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Paterson school board votes 7–1 to disenroll students it deems not domiciled
Summary
The Paterson Public School District board on April 22 approved a resolution authorizing disenrollment of students it determined not domiciled in the district, effective 21 days after notice unless a timely appeal is filed with the Commissioner of Education; the vote was 7–1.
The Paterson Public School District Board of Education voted 7–1 on April 22 to authorize and ratify determinations that certain students are not domiciled in the district and to direct their disenrollment 21 days after parents or guardians receive notice unless a timely appeal is filed with the Commissioner of Education.
The vote followed an executive-session hearing on residency determinations. The board’s motion, introduced by the presiding officer, included a provision that students would be permitted to continue attending school while any appeal to the Commissioner of Education is pending.
Board members recorded seven votes in favor and one opposed. Commissioner Simmons cast the lone no vote; the roll call identified Commissioners Freeman, McCall, Mendez, Nieves, Rashid, Rosado and Ramirez as voting yes. The motion did not name individual students. The resolution directs district staff to provide notice and follow the appeal timetable set out in the motion.
The meeting began with the board’s required Open Public Meetings Act notice and a roll call. After returning from the closed executive-session residency hearing held in an adjacent conference room, the board reconvened in public to consider and adopt Item 1. The board then opened a public-comment period, reminding members of the public to state their name and address and limiting remarks to three minutes; the clerk reported that no speakers were signed up.
The action authorizes disenrollment 21 days after notice unless an appeal is filed with the Commissioner of Education; the resolution specifies that attendance may continue while an appeal is pending. The board did not provide additional public details about the number of students affected, their schools, or the evidence the board considered in the executive session.
The meeting adjourned following the vote. Any family notified of a disenrollment determination may file an appeal with the Commissioner of Education as described in the board’s motion.
