White Bear Lake school officials investigate enrollment process after adult poses as student
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White Bear Lake Area Schools officials say they are reviewing their enrollment process, after a 22-year-old man reportedly used a false identity to enroll as a high school student.
In an email to students’ families Thursday, Superintendent Wayne Kazmierczak said the man enrolled with a birth certificate that had what appeared to be officials stamps, seals and watermarks. It said he was 18.
“Throughout the enrollment process, there was no reason to believe the official birth certificate was fraudulent,” Kazmierczak said.
Kazmierczak said he enrolled as a homeless unaccompanied youth. Under federal law, students with that status are allowed to enroll without standard documentation, including proof of residency and an academic record.
The man was enrolled for 19 school days. He also briefly joined the football team and went to three practices.
Kazmierczak said the district is reviewing its enrollment policies and looking for ways to add safeguards without violating the law.
Staff at White Bear Lake Area High School notified police on Monday. The man has not been charged in the incident. School officials say they’re working with White Bear Lake police to investigate.
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