Resident urges quicker handling of foster‑care enrollment after child missed assessments and meals

A local resident told the Canal Winchester Local Schools board that a kindergarten student in kinship or foster care experienced a multiweek delay enrolling in the district and missed early‑year testing and other supports.

Denise Haygood, speaking as a concerned resident and child advocate, described a case in which she said it took about three weeks to enroll a child who had previously been enrolled in Columbus City Schools and who was placed with a kinship caregiver. ‘‘It took 3 weeks to get that child into school,’’ she said, and the delay meant the student missed assessments and some early‑year activities.

Haygood also said a separate child in foster care received a ‘‘brown bag’’ lunch rather than meal service, and she referenced Board of Education policy 5.11, which she said is intended to address enrollment and services for children and youth in foster care. She said that, in her account, the director of student services initially declined enrollment and that staff later apologized after the child began attending the district.

The board thanked Haygood for bringing the concern and said it would take the matter under advisement. No staff action, investigation outcome or additional board motion was recorded at the meeting.

Ending: The board acknowledged the complaint and indicated staff would follow up; Haygood asked the board to improve navigation of enrollment processes for families in foster or kinship care.