Galloway Attendance Officers: Schools May Recover Over $130,000

may be looking at about $134,000 as a result of investigations into attendance.

The district recovered $32,000 in court-ordered restitution and may receive an additional $102,000 from two other cases, according to Attendance Officers Keith Spencer and Marilyn Moore, who gave an update on Attendance and Residency to the Board of Education at its meeting Monday night, May 21 at the

According to the presentation, 1,298 investigations were conducted over the past year, and 70 students transferred out of the district following contact with the attendance officer this school year.

Of the investigations:

• 700 concerned expired leases;
• 100 were conducted to verify claims that students “lived with” someone in the district;
• 50 were to verify the residency of students;
• 60 visits and court appearances for attendance issues;
• 50 visits were for contact information and to advise parents/guardians to contact the school when their child is unable to attend school; and
• 40 visits were to renew leases on a month-to-month basis.

The attendance officers also received 210 additional requests for visits for various reasons. The attendance officers also discussed their strengthening relationships with the , the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office and

Additionally, families within the district are now required to present their new lease upon expiration of their old lease, which usually takes place on an annual basis. Families must also list all residents who are listed on a particular lease, and charter school students and students who “live with” someone in the district are required to verify their residency on an annual basis.

“You’ve done a remarkable job considering the case load,” Galloway Township Board of Education President Ernest Huggard said. “You’ve done a great job.”