Antioch parents don't mind proving residency

Clutching electric bills, mortgage statements, insurance policies and other documents bearing their home address, about 300 families attended the first-ever proof of residency event in Antioch Elementary District 34 Wednesday afternoon.

The first day of a three-day push went smoothly with only a handful of people not having the right proof, according the District 34 Superintendent Scott Thompson.

"It seems most parents were extremely happy with the process today," Thompson said. "Ive only heard positive comments and no complaints."

District 34 held the event for the first time this year to ensure that taxpayers aren't funding the cost of an education for out-of-district students. He suspects that students may be slipping into the district from Wisconsin and McHenry County.

Parents, many with kids in tow, followed green arrows taped to the floor at the Antioch Upper Grade School, pointing to the next station. In addition to showing documents to prove residency in the district, parents were able to check bus schedules, see classroom assignments and ask questions of the school nurse.

"This was painless," said Karrie Bellefeuille of Antioch. "It was really smooth. No problems."

Robert Zuidema, who has children in third, fourth and eighth grades, agrees the program is needed.

"Some of these kids are living with their grandma or grandpa or family friend just to go school in our district," said the Antioch man. "It's not fair for the rest of us."

All of the district's 2,200 families should have attended by week's end. There are 3,200 students in the district.

Some parents who didn't mind proving they weren't interlopers did have a suggestion for the future.

"They should think about doing this every two years instead of annually," said Julie Wyant of Lindenhurst. "But this a good thing. I don't think we should be paying to educate kids who don't live in the district."