Members of the Albemarle County Social Services Advisory Board (SSAB) are secretly grappling with the problem of “undocumented, unaccompanied” minors in Albemarle County Schools.
In correspondence obtained by The Schilling Show, SSAB Samuel Miller District representative, Janet Morrow, informs Albemarle County Supervisor, Liz Palmer, of the “50 or so undocumented unaccompanied minors that are now in Albemarle County schools.” [emphasis added]
Ms. Morrow characterizes the children as having “no legal guardian or legal custodian, even though they were placed in homes in our area,” which “causes problems in even enrolling in school.”
“They arrive in our area because on arrival at the border, these kids have the name and phone of a person in Albemarle County that they were told before leaving their country of origin that this person is whom they should go to,” Morrow continues.
A small working group is attempting to engage other “community players,” including: “Region 10, Juvenile Court, City Schools, Legal Aid and the police.”
Morrow does not explain how minors without legal custodians are able to enter Albemarle County Schools. Nor does she address likely concerns of parents regarding immunizations or lack thereof, disease-screening, liability for violent acts, class size issues, fiscal impacts, student safety, cultural difficulties, and more.
The working group sees “no solution” to the problem, presently, but will be communicating with Fairfax County, “which has a similar problem.”
UPDATE, 9/15/2014 6:40 PM: Albemarle County Public Schools policy seems to preclude enrollment of the 50 referenced children:
“At the time of registration, the parent or legal guardian (proof of guardianship required) must submit two proofs of residency in Albemarle County. Post office boxes and driver’s licenses are not considered proofs of residency.”
As does State Requirements for Enrollment, as referenced on ACPS web site:
State Enrollment Requirements
In order to enroll a child in a public school system in Virginia, state law requires the parent/guardian to provide certain information to the school division:
Birth Certificate
Street Address
School Entrance Health Form
Immunizations
Social Security Number
Expulsion Statement
(h/t Randolph Byrd)
Breaking NEWS: 50 Undocumented, unaccompanied children already in Albemarle County Schools. Why weren't you told? Exclusive analysis: http://wp.me/p2wDzv-2od
The looney Libs in Charlbamarle are probably ok with this and wondering why only 50. Quick, let's get them naturalized so they can register to vote in'16. Hang on Hildebeast, help is on the way.
I wonder how many people are actually surprised by this..
Keep up the pressure, Rob! At least they don' kill journalists there! More power to you and your vigilance!
Morrow does not explain how minors without legal custodians are able to enter Albemarle County Schools.
I fully agree that illegal immigration is a serious problem for communities, but do you want uneducated (unoccupied and when the time comes all but unemployable) kids in Albemarle County? It’s not the kids’ fault that they’re here. Why not show the kids mercy?
Deuteronomy 10: 19 You shall love the stranger, for you were once strangers in the land of Egypt.
Leviticus 19:34 The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
Romans 12:13 Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
Why do fundamentalists, who take most things literally, and castigate liberal Christians because they don’t, not take these verses literally?
Children are trying to get an education and (probably self-identified Christian) people in Charlottesville are outraged. God help you all.
Thanks for informing us, Rob Schilling! Wonder how much money this is costing us taxpayers here in Albemarle County? And how many illegal minors are here in the state? Seems to me this needs more national attention..
Connie Stevens wrote:
Wonder how much money this is costing us taxpayers here in Albemarle County? And how many illegal minors are here in the state? Seems to me this needs more national attention.
So much for the theory that there are no conservatives at NPR.
Rosalind: It's not the project that is offensive. If true, the government is hiding a $400,000 cost and illegal admissions of students into our system. Where was the vote on this and the public input. This is sneaky government business. As for allowing the kids in, I'm all for it, but I want to know who pays. Well, eventually it's all of us, but we should all be informed of that fact, especially since the Schools are run at a large deficit right now.
Love the slight about Christians… Did you read the article? Do you have a child in the school system? Do you think it's okay to just put these kids in school and not hold them to the same standards as the rest of the children in these schools?
Nancy Kane Dixon, why would putting these kids in school entail not holding them to the same standards?
Love the slight about Christians
I posted three verses which command believers to welcome strangers into their communities. In fact, if I was a fundamentalist I would have to take this one literally: “The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you.” And yet none of you have had a word of response.
I don’t presume to judge anyone’s faith, or to presume I’m a better Christian than anyone else, but when Christians ignore Scriptural commands, and can’t even explain why they’re ignoring them, you can understand why people get cynical.