BAYONNE AND BEYOND – After hearing testimony from two teachers at a hearing earlier this month, the Bayonne Board Attendance Committee recommended to the Bayonne Board of Education that two students be removed from the school district because they allegedly were not legal residents of the City of Bayonne and therefore not entitled to attend Bayonne schools.
At its Feb. 24 meeting, the Board of Education voted to remove the students.
Board Attorney Anthony D’Elia said under the law, the students will be removed within 21 days – unless the parents appeal the decision to the state Department of Education. The students would then remain in Bayonne schools until the appeal is concluded. If the school district prevails in the case, then the parents could be charged for each day the student was in the school beyond the 21 days. The school district could also seek to get repaid for the 21 day period as well, even if the parents do not appeal the board’s decision.
Assistant Superintendent Robert Craig said this brings the total number of illegal students removed from the district this year up to 20.
Some school districts have begun seeking out “illegal” students, or students who sneak into their district even though they live (and thus, their families may pay property taxes) elsewhere.