Appeal of WENYI ZHANG, on behalf of her child, from action of the Board of Education of the Syosset Central School District regarding residency.

Decision No. 18,618

(August 4, 2025)

Ingerman Smith, L.L.P., attorneys for respondent, Michael G. McAlvin,, Esq., of counsel

ROSA., Commissioner.--Petitioner challenges the determination of the Board of Education of the Syosset Central School District (“respondent”) that her child (the “student”) is not a district resident.  The appeal must be dismissed as moot.

The Commissioner will only decide matters in actual controversy and will not render a decision on a state of facts that no longer exists due to the passage of time or a change in circumstances (Appeal of Sutton, 57 Ed Dept Rep, Decision No. 17,331; Appeal of a Student with a Disability, 48 id. 532, Decision No. 15,940; Appeal of M.M., 48 id. 527, Decision No. 15,937; see Matter of Hearst Corp. v Clyne, 50 NY2d 707, 714 [1980]).  Where the Commissioner can no longer award a petitioner meaningful relief on his or her claims, no live controversy remains and the appeal must be dismissed (Appeal of R.B., 57 Ed Dept Rep, Decision No. 17,394; Appeal of N.C., 40 id. 445, Decision No. 14,522).

Petitioner’s sole request for relief is for the student to be readmitted to respondent’s schools.  Following the initiation of this appeal, respondent enrolled the student in its schools as a resident.  Therefore, I can no longer award petitioner any meaningful relief on his claims and the appeal must be dismissed as moot (Appeal of Campbell, 64 Ed Dept Rep, Decision No. 18,554; Appeal of McGraw, 64 id., Decision No. 18,452).

THE APPEAL IS DISMISSED.

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