A Step in the Right Direction for Hamden: 

Tackling the Issue of Out of District Students Illegally Attending Hamden Public Schools.
To the Editor: 
Since being elected to the Board of Education in 2005, I have long argued the need for stronger residency policies to make certain only Hamden students are attending our schools. This Spring, I had the privilege of serving with Chairman Michael D'Agostino, Valarie Stone and HEA President Diane Marinaro on the Board's new Residency Committee. This committee came together, rolled up its sleeves, and produced meaningful residency policy changes needed to ensure Hamden tax dollars are being spent to educate only Hamden students. While I believe every child is entitled to an education, I firmly believe only Hamden residents are entitled to a Hamden education. 
The need for strengthening our district residency policies has never been greater. This year alone administrators, led by our new Superintendent, Fran Rabinowitz, Assistant Superintendent Hernandez, and our district residency officer, investigated over 70 cases of non-residency, and successfully removed over 40 non-resident students. In my three years on the board, we have found over 100 non-resident students, and successfully mandated each one withdraw from our schools. This investigative work is time consuming and difficult, but it continues. 
As part of the new policies approved by the Board of Education at it's June 10th meeting: 
•	The school district will now require all Hamden Public School parents/guardians sign an affidavit swearing that they live in Hamden, and that their children do as well. As a result of the affidavit, school officials will now have a stronger case against parents who attempt to defraud the school district, and taxpayers, by sending their children, illegally, to Hamden schools. 
•	Affidavits will be mailed out in early July, and must be returned, signed, to school before the first day of classes. Otherwise the child/children will not be admitted into school on opening day.
•	The Board can and will prosecute parents and/or guardians who do follow the rules, and tuition will be assessed to those parents of students who are found to be in violation of our residency policies.
•	A tip line will be created for teachers and staff to utilize, if they obtain any information regarding students illegally attending our schools.
•	The Residency Committee has recommended a new computer technology program which will enable district officials to scan all addresses given by parents, and cross reference them with the addresses located with the United States Postal Service. This will allow the school district to "red flag" anyone attempting to defraud the school district, and taxpayers, by giving a false Hamden address, when in reality the child lives in another town or city.
While these are only preliminary steps, they are crucial. Classroom sizes continue to grow, and the cost to educate each Hamden Public School student is rapidly approaching $13,000. It is simply unfair to ask Hamden taxpayers to continue to foot the bill to educate students who do not live in the district. It is equally unfair for teachers and students to have to encounter growing class sizes, especially when non-resident students attend our schools illegally, and utlilize the textbooks, supplies and equipment we provide for our own students. 
Let's continue to put Hamden, and it's students first. I applaud the district Residency Committee, and our new Superintendent, Fran Rabinowitz, for her support of these long needed changes. I believe they are a step in the right direction. If you have any questions about the district residency policy, please contact the Superintendent's office at 407-2000. 
Austin T. Cesare (R) 
Hamden Board of Education
Austin Cesare, a Republican, serves as Chairman of the Curriculum Committee of the Board of Education. He was recently appointed to the Board's new Residency Committee. He can be reached at austincesare75@aol.com.