From Press Reports

The Choctaw County School District is under a Consent Decree/Desegregation Order from the early 1970s which mandates that the CCSD enforces the district attendance zone.

"I appreciate everything that has been done to come into compliance. I want to urge anyone who is still not in compliance to begin the new school year with your child(ren) enrolled in the attendance zone in which you live," said Donna Nail, superintendent.

She said the CCSD will investigate all reports of noncompliance and will have to withdraw any students who are found to be enrolled outside of their attendance zone.

"It would not be in the best interest of your child to be withdrawn after the start of the school year, so I urge you to let them begin in the correct school," said Nail.

The CCSD policy states that, "Definition of residence for school attendance purposes: The student physically resides full time week days/nights and weekends, at a place of abode located within the limits of this school district."

The Consent Decree/Desegregation Order is a federal court order and will be upheld.

In order to be in compliance with audit requirements, every child must have valid proofs of residency, which show the correct physical address in their cumulative records.

Choctaw County district policy mandates that all students will have to provide three proofs of residency at the beginning of the school year. Nail asks for each parent to gather and have ready the proofs of residency.

Proofs of residency are:

-One of either electricity, water, gas or trash utility bill that reflects your physical address

-Two of either filed homestead exemption application form, mortgage or property deed, apartment or home lease, valid driver's license, voter's precinct identification, automobile registration/tag form or an affidavit and/or visit by a designated school official.

Three proofs of residency that reflect the physical address within the attendance zone of the school in which they are enrolled must be given for each child within the school district.

Attendance

Also, according to Mississippi Code 37-13-91, 4(e) "An absence is excused when it results from a medical or dental appointment of a compulsory-school-age child where an approval of the superintendent of the school district, or his designee, is gained before the absence, except in emergency."

This means in order for a doctor or dentist appointment to be excused, unless it is an emergency, the parent must send a note to school with the child stating that the child will be absent on a specific date for an appointment prior to the appointment and bring an excuse after the appointment.