By Johnny Jackson

jjackson@henryherald.com

Henry County Schools officials continue to see a large number of parents suspected of unlawfully enrolling their children in the county’s public school system.

The system experienced an unexpected spike in enrollment this fall, climbing to 40,624 students in August, compared to 39,854 students last August.

While instances of suspicious enrollment seem to have contributed to the rising student numbers, they have apparently not caused the majority of the increase.

School officials said that only about half of the suspicious, or “proof of residency” cases have ended up requiring further investigation.

The school system has, so far, investigated 325 suspicious proof of residence cases, said Henry County Schools Spokeswoman Connie Rutherford.

She said 177 of those 325 cases ended with the parents verifying accurate home addresses. “Some of [the complaints] come in the form of tips from anonymous callers and requests from the schools,” Rutherford said.

She said investigators found 15 cases, in which students had been living in another county, or their parents falsified the school system’s proof-of-residence affidavits.

In 40 cases, parents were determined to have moved to a different address (possibly within the county) and a different school district.

“The remaining investigations,” Rutherford continued, “were either designated McKinney-Vento [homeless cases], closed to guardianship, assigned for further follow-up, or are still open.”

Rutherford said 48 cases are currently being reviewed, and officials are preparing for possible prosecution. Whether the cases progress to court, she said, depends on the strength of the evidence gathered.

Since last school year, six families have paid the tuition owed in full, totaling $5,963.22. She said five families are currently repaying a total of $4,0221.10 in tuition on a monthly basis.

An inquiry originates when a parent is unable to provide adequate proof that his or her child lives within the county, and the school district where the child is attending school.

Henry County Board of Education policy requires that parents present a home lease or rental agreement; a current residential property tax statement or notice, or a deed, and two current utility bills, or an “affidavit of residency,” as proof of residence, before students can be enrolled in the school system.

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