SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Feb. 24 (UPI) -- The Illinois Board of Education has voted to cut off state aid to a district that refused to admit a student from Ecuador who could not prove legal residency.
Elmwood Park officials insist they acted legally because the student, identified as Sharon M., was in the United States on a tourist visa, the Chicago Tribune reported. State officials say the girl had been living in the Chicago area for several years and attending school before she moved to Elmwood Park.
The case has been going on for several months. Elmwood Park sued the state board in federal court, seeking to block the aid cutoff. A judge is expected to issue a ruling next week.
The district receives $3.3 million in state aid annually.
"They have salaries they have to meet," Elmwood Park's lawyer, John Murphy, said. "They have teachers. If they take a big hit, they can't function."
If the state board's action stands, Elmwood Park athletes would even be barred from competing with teams from other schools.
