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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes 15-09 WA Amending Proof of Residency policyWESTLAKE ACADEMY RESOLUTION 15 -09 A RESOLUTION OF THE WESTLAKE ACADEMY BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVING AND AMENDING THE WESTLAKE ACADEMY ADMISSIONS POLICY NO. 1.01— PROOF OF RESIDENCY. WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees believes that the verification and proof of residency for any Academy family is an integral component of the admissions process at Westlake Academy; and, WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees wishes to comply with all state requirements that govern enrollment from the primary and secondary boundary applicants; and, WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees wishes to clarify and provide notice to all existing and potential families of the requirements for proof of residency; and, WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees finds that the passage of this Resolution is in the best interest of the citizens of Westlake as well as the students, their parents, and the faculty of Westlake Academy. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF WESTLAKE ACADEMY: SECTION 1: THAT, all matters stated in the recitals hereinabove are found to be true and correct and are incorporated herein by reference as if copied in their entirety. SECTION 2: THAT, the Board of Trustees for Westlake Academy, hereby approves the policy titled, Proof of Residency attached to this Resolution as Exhibit "A" SECTION 3: IF, any portion of this Resolution shall, for any reason, be declared invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions hereof and the Board hereby determines that it would have adopted this Resolution without the invalid provision. Resolution 15 -09 Page 1 of 5 SECTION 4: THAT, this Resolution shall become effective from and after its date of passage. PASSED AND APPROVED ON THIS 1st DAY OF JUNE, 2015. ATTEST: ltit Kelly E • wards, r• and Secretary APPROVED AS TO FORM: Janet S. ' , ubert or L. Stanton Lowry, School ttorney Thomas E. Brymer, S perintendnt Resolution 15 -09 Page 2 of 5 TOWN OF WESTLAKE WESTLAKE ACADEMY BOARD OF TRUSTEES POLICY Policy No. 1.01: Date Board Adopted: Date Board Amended: Effective Date: Policy Category: Policy Name: May 4, 2009 June 1, 2015 December 31, 2015 Admissions Proof of Residency Policy Policy Goal: Clear and concise communication for students and parents regarding the criteria to establish residency status for individuals seeking admission to Westlake Academy and development of a process /criteria for the consideration of documentation from Westlake resident grandparents that they are providing substantial after school care for their grandchild seeking admission to Westlake Academy. Policy Description: If, during the enrollment period, Westlake Academy receives more applications from eligible applicants than there are spaces available in a class, then admission shall first be offered to eligible applicants residing within the Academy's primary geographical boundary, which is consistent with the geographic boundaries of the Town of Westlake. The parent, legal guardian, or other person having lawful control of an applicant seeking admission as a resident of the primary boundary must provide proof of residency within the boundaries of the Town of Westlake. Required Documentation to Establish Residency in the Primary Boundary An applicant's parent, legal guardian, or other person having lawful control shall provide one or more of the following documents as proof of residence within the boundaries of the Town of Westlake: • Tax receipt from the current year indicating home ownership; • Current lease agreement (subject to additional requirements below); or • Current utility bill for the primary residential structure in the name of the applicant's parent, legal guardian, or other person having lawful control. In addition to one of the documents identified above, the adult establishing residency must provide a photo identification card that includes the person's photograph, name, and an address that matches the address included on the document provided from the list above. Acceptable photo identification cards shall include a current and valid state - issued driver's license, a Texas identification card, a military or government- issued Resolution 15 -09 Page 3 of 5 identification card, or a consular card. Westlake Academy will not accept a credit card, debit card, or any club or retail membership card for proof of residency, even if such card includes a photograph. An applicant relying on a residential lease to establish residency must provide a copy of a fully- executed lease with a lease -term that extends for the entire time period the applicant intends to rely upon the lease to document residency. A residential lease shall be considered acceptable documentation to establish residency only if the leased premises is the primary residential structure on a property. Any family /person who executes and submits a lease to document residency in the Primary Boundary without occupying the leased property for as long as the applicant's child attends the Academy, shall subject their children) to immediate removal from the school and such action may be considered fraudulent activity, unless documentation of another Primary Boundary residence is provided. For a single - family residence, only one structure shall be recognized per legal address. Secondary structures such as garages, garage apartments, cabanas, pool houses, or cottages that are co- located on the property where the primary residential structure is located, but are not recognized with a separate legal address, are not eligible to establish residency under this policy. Further, a lease shall be accompanied with a utility bill showing that the utility service for the leased residential premises is in the name of the person leasing the primary residential structure. Nonresident Student in Grandparent's After - School Care: A student seeking admission to Westlake Academy, after August 1, 2015, as a resident of the primary boundary due to a grandparent providing substantial after - school care for the student shall provide the required proof of residency based on the grandparent's Westlake residence and will be subject to the admission policy applicable to all Westlake residents regarding their continued enrollment. The grandparent must annually provide a notarized affidavit, on a form provided by Westlake Academy, confirming the extent of after - school care to be provided by the grandparent. The Superintendent shall have authority to approve such admission applications in accordance with the following criteria: a minimum of ten (10) hours per week of documented after - school care provided by the grandparent at the grandparent's Westlake residence. Required Documentation to Establish Residency in Secondary Boundary If all eligible applicants from the primary boundary are admitted and the Academy chooses to admit transfer students from the secondary boundary, the same types of documentation identified above shall be used to establish residency within the Academy's secondary boundary. Resolution 15 -09 Page 4 of 5 Residency Review A Westlake Academy representative may make periodic visits to a residence to verify that the student is actually living at the address provided on the enrollment application or is entitled to enrollment as a resident because of after - school care provided by a grandparent. A person who presents false information or false records to obtain admission to Westlake Academy commits a criminal offense and is subject to prosecution under Texas Penal Code Section 37.10. Proof of residency shall be waived when a student is homeless as defined by law. Resolution 15 -09 Page 5 of 5