School officials in the wealthy town of Greenwich are reconsidering a new rule requiring families who rent to provide proof of residency with an affidavit.
The Greenwich Time reports that families with children who want to attend public schools in Greenwich must provide a copy of their current lease.
Greenwich, where the average price of a home is around $1 million, is often rated high on Money Magazine's Best Places to Live list.
According to ApartmentGuide.com, the lowest rental is around $1,300.
According to the town Web site, the rules were revised on Aug. 24 and require the resident to include how many days and nights the child resides in the residence and verify that they are not receiving payment for housing the child in Greenwich.
Starting this year, they also must provide a notarized affidavit from their landlord who commits to notifying officials if the tenant moves.
The landlord would be subject to criminal prosecution if false statements have been made. If the family does not provide the affidavit, their children can be denied a spot in school.
"Finally, I understand that, should the student be found to be attending the Greenwich Public
Schools illegally, the Town of Greenwich reserves the right to recover the costs of such
education from me, the undersigned," the affidavit states.
The new policy has angered many residents who say it places an unfair burden on renters.
Schools Superintendent William McKersie said administrators are reviewing the requirement and will decide soon if the rule will continue.
