Ossining school re-registration process raises concerns

Cross-posted from Journal News, January 17, 2010

Ossining school re-registration process raises concerns

Marcela Rojas
mrojas@lohud.com
OSSINING — Dozens of parents filed into the Roosevelt School gym Thursday night to show proof that their children reside in the Ossining Union Free School District.
The re-registration process, started in the fall for students in grades one, three, five, seven and nine has frustrated some parents while also raising concerns about how many students are, in fact, not living within the district's boundaries.
Aliou Cisse, who has three children enrolled, said he did not think the recertification plan was necessary. Cisse had put off complying, he said, until he received a certified letter in the mail earlier this month saying if he did not, the district would "begin the process of excluding your child(ren) as nonresident(s)."
"My kids have been picked up by the bus at the same address for the last nine years," said Cisse. "I'm very upset. I'm not happy because it's never happened before."
Schools Superintendent Phyllis Glassman said the plan to re-register students initially came from some residents in 2008 who "hypothesized" that many students may not live in the district.
In August, parents received a "residency re-registration" letter and form, asking them to attend designated registration evenings in October and to submit three original proofs of residency. Some 1,200 out of the district's 4,400 students had to re-register, Glassman said. There were additional registration dates offered in December.
Despite several opportunities, the district still had not received total compliance by late 2009.
"We've been told that this is a very long process and could take a year," Glassman said.
The district has since reinforced its efforts, sending out 400 certified letters Jan.5, additional first-class letters Jan. 7, as well as voice-message reminders to attend Thursday's registration night, Glassman said.
"We want to provide every opportunity to families to re-register," Glassman said. "It's very important to protect the civil rights of the families and to abide by the law."
Even so, some community members are questioning why it is taking so long and if the district is hiding data.
"Address verification should be done every year," said Ossining resident Mike Aurora, who has kids in second and fourth grades. "How many last chances is someone going to get to verify their address?"
Harriet Karp said in an e-mail she was among a group of concerned citizens who presented the Ossining Board of Education and administration with suggestions in March on what should be required to recertify students, including a deed for homeowners, a landlord's affidavit and current utility bills. They also submitted a petition signed by more than 400 residents on making sure that only students who live in the district are attending Ossining schools.
She expressed concern that they still do not know how many students have re-registered.
"They have been pussyfooting around this issue, making every excuse possible, at a cost to the taxpayers," said Karp, a former PTA president.
Late Friday, Assistant Superintendent Angela White said more than 1,000 students had been re-registered. Glassman also said no students had, to date, been removed from the district as a result of the process. The district, Glassman said, would seek advice from legal counsel on how to proceed with any remaining noncompliance.
"I don't begrudge them that you have to show proof of residency," said William Nuesslein, who accompanied his wife to register her son Thursday. "For us, it's just a formality. I don't know how many they are going to catch, if any."