Parker: Enrollment fraud aggresively investigated
By SUSAN LEATHERS
Brentwood Home Page
During discussions of the Bristol at Centerview, the 393-unit mixed-use residential development now approved in the city’s Town Center district, opponents often brought up the impact it would have on Williamson County Schools’ Brentwood campuses, specifically Lipscomb Elementary, Brentwood Middle and Brentwood High Schools.

Two primary arguments against the rezoning and subsequent site plan approval that concerned schools included residential fraud – people renting the units to have a Brentwood address while actually living outside of the local school zones, and school population growth – worries that with the development’s high density, families would crowd into the one- and two-bedroom units in order to attend Brentwood-area public schools.

“We really think it’s not going to have a huge impact,” said Susan Parker, WCS’ planning and zoning specialist. “The positive thing is that we were made aware of it very early in the process.”

From an enrollment perspective, Lipscomb, Brentwood Middle and Brentwood High all have room for additional students, Parker said. She compared projected enrollments for the new school year against each school’s actual capacity.

She could not use comparative data from similar developments like the Bristol on Broadway in Nashville or Dwell in Cool Springs because both of those feed into different school systems (Metro and Franklin Special School District). Gateway Village, located just over Brentwood’s southern Brentwood city limits, is zoned for Brentwood schools but includes townhomes, flats, and single-family homes as well as residential over retail. Parker estimated that the total number of students in grades K-12 living at Gateway Village is no more than 100.

The Bristol at Centerview has an estimated build-out time of one to two years, Parker noted. “Honestly, it will take some units being developed before we can get some real history to work with.” However, all of the information shared by the city has led Parker to believe the impact will be limited.

“They eliminated the three-bedroom concept because they were worried about the schools,” she said. That, coupled with the development’s target markets – young professionals, single professionals, downsizers and retirees who have second homes, a Brentwood ordinance that does not allow month-to-month leases and projected rents of $900 to $2100 a month all helped shape Parker’s view that the number of children that ultimately reside at Bristol will not have a huge impact.

When it comes to parents trying to defraud the school system on residency, WCS is aggressive in both its investigation of claims or tips and in taking action once fraud is determined.

“We have people who commit fraud all over the county,” not just Brentwood, said WCS spokesperson Carol Birdsong. The system has a “Fraud Line” – 472-5555 – and encourages anyone who suspects a child may be illegally enrolled in a school to phone in the details.

“We ask that you give as much information as possible,” Birdsong said. “We will investigate. We will hire a private investigator if needed.”

If fraud is determined, the system bills the family for the cost of tuition and the child or children are asked to be withdrawn immediately.

In the 2010-11 school year, Parker said at least 12 to 15 families were investigated who lived in counties outside of Williamson. That number rises significantly when it includes investigations within the district, of children attending schools outside of their assigned zone using another person’s address.

“We investigate those the same way,” Parker said.

Most fraud cases come to the central office from other parents, “who are Williamson County tax payers,” Parker said.

Last year, as it does every few years, WCS required every student for proof of residency. This year, every student who is attending a new school – even those who are feeding into the next level within their feeder pattern – must prove residency.

Current residents much show two current utility bills (e.g. gas, water, electric) that indicate current address. New students whose families have not yet set up utilities must show a lease agreement or contract on a new home. Contracts contingent on the sale of a family’s existing home are not accepted, Parker noted.

Families who are awaiting the completion of a new home or expect to move into a new home within the district during a current semester can pay $2487.50 in order to go ahead and enroll a child. “We want to see the contract,” Parker said. “If you move in within the same semester you’ll be reimbursed in full.” If you don’t, the money is not returned.

Enrollment information for Williamson County Schools can be found by clicking here.