Page 2 - Leadership Matters February 2013_3140b78f.pub
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2648 Beechler Court
Springfield, IL 62703-7305
217.753.2213
800 Woodfield Road, Ste. F109
Schaumburg, IL 60173-4717
847.466.5075
1200 West Main Street
Marion, IL 62959-1138
618.364.0501
Respondents to truancy survey say
more teeth needed in enforcement
Of those who responded to January’s
Leadership Matters
survey question
regarding truancy, 30% said it was a
moderate problem, and 70% said it was not
a big problem. No one who responded
labeled it a serious problem in their district.
Methods used to deal with truancy
included phone calls (80%), handled by staff
(70%), use of truancy officers (50%),
references to law enforcement agencies
(20%),
and
mentors,
community
organizations and ROEs (10% each).
Among the suggestions and comments
offered by superintendents were:
“Build relationships with families and be
consistent and fair in approach.”
“The State has laws in place to combat
truancy, but there is no meat to the
enforcement. If the State is going to pass
laws related to truancy, the authorities
(DA/judges/court system/etc.) need to be
willing and able to enforce the laws.”
“School leaders need some real “teeth”
in the laws to deal with truancy. Parents
of chronic truants know that the state’s
attorneys and judges in counties decide
how much effort to place on truancy
issues. In too many cases, the counties
have full dockets and do not wish to put
any time on the “minor” truancy issues.
Police officers and ROE truancy officers
should be able to write tickets to the
parents or guardians of a chronically
truant minor. This will put more “teeth” at
the local level to solve the issue.”
Please click on the question above to
respond. Also, please include any comments
or suggestions you may have regarding the
school safety issue.
IASA Newsletter Editor
Michael Chamness
Assistant Editor
Mary Ellen Buch
In this month’s issue
Volume 1, Issue 2
