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School fraud?

By
Real Estate Agent with Kendall Haney Realty Group

Well here we go again with more drama related to the foreclosure crisis we are experiencing in this country.

It seems that parents, with an attempt to keep their children in the schools they have been in prior to losing their home, are faking addresses.  According to the WSJ some school systems are hiring private invesitgators (Magnum, PI, Simon and Simon) to determine the addresses of these families.

There are enough people being disrupted by the foreclosure process.  People are leaving their homes because they can no longer afford the home.  Homeowners and their children have had to get rid of their pets because they were moving into rental units that don't allow pets (I write this as I'm surrounded by my 3 dogs who I wouldn't live without).  So now we have schools spending taxpayer money to make sure that children are going to the school they are supposed to.  What a waste of money and resources!  Come on Boards of Education, focus on what you are supposed to focus on .... educating our young!

Posted by

 

C Tann-Starr
Tann Starr & Associates, Inc. - Palm Bay, FL

It is a shame so many people have to suffer through unintended consequences and have so few resources to mitigate their losses. It's bad enough a parent may have to try and explain to a child why they are no longer living in their home, but to try and explain why they have to also lose the stability of their friends can be emotionally devastating. It may be wrong, but I am sure they are only trying to protect their children and give them something familiar to cling to during a tough transition. You would think someone somewhere would introduce legislation to allow a family to a least finish out the school year if they loose their home due to foreclosure.

May 21, 2008 11:03 PM
Shaun Wren
AGENTFORLIFE - Lakeland, FL

I think they should be able to go to school where they want to go.

May 21, 2008 11:38 PM
Rob Muller
ReMax Town & Country - Canton, GA
Cherokee County Real Estate

It is a shame that this is happening. I agree with the above comment about finding a way to allow the child to finish out the school year if their home was foreclosed on. This is so hard on the family. Unfortunately, we can't allow everyone to go to school wherever they want or certain schools would be too overcrowded. If a family with children moves into that foreclosed hoome- that is more children in that school. There is only space for a certain number of children in each school. (Wife is a teacher and has seen this when a family moves- for whatever reason- trying to stay at the same school. All of this can affect the fundning at the school for special programs. There is no easy fix.)

May 21, 2008 11:45 PM
Chip Jefferson
Advanced Building LLC - Lexington, SC

This is an inevitable by product of the economy. Its a shame that it even reaches down to the depths of the children's education.

May 22, 2008 12:08 AM
James Downing - Metro DC Houses Team REALTORS®, CRS, GRI, ABR,MRP, MilRes
Real Living | At Home - Washington, DC
When Looking to Buy or Sell - Make the Right Move

What a great idea - the "Where Do you live" Police.  Geez!  Lets buy new textbooks and fix the old school house instead.

May 22, 2008 01:32 AM
Mike Macey | ThinkUp New Media
ThinkUp New Media - Centennial, CO

My best friend got divorced and lost their home to foreclosure.  He and his x-wife didn't want to move their son out of his high school.  She moved a block from us but would not have been allowed to keep their son in the same school (same school district).  YES, they live at our address.  Please.................... focus on education and leave address policing to.................

Jun 09, 2008 01:03 AM