For the first time, Niles West and Niles North have decided to add a residency verification program to their registration process.
Last year, 275 families applied to D219 schools of which 24 were declined. Seven families had to withdraw from schools due to moving out of the district and 10 families did not returns to complete the admission process. Residency has become a multi-million dollar issue for the district, according to a letter to the board of education dated July 24, 2015 from the assistant superintendent John Heintz who is currently on paid leave.
Beginning with the 2015-16 school year, District 219 families are required to show a minimum of four documents that ensure all students are living within the district’s limits.
Documents such as a mortgage statements or signed and dated leases and at least three utility bills are mandatory. If a student is living with his/her legal guardian with a custody order, then a court order, decree, judgement, or custody of affidavits is also mandatory.
According to assistant principal of student services, Antwan Babakhani, the school worked hard to verify residency over the summer.
“Administrators, registrars, master schedulers, multiple secretaries, and residency security worked continuously between May and August to verify residency,” he said. “It is very labor-intensive and requires clarification, care and attention to detail. It was our first year verifying the entire building, so it was not easy by any means,”.
Some students and their families said they found the new verification process frustrating.
“The entire process was very complicated and annoying because at first we were told to do it online. After we completed the process, a while later we were told to do it in person,” junior Miguel Arroyo said.
Other students preferred it when verification wasn’t required every year.
“I think that it’s a lot of work that parents probably don’t want to do and I think the district should reconsider and do it every two years like before,” junior Merima Mackic said.
Ultimately, students who are unable to provide proof of residency will be pulled out of the district.
