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Local School Uses Court to Get Bills Paid

By Christen Drew

WAYNE CO.-- A local school is aggressively going after those who have outstanding debts.

Whether it's a lost book, an overdue lunch bill or a driver’s ed fee that hasn't been paid, Fairfield High School is no longer using detention as a deterrent, or making idol threats of withholding diplomas to get bills paid.

"You can't do that; that's not legal and we want to make sure we follow legal principles," says Superintendent David Savage

Instead, Savage is turning to litigation, taking students and their parents to small claims court.

"To be fiscally responsible to the school district and to the tax payers of our community we feel like we should hold people accountable," he says.

Most claims amount to less $75. Savage says that amount of money won't break the bank, but it's more about accountability.

"This is an opportunity to use as a teaching tool for our students to see that when you're given something, you are responsible for taking care of that."

According to court documents, a month ago the school filed claims at the Wayne County court house against five families. Twenty-nine days later, all of the cases have been resolved.

"Most of the time when a parent receives a summons for small claims they end up coming in ahead of time and paying what it is they owe," he says.

Savage says he files the court documents himself. Since he started the policy, he's seen less and less outstanding debts.