Talk Back: Deer Park Residency Program

The Deer Park School District has removed 300 students from its schools who have been identified as non-residents of the district since the start of its residency program, that began five years ago.

This year, 41 students have been removed, administrators said. 

Readers applauded the school's move to keep the district's education within the school boundaries.

"Yay! It is not like we are a district that can afford to take on students who do not pay their share of taxes. In the 10+ years I am here my taxes have almost tripled! I am sorry they will be leaving friends and maybe a better district than where they live, but enough is enough," commented Ginna Dawson Borah.

John Azzara commented, "The best thing the district has EVER done!" 

Tyler H said that when he was in middle school, he was identified as belonging to another district other than the one he attended. Now a sophomore in Lindenhurst High School, he said that several of his classmates are rumored to belong to Copiague School District. For this reason, he said he supports district consolidation.

"I do feel kind of guilty now for 'stealing' my Massapequa education, and this is why I really support school district consolidation...I really think there should just be a Babylon(town) school district...this way the money could be spread out throughout the town and schools in Wyandanch, which have a lot of special needs kids and those schools need more funding than schools in Babylon Village where the percentage of special needs kids is so much lower and they don't need as much funding...of course, a lot of people would be mad if they lived in Babylon Village yet more of their school taxes could be going to Wyandanch than to Babylon Village," he said.