Families urged to prove residency About 30% queried haven't responded to N.B. schools check BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer One-third of the families with children in the North Brunswick school district who were notified about confirming their residential status have yet to return the appropriate documents. In a process that began in May to verify the status of all children attending township schools, the Board of Education requested that parents prove they are legally residing in town. Roughly one-third of the 5,500 children in the district needed to prove their residential status, and roughly 30 percent of these families have not responded to the notification letters sent out over the last two months. "Each of the schools reached out to their students before school ended and we got a good response, but we still have 500 families that haven't responded," district Business Administrator Marshall Sigall said. Of the other families involved in the Residency Verification and Re-Certification Initiative, one-third have been verified as residents and the other one-third have their information pending review. However, the concern is for the families who have not yet made contact with the district. The suspected children did not receive their fourth-quarter report cards and will not receive their schedules, homeroom assignments or bus passes unless they are established as North Brunswick students. Any students found to be attending the schools illegally will be removed with the possibility of prosecution and mandatory reimbursement of tuition. "Those who are not [legal] are probably the ones who have not provided us with any information," acting Superintendent Geri Margin said. "The ones who are residents have responded." The program was implemented after community members expressed concerns about the growing population of the township and the growing reputation of the school district. Some families have used a false address despite moving out of town or allowing their children to stay with a friend or relative so they can receive a North Brunswick education. "I think this responds to concerns in the community. This will verify that all students attending North Brunswick schools are residents of the township and are protected by North Brunswick Township schools," Sigall said. A final notice will be sent out asking the targeted homeowners to provide a copy of their deed, lease, or tax receipt, as well as two other forms of identification featuring an address, such as a bank statement, utility bill or credit card statement. "This has put in an annual process of checking residency and maintaining up-to-date records, family contact numbers and addresses," Margin said. Residents are asked to hand in their documents as soon as possible as the review process is a lengthy one. For more information, contact (732) 289-3000 ext. 4545. In addition, new student registration is ongoing but again residents are asked to complete their forms as soon as possible. To do so, contact (732) 289-3043.