Hoquiam and Aberdeen are looking for volunteers to help keep students in school.
State law that takes effect in 2018 requires school districts to put community truancy boards in place as an early intervention to help stem K-12 dropout rates. But these two districts started similar programs at the high-school level a few years ago, giving them a head start.
“The state is really wanting us to address chronic absenteeism,” said Jason Ihde, principal of Hoquiam Middle School. “They understand that if we can get families and students in school, the students will do better.”
Toward that end, the two districts are holding a joint community meeting tonight at Aberdeen High School to recruit and train volunteers to serve on their truancy boards, which now will address students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Aberdeen is looking for about 15 people to help out; Hoquiam needs about 10.
Ihde said this all stems from the Becca Bill. Passed in 1996, it set state standards for dealing with truancy — most notably, better communication between the schools and the parents of students with multiple absences. The update that takes effect in 2018 specifies best practices, including precise requirements on procedural details.
“When a student hits five unexcused absences within one month, or 10 within one school year, we’re required now to file a truancy petition with juvenile court and ask for a stay, and then invite the family to a truancy board,” said Ihde.
Filing a stay, in effect, delays the court’s action on that case while the school district attempts to resolve the situation with the student and family. They are invited to attend a truancy board with several community members and a district representative.
“They talk about what the barriers are to the student attending school, and they try to identify solutions,” said Ihde. “At the end of the meeting, the hope is that they enter into an attendance agreement with the truancy board.”
The school’s contribution might range from providing an alarm clock, to helping a student with anxiety get through crowded halls between classes, to adjusting the individual’s class schedule. For their part, the students must agree to show up regularly and on time.
At the end of 90 days, if the contract is met, the court petition is dropped.
It’s a voluntary process, but certainly recommended to avoid the court assigning consequences to the student and/or the parents. That may entail a fine of $25 per day, community service, or even time in the county juvenile detention facility, depending on the facts of the case.
“Attendance, grades, discipline — the judge looks at all that stuff,” said Lonni Tegelberg, vice principal of Aberdeen High School.
But for these two districts, the community truancy boards appear to be working. “We’re getting more and more students attending truancy board, and fewer and fewer students having to go out for court,” said Tegelberg.
Since they are such close neighbors, it was decided the two districts should align their policies for consistency. “Our students frequently bounce back and forth, so having similar processes and procedures seemed appropriate,” Ihde said.
Both agree the implementation of community truancy boards has been productive.
“When you put a kid into the court system for truancy, they’re leaving school early for court,” said Tegelberg. “It’s a Catch-22. We want them to be there; you can’t learn if you’re not there. So any way we can catch them before it becomes a big issue is good.”
Hence the need for local volunteers to help with the process. Anyone living within the two districts who’s interested is encouraged to attend tonight’s meeting, which is expected to last about an hour.
It’s a great way to make a difference, they agree, because volunteers can offer personal insights and experiences to help guide the students — not to mention professional expertise. Participants have included members of the health care industry, social services and even the Department of Corrections.
“These are community members, many born and raised here, talking about the importance of a good education,” said Ihde. “It’s not coming from a parent, and it’s not coming from a teacher. This is somebody that’s making a good living because they went to school.”
more information:
• Hoquiam School District
Jason Ihde, 360-538-8220
jihde@hoquiam.net
• Aberdeen School District
Lonni Tegelberg, 360-538-2051
ltegelberg@asd5.org
Community meeting
What: Those interested in volunteering for a Hoquiam or Aberdeen truancy board
When: Today at 6 p.m.
Where: Aberdeen High School, community room (second floor)
What’s needed: About 15 volunteers for Aberdeen and 10 for Hoquiam
