Is it Stealing?

[mickeyfan2]

Telling a lie to send a child to a school district they are not entitled to attend is wrong. Yes it is stealing from the tax payers.

 

[rt2dz]

http://www.givekidsgoodschools.org

Something everyone should check out, whether it makes any immediate difference or not.

 

[my4kids]

Maybe "theft of services"? Not sure about that but in my opinion, it is stealing.

No- it is theft of money. The person is not paying taxes in that district to cover the services provided to the school based on the tax intake for the area. They are not stealing money from the school as much as the other parents and students at the school who have a right to be there. The other students are getting less services provided to them because their tax money is also covering the "cheater" It is like their tax money is being ripped off by someone who wants services paid for by their tax money.

 

[RitaZ.]

How about moving to a better district?

How about when you purchase an expensive home in a nice neighborhood, for the schools, and then the school board changes the school boundaries?

I live in a pretty nice town and that's exactly what happened to thousands of parents two years ago when the boundaries were changed. Parents were really mad. Many complained that they had purchased their homes based on their neighborhood schools, yet their children would have to go to a school farther away (still in our city, but not as close as their neighborhood school). THe school board dealt with the problem by throwing a bunch of money at the schools with the unhappy parents. Those schools were able to expand and to build new buildings, new computer labs, new gyms and new programs. It actually worked out pretty well. Our city is known for having parents that demand more for their kids' education.

 

[CEDmom]

Oh brother. THAT'S what started this thread. My DD wanted to go to a different high school in the SAME tax district and the OP of this thread said that it was a form of stealing. Now it's not?

You have to approach your Board of Ed to find out if it's stealing. Every state is different in how it's school work. Here in NJ you're told the school you can go to based on your address. We pay taxes to our township and that's the school we go to. There are several elementary schools but only 1 MS and 1 HS. If for some reason I wanted my DD to go to another elementary school I'd have to approach the Board of Ed to find out if it was possible.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I just remembered this. The school district line actually runs through our property. The previous owners picked the school that their kids would attend. I called the town to find out if we had that option (both districts are just as good) because I was curious. I was told to check my tax bill and whatever district I pay taxes to then that is the district that my kids must go to. So I pay for my kids to go to school where they go. If I wanted to send them to private school I would have to pay for tuition not just send them because I think it's a better school. Private schools get money from the state as well so what's the difference?

 

[CEDmom]

I just remembered this. The school district line actually runs through our property. The previous owners picked the school that their kids would attend. I called the town to find out if we had that option (both districts are just as good) because I was curious. I was told to check my tax bill and whatever district I pay taxes to then that is the district that my kids must go to. So I pay for my kids to go to school where they go. If I wanted to send them to private school I would have to pay for tuition not just send them because I think it's a better school. Private schools get money from the state as well so what's the difference?

Are you sure about that? I went to private school and I know they didn't get any state $. I do know that private school will sometimes utilize programs available in the public school if needed - i.e. specialized teachers for in need students. That's justified because parents are paying into local districts through property taxes.

 

[rt2dz]

Private schools get money from the state as well so what's the difference?

Private schools can apply for gov't grants, but not every school does. And of those that do, not every school gets them.

 

[Anewman]

Private schools can apply for gov't grants, but not every school does. And of those that do, not every school gets them.

And even those that do, it is never their main source of funding.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

That may be true about getting less funded money, but our school taxes make up a huge part of what is spent per child in our district.

 

[jodifla]

And frankly there's no such thing as "a lifetime of poverty" to kids in bad districts. Those kids who are motivated to succeed will do so. In the worst schools you'll still find bright and motivated kids who get good grades, learn, and go on to college. Generally those kids have parents who care about their education, even if they aren't educated themselves.

Anne

You can look at New Orleans, and say there's no lifetime of poverty???

Anyway, I'd never turn somebody in. I'd know they were just trying to do what's best for their kids.

For all of those whose solution is, "Just sell your house and move!" there's no doing that in Michigan now, really. Nobody's buying any houses here....people are just giving them back to the bank.

 

[jodifla]

Again, the State is requiring that the school districts have verified proof that the child is eligible to attend the school. Families living with other families would not have utlity bills therefore they would not be allowed to register at the school. We had to show eligibility for our kindergartener to be able to sign her up. For the families living with other families, what address do they use for legal means? What address do they have for ID?
.

You can get an ID in Florida without having a utility bill. Michigan is stricter.

And homeless kids have a right to school, so you are most likely misinformed about the registration process for them.

Lots of families live with other families. Don't think they're all staying home from school

 

[arminnie]

You can look at New Orleans, and say there's no lifetime of poverty???

I have a home in New Orleans, and it has been a part of my life for over 40 years.

I know of many, many people who escaped the projects in New Orleans to go on to be policemen, firemen, teachers, etc. It is not impossible.

The biggest handicap to the children living in New Orleans (and I agree the schools are horrible) is the babymommas who send their 6-7 year olds out to work for drug dealers. These precious little boys end up all too often as soul-less criminals.

The only way to save those children with worthless mothers (fathers usually long gone) is to take them away, but no one wants to do that. A mother who cares enough about her child to even slightly care about his or her education would be worth more than any school or teacher.

 

[Anewman]

Again, the State is requiring that the school districts have verified proof that the child is eligible to attend the school. Families living with other families would not have utlity bills therefore they would not be allowed to register at the school.

I rent out some units with Utilities included as part of the rent, what would the renter do in that case.

One can open accounts with the utility companies with no proof of residency, but you assert that the state feels a utility bill is sufficient proof of residency.

Also those families could in fact produce utility bills, just not with the same last name as the child. Same way many families today have children with differing last names, also produce bills with different last names.


I would love to hear the press get a hold of a story where a child living in the area gets denied an education because he cant produce a cable bill.

 

[ducklite]

You can look at New Orleans, and say there's no lifetime of poverty???

There are plenty of people from OLA who have escaped the cycle of poverty through hard work, caring aprents, and a personal ethic.

Anyway, I'd never turn somebody in. I'd know they were just trying to do what's best for their kids.

Actually I'd do what's best for MY kids and turn them in. By letting kids stay it causing lower per student funding and/or overcrowding.

For all of those whose solution is, "Just sell your house and move!" there's no doing that in Michigan now, really. Nobody's buying any houses here....people are just giving them back to the bank.

So if they are giving them back to the bank, why can't they move?

Anne

 

[jodifla]

So if they are giving them back to the bank, why can't they move?

Anne

That's a last ditch resort. My point was, to all the posters who said, "Just move" like it was easy. It's not.

 

[jodifla]

I have a home in New Orleans, and it has been a part of my life for over 40 years.

I know of many, many people who escaped the projects in New Orleans to go on to be policemen, firemen, teachers, etc. It is not impossible.

The biggest handicap to the children living in New Orleans (and I agree the schools are horrible) is the babymommas who send their 6-7 year olds out to work for drug dealers. These precious little boys end up all too often as soul-less criminals.

The only way to save those children with worthless mothers (fathers usually long gone) is to take them away, but no one wants to do that. A mother who cares enough about her child to even slightly care about his or her education would be worth more than any school or teacher.

So, in this case, if you knew of one of those New Orleans moms who was faking an address to get her kid into a better school, would you turn them in?

 

[Anewman]

There are plenty of people from OLA who have escaped the cycle of poverty through hard work, caring aprents, and a personal ethic.

While I do agree that anything is possible, stats dont lie. It is a vicious cycle that is hard to escape.

I live in decent area and I notice parents from neighboring areas try to give their kids a something a little bit better by bring their kids to our schools and parks(for sport), I applaud them. But at the same time I do see it as bringing our area down, test scores/crime/attitudes/etc...

It is really a tough situation.

 

[freckles and boo]

Yes, it is stealing. As someone else pointed out, in Illinois property tax dollars go to the individual districts. I live in a suburb of Chicago that is surrounded by the city of Chicago on three sides. These are not inner-city neighborhoods by any means. A good portion of the neighborhood to the east is quite wealthy with stunning historic homes. (If it weren't for the city schools and property taxes and the fact that prices were sky-high, we would have loved to live there.) To the south is a neighborhood populated by many teachers, firefighters, cops, and city workers who are abiding by the Chicago residency requirements of their jobs. To the north is a racially integrated neighborhood with a mix of new and old homes. Even though these are stable middle-class neighborhoods (with some very rich people thrown in for good measure), each year there are Chicago residents who try to misrepresent themselves and send their kids to suburban schools.

We have excellent schools and our district is strict. Each year we have to show three pieces of evidence of residency. We have been asked for our homeowners insurance policy. We are asked to anonymously report non-residents or those who misrepresent themselves. There are as many as five full investigations a year - which still cost less than it would cost to educate a child for a year. While I feel bad for the individual children affected by their parent's choices, I would probably report a child if necessary because our elementary schools each have at least three mobile classrooms just to keep class sizes down. I moved here ten years ago and paid taxes for nearly eight years before I had a child in the school system. I am grateful for our communities commitment to education and I don't want it compromised. If that sounds harsh, it is because I believe that housing is very affordable in this community and there are a fair number of rental units. Those who wish to attend the schools should make the effort to move to the community.

 

[jodifla]

Yes, it is stealing. As someone else pointed out, in Illinois property tax dollars go to the individual districts. I live in a suburb of Chicago that is surrounded by the city of Chicago on three sides. These are not inner-city neighborhoods by any means. A good portion of the neighborhood to the east is quite wealthy with stunning historic homes. (If it weren't for the city schools and property taxes and the fact that prices were sky-high, we would have loved to live there.) To the south is a neighborhood populated by many teachers, firefighters, cops, and city workers who are abiding by the Chicago residency requirements of their jobs. To the north is a racially integrated neighborhood with a mix of new and old homes. Even though these are stable middle-class neighborhoods (with some very rich people thrown in for good measure), each year there are Chicago residents who try to misrepresent themselves and send their kids to suburban schools.

We have excellent schools and our district is strict. Each year we have to show three pieces of evidence of residency. We have been asked for our homeowners insurance policy. We are asked to anonymously report non-residents or those who misrepresent themselves. There are as many as five full investigations a year - which still cost less than it would cost to educate a child for a year. While I feel bad for the individual children affected by their parent's choices, I would probably report a child if necessary because our elementary schools each have at least three mobile classrooms just to keep class sizes down. I moved here ten years ago and paid taxes for nearly eight years before I had a child in the school system. I am grateful for our communities commitment to education and I don't want it compromised. If that sounds harsh, it is because I believe that housing is very affordable in this community and there are a fair number of rental units. Those who wish to attend the schools should make the effort to move to the community.

So, you could wreck a kid's life, and sleep at night? Wow.