School Super to Parents: Let BOE Examine Out-of-District Policy

The following message was sent to parents Monday morning by Millburn Superintendent James Crisfield:

Dear Parents/Guardians:

I would like to use this month’s “Note from the Superintendent” to clear up some misconceptions that seem to have “gone viral” with regard to the district’s approach to what we do if a family moves out of the district in the middle of a school year.

First let’s start with some facts. The district has had Policy #5111 (“Eligibility of Resident/Nonresident Pupils”) in place for many years. All districts have to have such a policy in place, as it outlines who is eligible for an education in the district schools, what to do should a family move out of town, etc. Of particular interest lately, for whatever reason, is the clause in Millburn’s policy that addresses what happens when a family moves out mid-year. For over 15 years now, the district has allowed families who move away from town mid-year to finish that school year out, tuition-free, as long as they left after a certain point in the year. That “point in the year” has morphed from “the last quarter of the year” (1998 version) to “after Jan 31” (2003) to “the date that is one half of the school year” (2010) to, currently under consideration, “on or after Feb 1” (essentially returning to the more easily defined 2003 wording).

Notwithstanding the subtle evolution of “trigger date” language, the question has been raised as to why would we allow students to finish out a school year in the Millburn schools when their families no longer reside in Millburn? First off, the number of students to whom this applies is miniscule (maybe ten students per year?), so why this is getting so much airtime might be a better question to ask. But to the point, the answer is much more simple and humane than all the discussion taking place. It has nothing to do with “illegal residents” or “taxpayer rights” or anything else like that. Rather, it has to do with what is best for children:

We allow students to finish the year in their school, with their teacher and classmates, because it is the right thing to do for students. 

We adults cannot let the conversation stray from this metric. The details will play themselves out, and as a matter of fact the Board of Education is conducting a review of Policy 5111 now in a methodical, responsible manner to see if any policy adjustments are warranted. Let’s have those discussions, and adjust things as need be, but let’s also keep our eye on the prize at all times.

Sincerely,James A. Crisfield, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Editor's Note: You can read more about this topic here.