By Sue Kiesewetter
Enquirer contributor

FAIRFIELD - A mother's emotional plea and a petition signed by more than 360 students failed to change the minds of Fairfield Schools officials on the fate of a 15-year-old student who uses a wheelchair.

Sophomore Sarah Godsey will not be allowed to attend Fairfield Senior High School because her family had not moved into the district by Friday as promised.

But Sarah's mom, Becky, vowed Sarah would be back.

"Sarah will be in Fairfield Monday," Godsey said Thursday after pleading her case to the Fairfield Board of Education. "We trust in God and the people of this community."

Last August the Godsey family moved into the Tylers Creek subdivision, which straddles the Fairfield/Hamilton schools boundary. They didn't know their three-bedroom, handicap accessible home was in the Hamilton side of the complex.

School officials allowed Sarah to remain through the end of the semester and had her mother sign an agreement stating Sarah would be excluded from classes today unless the family moved into the district.

Last week Superintendent Robert Farrell sent a letter to the family saying Friday would be Sarah's last day because they have not moved.

Because of her husband Philip's illness (he is being tested for multiple sclerosis) and lack of employment, the family has not moved, Godsey said after the meeting.

"We've tried. I've reached out to your hearts as parents as well as board members," Godsey said. "I ask you one more time. Give us this inch so we can allow her to go a mile."

Butler County Commissioner Michael Fox also weighed in, asking that the district reconsider.

E-mail suek@infionline.net