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Following months of opposition and tabling, the city’s proposed truancy ordinance finally passed during the May 3 City of Kansas City City Council meeting.
Homeschooling families opposed the original ordinance, which they said would infringe upon their personal liberties. However, thanks to a final meeting with stakeholders last week, the homeschoolers, along with their Washington D.C. attorney, worked out a compromise with city officials.
“It was that single meeting that really ironed out most, if not all, of our issues,” said Scott Wagner, City Council member and sponsor of the ordinance.
The amended ordinance, which takes effect Aug. 15, takes a more targeted approach to addressing truancy, he said.
Truancy will be addressed through two approaches: truancy sweeps and obtaining school attendance records of the most chronically truant students.
Council member John Sharp, who opposed the original ordinance, said the amended ordinance addressed his concerns.
“I think it is time we pass it,” he said. “I feel very good about the ordinance. I think it will be effective at keeping kids in school without affecting personal liberties or draining police resources.”
Three council members, Jermaine Reed, Melba Curls and Michael Brooks, opposed the ordinance and stated the Kansas City Public Schools must implement its initiatives first to address truancy and attendance rates. Brooks further stated he’d like to see alternative schools, in-school suspensions and truancy officers reinstated before the city takes action on the ordinance.
“I don’t think it’s the right time,” Reed said of passing the ordinance.
However, both Wagner and Mayor Sly James argued it is the right time.
“For myself, it is quite simple,” Wagner said. “To do nothing will perpetuate what’s going on. I don’t know when a more perfect time will come.”
Truancy ordinance explained
Through truancy sweeps and school attendance records, the city prosecutor will prosecute the parents and guardians of chronic truants.
For the first truancy offense, parents and guardians will receive a warning.
Subsequent offenses will result in fines or the option of a pre-trial diversion program, which will consist of counseling and parenting classes.
If parents and guardians successfully complete the program, the case will be dismissed. However, if they don’t complete the program, a municipal judge can issue a fine of up to $500.
For the Indian Mound neighborhood, the truancy ordinance is a much needed tool.
“I’m very happy that something passed,” Indian Mound Neighborhood Association President Katie Greer said. “Anything is better than nothing, which is what we had before.
“Truancy is a huge issue (in the neighborhood). Just within the last couple of weeks, there’s been one long-time Indian Mound resident whose house was broken into twice in two days by the same kids.”
Other residents have witnessed students walk off the bus and head into the neighborhood instead of going to school, she said.
“I think the problems that are being caused are being caused by the same handful of people,” Greer said. “So, if we’re able to target those individuals who are causing the majority of the problems, hopefully we can get rid of a lot of the issues that are going on.”
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