Submitted
October 1, 2018
Dear Fairhaven School Community,
Student enrollment figures are declining throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and in the Southcoast region. This is not the case for the Fairhaven Public School District. A five-year trend shows our district’s enrollment growing from 1,980 students in 2013, to 2,045 students in 2018. We are aware of our current enrollment trends and welcome the opportunity to educate all families and students within our district. We always provision and budget these anticipated students.
Currently, our school district is being inundated with unanticipated student residency issues. Last year alone we dealt with forty-three residency concerns. People are going to extraordinary lengths, to the extent of perjuring themselves, to gain entry into our district. We are dealing with questionable living arrangements, suspicious affidavits, and other means to gain entry into our district. These issues are causing a significant strain on our financial and human resources, including but not limited to class size, teacher load, textbooks, supplies, materials, etc.
Many of these circumstances involve students with very diverse learning needs. The resources to service students with increased needs [affects] physical space, increases in special education group sizes, case loads, evaluations, testing, transition meetings, and out of district placements. We welcome and educate all families and students in our district, however, we cannot budget and provision for all of these un-anticipated students.
Our taxpayers deserve that their tax dollars educate all of the students who actually reside in our town. Our taxpayers deserve that their tax dollars do not educate any of the students who do not actually reside in our town. We cannot possibly monitor student residency alone.
If any resident in our community becomes aware of fraud regarding students attending our school system in the town of Fairhaven, we would ask that they inform the school department. We will address those committing perjury by adhering to the laws of the state protecting schools from enrollment fraud.
Chapter 76 Section 5 states that, “No school committee is required to enroll a person who does not actually reside in the town…” and that “Any person who violates or assists in the violation of this provision may be required to remit full restitution to the town of the improperly-attended schools.“
The Fairhaven Public School District does have a proven track record and a productive relationship with the Fairhaven Police Department. We work together to investigate allegations regarding residency fraud. It is important to note that this unanticipated increase in student residency issues puts an undue stress on law enforcement as well.
Over a decade ago, we developed a strategic plan that was driven by the adage “Become a Part of our Team” and Choose Fairhaven.” Our significant increase in student enrollment is clear evidence that this journey has far exceeded our expectations.
We will continue to welcome and educate all families and students to our district. We are honored that families and students are “choosing Fairhaven.” We will continue to commit to the taxpayers of Fairhaven who deserve that their tax dollars educate all of the students who actually reside in our town.
Respectfully Submitted,
Robert Baldwin Ed.D, [Fairhaven] Superintendent of Schools
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