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Thursday, Sep. 17, 2009

DA names those indicted for false enrollment

WARNER ROBINS — A Hawkinsville resident and two Fort Valley residents are accused of making false statements and writings in order to enroll children into Houston County schools.

Terry O’Rear of Hawkinsville was indicted Tuesday on two counts of false statements and writings. The indictments were made public Wednesday.

O’Rear is accused of submitting letters and a medical bill to the Houston County Board of Education indicating he lives in Houston County when he actually lives in Hawkinsville, which is in Pulaski County, the indictment said. O’Rear is also accused of submitting a lease indicating Houston County residency when no such lease had been executed, the indictment said.

Cliff and Tammy Pulsifer of Fort Valley were indicted on one count of false statements and writing. The Pulsifers are accused of claiming to live at a Scarlet Drive address in Warner Robins by submitting utility bills. The couple has lived at a Fort Valley address in Peach County since 2006, the indictment said.

The indictments are part of an effort by Houston County District Attorney Kelly Burke and the Houston County Board of Education to crack down on parents or guardians from outside the county who have enrolled their children in county schools. Because state school funding is based on population and school funds are generated largely through the collection of property taxes, out-of-county children attending Houston schools cost the system thousands of dollars, Burke said.

He declined to elaborate on the facts of the two cases.

More indictments are expected as part of the crackdown, which also includes parents who live in Houston County but enroll their children in schools outside of their designated zones. This creates administrative problems for the school system and impacts staffing and other related issues, Burke said.

To contact writer Becky Purser, call 256-9559.