Rachel Thexton has served as the school counselor at Great Bend High School for nine years and sees the effects of truancy first-hand every day.

“In the past, Juvenile Services had designated funding to focus on truancy but that funding has been gone for about 11 years,” Thexton said. “Truancy has become progressively worse during this time. Without funding, it is really difficult to help these kids.”

This is why she is working with Marissa Woodmansee, Juvenile Services director, and others to find ways to alleviate the problem. A good start would be a grant from the Kansas Advisory Group on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

Woodmansee intends to apply for this grant so that she can hire one person to focus on truancy. The funds would finance the salary, training, educational materials and more.

In a majority of cases, a truancy problem is resolved quickly after conversations at the school/family level. But other times it doesn’t work out that way.

This is when Thexton and her colleagues may resort to other measures that include a certified letter to parents, and meetings with parents, teachers and administrators. Also on the list of possibilities is a referral to the court system, which involves the Kansas Department of Children and Families.

The certified letter is designed to let parents know about the school’s concern for the student, as well as the power and importance of education.

“... students who miss even a few days each month are at far greater risk of academic failure and dropping out than students who attend regularly,” the letter states. “Students who miss 10 percent or more of school may have difficulty with academic content, struggle to maintain positive relationships with peers or adults in the school, and have high rates of school failure over time ...”

The letter also encourages parents to meet with teachers and/or administrators to find solutions to situations that prevent school attendance.

“It is that ‘unexcused” aspect of truancy that is so important,” Thexton commented. “We contact parents out of concern when a student is absent. If a case eventually goes to the courts, it is also out of concern, not punishment.

“Those we refer to court oftentimes involve more than truancy,” she added. “Sometimes there is abuse, neglect, illness, poverty and/or a lack of transportation.”

Thexton, who serves on the Juvenile Services Advisory Board, noted she and her school colleagues meet regularly to discuss current truancy situations.

“We want to catch this problem early so that truancy doesn’t become a pattern,” she explained. “We ask: what is going on at home? Is someone ill? Are there other extenuating circumstances?”

Even if a parent says that a child is sick, a doctor’s note could eventually be required.

“We just need the parents to communicate with us,” Thexton emphasized. “We truly just want to help. Families can reach out anytime and we hope they do. If we don’t know what is going on, we cannot help.

“I always want to know the family’s background. While there is no one easy solution, communication is the best way to begin.”

Citizen Review Board

Thexton supports the idea of establishing a Citizen Review Board (CRB) as an option for schools and Juvenile Services. This board consists of community volunteers that review truancy and other juvenile issues.

“I am all for any type of positive adult interaction with our students,” Thexton commented. “Oftentimes, kids just need to know that someone cares about them and their education.

“This could lead to a positive outcome for the students and parents. When a situation can be handled outside of the court system, it alleviates the backlog for judges and other officials. But the courts are here when we need them.”

A CRB can suggest in-house solutions or refer a truancy case to the court system. If it does go to court, school officials must demonstrate how they tried to alleviate the problem.

Thexton is pleased that Juvenile Services is exploring this option with the help of Russell County, where a CRB currently exists. The goal is to expand into the rest of the 20th Judicial District counties - Barton, Ellsworth, Rice and Stafford.

“The communication is amazing between Juvenile Services, the courts and our schools in this area,” she noted. “And we can catch truancy problems early in many instances. Nevertheless, the CRB would be a valuable option and allow more voices to join the conversation.”