Gilroy superintendent: 70 families have lied about where they live

Gilroy Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Deborah Flores spoke out for the first time about the “false residency” issue Wednesday.

News Channel 5 first reported on this story last week, after Dr. Flores sent out a warning letter.

The letter said parents of all incoming 9th graders, regardless of how long they’ve been at the district, will need to submit residency paperwork by April 1.

“Last summer, we caught probably 20 to 25,” Dr. Flores said. “And since then, this school year, I haven’t kept track, but I’m going to say 8 to 10.”

Since Christopher High opened six years ago, Dr. Flores said they’ve caught about 70 families trying to get into Gilroy’s “newer” high school by lying about their address.

She said 70 might not seem like that many, but it’s causing a problem. Christopher High is over-capacity.

“Christopher High’s resources have been stretched to the maximum,” Dr. Flores said. “Large class sizes… it has stretched security. You name it.”

The district said changing boundary lines isn’t the answer.

First St. is the main dividing line between the two high schools. Families who live north of First St. go to Christopher High, and families who live south of it go to Gilroy High.

Dr. Flores said the district map was strategically designed long before Christopher High opened, even anticipating new housing developments.

“Really, the only thing that hasn’t worked like we thought was people falsifying the addresses.”

In the last round of state testing, Christopher High did outperform Gilroy High.

But Dr. Flores said the district has worked hard to make sure both schools are equal, even recently renovating Gilroy High.

“It looks great, and I can say that wearing two hats. A hat of a superintendent and a hat of a parent. My son is at that school. I love it, I’m a proud Mustang. And I would challenge any parent that’s going to these extremes to go visit Gilroy High and see what a great school it is also.”

The extremes she’s talking about include parents using a family member’s address, getting a short term rental agreement and then cancelling it, or even falsifying utility bills.

The district could turn cases over to the Santa Clara County District Attorney, though they haven’t done so yet.