A Tulsa City Councilor is close to reintroducing an ordinance to get chronically absent kids back in school — with a couple substantial changes.
In a version of the truancy ordinance from March, adults in violation of the ordinance faced up to a $500 fine and six months in jail. That version was criticized as being overly harsh on poor families.
"We’ve taken out the jail time and we’re following state statute with fines and penalties," said Councilor Karen Gilbert.
In a draft the Truancy Prevention Task Force will get in the coming weeks, the fines will be $25 to $50 for a first offense, $50 to $100 for a second offense and $100 to $250 thereafter, along with court costs, which are around $100.
The emphasis of the proposed ordinance, however, is access to social services that can help families get kids to school.
"Before we initiate those fines, we want to offer those services through the therapeutic court process. So, if a family does go through that program, then the fines and penalties could all be waived," Gilbert said.
Schools will still be free to do everything they can before the city gets involved.
"If things don’t happen where the student’s attendance is improved by the outreach within the building, well, then the last resort is, of course, to refer the case to the city prosecutor," Gilbert said.
Other proposed modifications include revising the purpose and intent section of the ordinance to show its goal is helping students and their families and tying the need for the ordinance to the City of Tulsa's strategic plan for education.
Gilbert aims to have the ordinance in place by Oct. 1 but will seek public input before reintroducing it.
The task force will continue meeting to fine-tune the ordinance, which will also be reordered so special court provisions come before the penalty section. Members also want to establish the special court process well enough that it can't be circumvented in the future, and to set up a fair method for families to show attendance improvement.
