My name is Jeanne Jackson and my daughter Kylie attends
an OPS middle school this year.
Kylie
has attended OPS since kindergarten. In 5th
grade (2010-2011) we ran into an issue with the truancy law. Like most kids,
Kylie was absent some days from school that year due to illness. We had also experienced
quite a few incidents of bullying and could not get it resolved through the school
so some of the absent days were" mental health days".
In February 2011, Kylie and I had an
opportunity to go to see one of the last Space Shuttle launches in Florida. We
had been trying for years to see a launch and were never able to do so successfully.
We took the trip in February, causing Kylie to miss school. Before we left her teacher got all of her
assignments for us. Two of the assignments were reports based on her trip. All
of the other work was done before we left for Florida. Even though it was a very
educational trip and her assignments were related, it still counted against her
attendance. The school counselor called to let me know that Kylie was at 16
days absent for the year. At the time I did not know that the law had changed.
She kept drilling me with questions about Kylie's absences and telling me that
she would turn us in to the County Attorney if Kylie missed more days. This is
when I found out that nothing was excused as an absence. I questioned her about
things like weddings and funerals and was told that it all went towards the 20
days.
In March I received a letter from the school stating that Kylie
had missed 7 days for the quarter. Confusing?? Yes to say the least. Kylie also had the opportunity to attend a
family reunion at the end of that year in the Bahamas. This took place in
April. She again missed school for a few days due to the travel. She ended up
with 21 days missed that year, not to mention a 3.5 GPA for the year.
In June, after school was out, I received the
letter from the Sarpy County Attorney office telling me I was referred by the school
on April 29th for truancy and that my case was not being pursued but
that we would be monitored and further action could be taken in the future if there
was an issue with excessive absenteeism. It was frustrating to say the least
that the communication from the school was really confusing, but then we are
going to be “monitored" by the County????
I believe that I am a responsible parent and I do not need the school or
the County to make decisions for my daughter.
In 6th grade, Kylie was ill close to the
beginning of the year so she did miss a few days right up front. Her older
sister was planning a destination wedding in Hawaii in November of that year.
By this time I had discovered this wonderful group, The Nebraska Family Forum,
and was more aware of this law and the damage it was doing to families
throughout the State. I had to decide if I would be able to let Kylie go to the
wedding. I troubled myself for quite some time with it and finally decided that
I could not afford to take the chance of her missing that many days so early in
the year. I had to keep her home from the wedding. It broke my heart and to
this day I still could kick myself for doing it that way. This is the kind of
thing that this law and the school system have not taken into consideration as
being excused absences.
In February of 2012, I took Kylie out of school for the
day to attend the hearing in Lincoln for an amendment to the truancy law.
Although it did count as a day absent, it was the best decision I made. It was
a wonderful educational experience for her to see how things work. (or how they
are supposed to work) Kylie did get to share her story that day hoping it would
help to make a difference. Although we did not get the change we had hoped for,
there was a slight change made.
In 2012 Kylie began attending an OPS Middle school. We
turned in notes from the dentist and doctor appointments we had and those were
excused from her record. By the beginning of November she had been sick 5 days.
n November 2nd she was taken into a group attendance meeting with
the counselors. All students who had missed 5 days were in this meeting. They
were given a form to fill out asking questions as to why they were gone so much
and what the students needed to do or were going to do so they would not be
absent. Kylie was hysterical. Knowing what she did about this law, she did not
understand why she was being made to feel like she did something wrong. She was
sick. What could she do about that? She sent me a text and was extremely upset.
I took my OPS district guidelines and went to the school. I had a meeting with
the counselor and the Assistant Principal (Dean of Students) about the policy.
I was given a printed out sheet of the attendance policy for this school. It
was not the same as the district guidelines. She also had a handbook different
than the guidelines I had. When I showed her the district book she told me that
this was the handbook they used here at the school. I questioned why this sheet
had not been included in the welcome packet and she told me it was not handed
out until the 5 day meeting. ( I thought this sounded like she was trying to
hide it) I was told that there are many kids who do not realize that they had
already missed 5 days and it was more of an informational meeting. Nowhere on
this sheet did it say anything about any other student meetings. I also asked
if this was the only surprise meeting she would be taken into and was told that
it would be. II was told that for future absences they would notify me by
letter or phone.
I took Kylie out of school
for a few extra days to spend Thanksgiving with her sister in Phoenix. I
notified the school and we filled out the required paperwork. Later in the year
when Kylie got to the 10 day mark she was pulled into another meeting. This time
all of those who were absent 10 days were in this meeting. This also included
the SPA (Student Personnel Assistant), the assistant Douglas County attorneys, counselors,
Assistant Principals. How intimidating would this be?? I was furious!! Where was the letter or call to the
parent??? I contacted the SPA about this
meeting. I was told that the school was setting it up and had invited him.
Another "informational meeting".
By this time I had been lied to
enough. I sent emails to the principal, a school board member and the
superintendent. My issue was sent on to Matt Ray. He called me and we had a
lengthy talk about the issue with the law and also the issue with the fact that
the amendment gave the district the ability to have a list of things that were
excused as absences. He was unwilling to consider things I had suggested as
ideas, similar to those in the Millard district. I was told that even though
there was a slight change in the law, OPS would be doing things the same as
before. No excused absence without a doctor note and a referral to the County Attorney
at 20 days regardless. He said that if
they agreed to make changes to their policy it would just let too many people
abuse it. When I asked about the 10 day meeting with the assistant County
attorneys he told me the schools usually have their own policies to deal with
attendance. WHAT???? So depending on what school you attend you
get different treatment for your attendance?? It is bad enough that it varies
in the Learning Community let alone within the district itself.
I never did receive any response from Virginia Moon. I
did get a call from the principal after the fact when I demanded that Kylie not
be pulled into one more attendance meeting. He told me that her records were
noted of this and that it would not happen again. When Kylie hit the 12 day mark
I did receive the call from the SPA just to inform me. He was not going to send
out the letter to me but I requested it for the record, just in case. After all
that had happened in the past I did not trust any of them. This altercation
has since caused a level of friction for us. Kylie is not at all comfortable
with talking to her counselor or the Assistant Principal. They do not want to acknowledge
me in any way, nor do they want to deal with any issues I have brought to their
attention. Yes, I am Kylie's parent and I will challenge your authority when it
comes to my daughter. After all, I pay my OPS taxes so you really work for me.
Just a side note, Kylie ended the year last year with a
3.87 GPA. I guess it is what you put
into it. As for the studies on the absenteeism, I see Kylie and other kids like
her falling into a trap at the misunderstanding of the real meaning of truancy.
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