Here is a story that seems to illustrate object stupidity. It is somewhat long but the
simple point is that it should be possible to determine whether a kid is on his way to
school or truant. At all times the benefit of doubt should be extended. I understand
that for kids whose parents can't be contacted the police get to drive them back to
school anyway...after their downtown stop. I removed the kids name to keep some
privacy. The story came from his mom who obviously extended greater effort than most
parents would. (Just imagine someone who doesn't speak English well or at all.)
On Friday, December 14, ******* left for school about 45 minutes late. He
stayed home to finish writing a paper, and knew that doing so would result
in an unexcused absence for his first period class. We live about 6 blocks
from the school, and he walks there.
When he was 1.5 blocks from the school, a patrol car
stopped and asked his age (16) and why he wasn't in school. He explained
about his paper. The officer asked if he had a note from a parent. He
didn't, but said I was home and could be called to verify his story. The
officer told him to get in the car, and drove him to the downtown truancy
center. No one called me until 10:45, an hour after his arrival downtown.
I went to get him, but it was 11:40 by the time I got him to school, meaning
he had missed 3 periods of class.
When I dropped ******** off at school, I wanted to talk to his assistant
principal to make sure that periods 2 and 3 would be excused absences, but
she told me (via a third person, talking over walkie-talkie) that I should
talk to the district office about truancy policy. So I called the school
attendance review board. The head of the board, Merle Belle Gonzalez,
wasn't in, but I spoke to Ken Lyle, 612-668-3905. He thought *******
shouldn't have been picked up, and said I should talk to Ms. Gonzalez when
she returned to the office Monday afternoon.
I then called the truancy center. I don't know who I talked to, but he
said that individual police officers have discretion as to whether to take a
child to school or take him/her downtown. He gave me the name of the
officer who had picked ****** up -- Officer New, Squad #548, Badge # 5095. I
then called the 5th precinct police office 612-673-5705 and spoke with
Officer Reller. HE said that policemen have no discretion; any child who is
outside school property during school hours is truant and must be brought
downtown. He said this was the mayor's policy.
So, I called the mayor's office 612-673-2100 and spoke to a policy aide,
Ron Thaniel. He said that the mayor had no such policy. When we called
Officer Reller back to report this, he said that it was the Hennepin County
Attorney's policy. So I called there, 612-348-5550 and left a message for
Sara Cronholm, who called back this morning. She said that ****** should not
have been taken downtown, and that she would call the 5th precinct and tell
them so. She also offered to call SW high school if I had trouble getting
*******'s period 2 and 3 absences excused.
At this point (11 am Monday) ******s record shows three periods of
unexcused absence, but I have another call into the principal to get that
changed.
It seems to me that the police could have a list of names of truant kids.
If they encounter someone in *******s situation, they could take his name and
give him a warning the first time, so he could go to school and not miss
more class time.
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