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Two families have opened their homes to senior James Mitchell, after the school board recently denied a waiver that would have allowed Mitchell to attend the high school tuition free.
(Sean Simmers. )
The community wrapped its arms around East Pennsboro Area High School senior James Mitchell when the school board recently denied him a chance to graduate with his class tuition-free.
Some residents offered words of encouragement and signed a petition asking the board to reconsider.
Others gave money to put toward the tuition his mother must pay to send Mitchell to East Pennsboro since she moved out of the district. Two families have even opened their homes to the 17-year-old so he could move back into the district and graduate with his class.
Financial difficulties forced Mitchell's mother, Monica Banks, to move to Hummelstown in August. Not wanting the move to disrupt her son's senior year, she now faces nearly $1,000 in monthly tuition payments to keep Mitchell in the district, where he has been a student since the second grade.
Unable to afford tuition, Banks asked the board for a payment waiver Oct. 7. But citing policy and past practice, it denied her request the next day.
However, Banks believes the board is misinterpreting its own policy. And suspecting there are racial issues at play, Banks filed a discrimination complaint against the district with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission.
After learning of Mitchell's situation, Dona and Dave Norris reached out to PennLive to offer their three-bedroom-house on Erford Road to Banks and her family.
The couple, who have two young children who attend charter school in Harrisburg, are moving out of the house next month and want to give Mitchell an opportunity to graduate with his class.
Dona and Dave Norris only would ask that Banks, who now lives in government-subsidized housing, cover utilities and pay as much rent as she can afford through the end of the school year.
"[Mitchell] is a young man, and he seems like he is trying to do all the right things. We felt like we were in a position to provide him a break," Dona Norris said.
Sandii Peiffer and her husband, Max Peiffer, aren't moving, but they are willing to make room in their home and "unofficially or officially adopt" Mitchell so he can graduate with his class and not have to look over his shoulder.
Sandii Peiffer said she knows what its like to move during the middle of a school year. She said it's disruptive and never went well when it happened to her.
The Peiffers have children of their own and there isn't enough room to house Mitchell, Banks and her young daughter. But she said the family is willing to make space for Mitchell.
"I was just very angered by the decision that was made. It was frustrating. It really didn't take things into account," Sandii Peiffer said of the board's waiver denial. "We're talking about a student who by all accounts has a good student record, participates in sports, and it really struck a note."
Banks said she is overwhelmed by the outpouring of support.
She has family in Enola who Mitchell could have stayed with this school year. But she said Superintendent Jay Burkhart told her that the family he would have moved in with would have to officially take custody of her son in order for him to reside there.
Burkhart has not returned interview requests.
Board policy on the subject states that "Parents/guardians of all students, and students who are emancipated from their parents registering in the school district, must present acceptable proof of residence upon initial application or at anytime the district requests it for registration..."
Banks is interested in taking the Norris family up on their offer, and moving with her family into their home after they move out. But she has to first find out whether she is able to get out of the lease she has at her current home.
Mitchell plans to attend Full Sail University in Florida to study music after he graduates in June. And Banks said she is moving to Florida with her family.
If she is able to work out an arrangement with her current housing, moving into the Norris residence might work out perfectly, she said.
"It's amazing," Banks said of the community support for her son. "And it's all coming from the East Pennsboro community. We're getting so much support from East Pennsboro. I'm so appreciative."
As of Wednesday morning, Banks had raised $4,995 of the $7,661 she must pay in tuition so her son can graduate with his class through an online fundraiser.
She also gathered 740 signatures through an online petition asking the school board to grant Mitchell a tuition waiver.