To educate or not to educate?

Out of about 1,500 students in the 10th and 11th grades in the Valley Stream Central High School District, nearly 100 had yet to re-register by the end of last week. That number has already started to decrease since a mailing went home to the parents of those children, said Bill Heidenreich, assistant superintendent for administration.

The Residency Advisory Committee, which Heidenreich chairs, met on Monday morning with the re-registration process for 10th and 11th-graders as a major topic of discussion. Two community members, Janice Sievers and Patricia Wagner, said they were upset that so many children have not provided the district with the required paperwork.

In addition to registering when first entering the district — either when coming from the elementary schools or moving in to Valley Stream — students must also re-register prior to their sophomore and junior years as a way of ensuring they still live in the community. Heidenreich explained however, that failure to do so does not mean the child no longer can attend classes. “Once you submit your [initial] documentation, you’re a resident until we prove otherwise” he said.

Wagner said it should be no surprise to parents that they have to re-register their children, since packets are sent home in May. “If you have 100 kids that you can’t validate who live here, that’s a problem,” she said.

Board of Education member Bill Stris cautioned against making that assumption that just because those students haven’t re-registered, doesn’t mean they are not residents. Last year’s re-registration process turned up only one student who didn’t belong in the schools.

About 350 students had not re-registered by the Aug. 15 deadline. Additional letters were sent out and phone calls were made. By Sept. 1, it was down to about 250 students and more phone calls were made. As of early October, 100 students had failed to re-register and letters were sent home this past weekend giving them until Nov. 4 to complete the paperwork, otherwise the district would have to take action.

However, the district would not be able to just pull those children out of school. Every child would be entitled to a hearing, Heidenreich said, and would be able to stay in school until a determination is made.

Sievers noted that last year, the district withheld schedules from the children who had no re-registered, and that was effective in getting people to turn in their paperwork by the start of school. This year, the district did not withhold schedules, although it was mentioned on the initial letter. Sievers said it was an empty threat.

Heidenreich said that holding back schedules last year caused a lot of chaos, as there are already a lot of complications getting schedules right at the beginning of the year. District officials did not want to add to that by having hundreds of additional students with no schedules.

Board of Education President Larry Trogel said he agrees with the decision. “We’re here to educate students,” he said. “The idea was to get school open, get everyone where they’re supposed to be and follow up.”

John Sheahan, attorney for the district, said that students and their parents are entitled to due process, and a child could not be removed from school without a hearing. He said that this is a directive of the state education commissioner, and that supersedes any district policy.

Sheahan also noted that once a child misses the deadline to re-register, any paperwork that comes through afterward faces extra scrutiny. He also said that the district must build a strong case in the event there is an appeal to the state education commissioner. Sending home numerous letters shows that the district is being diligent and that would ultimately work in its favor.

Heidenreich said the district does takes every case very seriously because they do not want to lose an appeal, nor deny a student an education they are entitled to. “We want to make certain that we’re right,” he said.

The Residency Advisory Committee does not set any policy but does make recommendations. Heidenreich said that he will recommend to the high school administration and board of education that the time frame be moved up to get paperwork from people who missed the first deadline. He said that legally the district is doing everything right and the only change that can be made is trying to expedite the process.

Heidenreich said on Monday afternoon that many parents had already responded to the recent letter. As of that time, the number of students in 10th and 11th grade who have yet to re-register stands at 88. “People thus far, and it still is early, have been responsive,” he said.