Cheyenne County establishes truancy diversion program

Cheyenne County commissioners approved the establishment of a truancy diversion program on Monday which will coincide with a collaborative attendance plan by Sidney Public Schools.

There are a few types of diversion programs already implemented in Cheyenne County. The county offers a four-hour defensive driving program for minor traffic violators and the juvenile court has a misdemeanor diversion program.

The truancy diversion program gives juveniles in some cases the choice between going to court or to participate in a probation type program.

"It's a less intrusive program, instead of introducing them to the court system," said Paul Schaub, Cheyenne County attorney.

Brianna Jackson at the county attorney's office will spearhead the program. According to Jackson, the program implements things such as community service, letters of apology and drug classes to divert truancy.

"We are doing more and more to bring organizations on board for community service and education programs," Jackson said.

According to Schaub, this is not the first time there has been a truancy diversion program in the county.

"That was more of a cookie cutter program," Schaub said.

The program that now will be implemented is based more on individual cases and needs.

"The program implemented is unique to each case," Schaub said.

The diversion program for truancy will work with the collaborative attendance plan that is already in place at Sidney Public Schools. The attendance plan helps the schools better understand absences to help students, while keeping in line with state regulations, said Sidney High School Principal Chris Arent.

The state currently allows 20 absences per year. Arent said the school sends out a letter to the parents after five absences. At 10 absences, the parents are invited to participate in the collaborative plan and at 15 absences the parents review the plan. The school has the option to refer the student to the county attorney's office or to continue to work with them based on circumstances at 20 absences.

There is a difference between absenteeism and truancy, according to Arent. Truancy is when the school and the parents do not know where the student is at. The courts describe truancy as a juvenile who by reason of being wayward or habitually disobedient, is uncontrolled by his or her parent, guardian or custodian.

The collaborative attendance plan takes varying circumstances into consideration. If a student has an illness, chronic or otherwise, and the parent brings physician documentation, it is a medically excused absence. As for medical appointments, if documentation is presented, the absence is excused. Parent-acknowledged absences do not count against the student either.

"It's all about communication," Arent said. "As long as we are in communication with parents, it seems to go well."

According to Arent, the diversion program for truancy is new to the school.

Arent said the new truancy diversion program has the potential to benefit Sidney students.

"I have seen it implemented in other schools and it is an excellent program," he said. "I saw many students get benefit from it. I look forward to it and how it will be utilized."