District Pursues Students Who Attend South Brunswick Schools Fraudulently

The South Brunswick School District has been working diligently to track down students who are attending township schools fraudulently based on where they reside.  Superintendent Gary McCartney said the district actively investigates tips on students who may be attending South Brunswick schools when they should be attending another district.

"Where a kid sleeps at night determines where they should go to school," he said at Monday's Board of Education meeting.  "We have ongoing investigations and go to great lengths to determine who should be going here."

Dr. McCartney said thus far in the 2010-11 school year the district has conducted 65 investigations into student residency, which has resulted in 13 withdrawals of students from the district.

During the 2009-10 school year, the district conducted 112 investigations that resulted in 8 students being removed from South Brunswick schools.  In some cases, the district pursues legal options to get reimbursed for tuition costs.

"We get back money for fraudulently obtained school services," McCartney said.

The problem with students from outside the district attending South Brunswick schools is the diversion of resources from students legitimately attending school in the district from the tax dollars that residents pay for schools.

In most instances, the investigations are prompted by school secretaries who notice something is amiss or through tips from other residents.

"If somebody is thinking of hosting someone that they shouldn't, we are going to find out about it," McCartney said.  "And that will put both parties in a liable situation."

Residents with suspicions about fraudulently obtained school services are asked to call the Board of Education offices at 732-297-7800.