Lakeland School District May Sue Yonkers Schools

The Lakeland Central School District may sue the Yonkers School District for payment on a three-year-old debt -- and the money would cover the costs of educating Yonkers kids living in foster homes in the Lakeland district.

Superintendent Kenneth J. Connolly made the announcement during the Lakeland Board of Education meeting. Yonkers has not paid the money it owes to Lakeland for three years and now owes $258,000, he said.

Most school districts have a number of foster children from outside their borders, and the school systems the children originate from pay the costs of their education to the schools they currently attend. Other districts with foster children in Lakeland schools have paid, but Yonkers has not. Over the course of three years, Yonkers has asked for clarifications on the amounts owed, but has sent no money.

"They have been totally unresponsive to paying their legal obligations," Connolly said. 

He said the Yonkers district has not been returning phone calls from Lakeland.

"We need to begin legal proceedings." Connolly said. "We are not going to write this off."

Officials from the Yonkers School District have not returned phone calls for comment.