, but gave the address of a family member in her old town so her kids could stay in their old school. This was more for her before/after school childcare arrangements than out of concern for the educational experience itself. She talked about it beforehand with friends, family, and gossiped around the office about it too. She knew it was illegal and decided she'd see how long she could get away with it. In the end, one of the kids "slipped", her first grader I think, and his teacher is the one who tipped off the school administrators that there may be an issue. She ended up having to transfer her kids to the correct school about 4 weeks into the school year, which was difficult for the little ones. She ranted and raved that school officials were disrupting her kids lives, she scolded her little one for letting it slip..........ugh...it still bothers me, the lessons in dishonesty SHE was giving her kids, saying "make sure you don't tell where we REALLY live .... "

Anyway, if there's a serious overcrowding problem, I think the school would WANT to know, but maybe as a poster suggested you can check on their verification policies.

It's thousands of LOCAL tax dollars PER YEAR to educate one child per year here in NH (Live free or Die state ) and people would be really upset at footing the bill for out-of-town students. With education funded by local property taxes only, no sales or income taxes, that kind of cheating affects each homeowner's property tax bill.

So I sympathize with your anger and dilemma. I'm not sure what I'd do if I were you......

 

[Sunny]

This happens a lot where I live, in the main city, and everyone uses a relative's address in the suburbs so they can send their child there. I would never do that and I don't even believe in busing kids from one side of the city to another to "even up the numbers". Stupid. If you don't like the school where you live, too bad, a school is a big consideration when you are picking out your home. You should have thought of that then.

But, would I tell? No way. Not my job to police them over something that is just annoying but not a big deal. And one is not going to make a difference, heck I know a lot more than "one" and it hasn't made a difference yet.